Catcher in the Rye Essay Levels of Meaning - 902 Words

Levels of Meaning in The Catcher in the Rye nbsp; Protected by a cocoon of naivetà ©, Holden Caulfield, the principal character in the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, therapeutically relates his lonely 24 hour stay in downtown New York city, experiencing the phony adult world while dealing with the death of his innocent younger brother.nbsp; Through this well-developed teenage character, JD Salinger, uses simple language and dialogue to outline many of the complex underlying problems haunting adolescents. nbsp;With a unique beginning and ending, and an original look at our new society, The Catcher in the Rye is understood and appreciated on multiple levels of comprehension. The book provides new insights and a fresh view of the†¦show more content†¦He says, Anyway, I kept picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobodys around - nobody big, I mean - except me. And Im standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff - I mean if theyre running and they dont look where theyre going. I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. Thats all Id do all day. Id just be The Catcher in the Rye and all. I know its crazy, but thats the only thing Id really like to be. (173) By saying this, Holden exposes his deepest desire, and Salinger exposes the books theme. Holden wants to protect childhood innocence, saving kids from having to live in the crazy and phony, adult world. This idea that pure children lose their innocence as they grow old is explored through the whole text. Holden is appalled by the phrase Fuck You written on school walls that are supposed to shield kids away from society. Also, Holden gives his Red Hunting cap to Phoebe to wear, acting as a shield, symbolizing security and protection. By the storys end Phoebe, riding on a carousel, a childlike image, waves to her protective brother, only happy as an idealized selfless secular saint. Like the emotion Holden felt in Phoebes school because of the walls, he becameShow MoreRelatedEssay about Censorship and Catcher in the Rye751 Words   |  4 PagesChristi Johnson English 11 Pd. 5 Censorship Essay The Catcher in the Rye has been an instant classic since it was first published. It has been on the New York Times Best Seller list along with being among the most banned books in the U.S. It has been banned for its harsh language and bad behavior. But truly these are not good reasons to ban a book; a book that is so enjoyed by many readers and the reality of the protagonist. 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