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An Analysis of Holden Caulfield in the Catcher in the Rye from the Perspective of Youth Psychology

Author: LiLanDong
Tutor: FengMei
School: Hebei Normal
Course: English Language and Literature
Keywords: adolescence negative influence failure in seeking help frustration in love breakdown
CLC:
Type: Master's thesis
Year: 2011
Downloads: 286
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Abstract

The Catcher in the Rye, published in 1950s, has always been regarded as a highly influential novel around the world. As one of his few published novels, The Catcher in the Rye brought great reputation for J.D. Salinger. Using the first person narration, the novel unfolds the innermost world of the protagonist, a junior middle school student in his very puberty, to its readers.Dorothy Rogers believes that puberty is a very special period of time during one’s life span. During this special period of time, the adolescents develop quickly and become mature enough bodily which makes them think or behave more like an adult, while on the other hand they are still undergoing the transition from children to adults. To speak from another angle, they are not mature enough mentally which needs their parents’support and love, schools’proper education and guidance, society’s warmth and finally the warmth coming from their love world.The protagonist, Holden Caulfield, is in his puberty when he is in the very dilemma that on the one hand, it is reluctant to say good bye to his childhood; on the other hand, he is afraid of stepping into the world of adult of which he doesn’t have a clear picture. In addition, his seeking help from his parents, peers and teachers ends up with a failure. Furthermore, he experiences various frustrations in love world. All of these let helpless Holden mentally break down.This thesis mainly attempts to apply American psychologist Dorothy Rogers’youth psychology to make an analysis of the factors resulting in Holden’s breaking down innermost. The whole thesis consists of three parts.Firstly, negative influence coming from Holden’s family. The warmth coming from parents, generally speaking, can bring the adolescents sense of belonging. Other family members, at the same time, are helping them to confirm their identity. However, Holden’s family is far from perfect. Indifferent mother, autocratic father, D.B.’s bad model, Allie’s premature death and grandmother’s bad memory make Holden feel lack of attachment and confused in confirming his adolescent identity.Secondly, failure in seeking helps from surroundings. The growth of adolescents is accomplished in some certain surroundings. Thus, the factors about schools and society can not be ignored when analyzing adolescents. For one thing, the schools which Holden has ever studied in have the final say to students according to their academic performance. At the same time, most teachers educate students in stereotype way. For another thing, it was shortly after the World WarⅡand most people became indifferent and apathetic about anything. Hence, Holden’s seeking help from surroundings ends up with failure.Thirdly, frustration in love world. Holden is in his puberty and bodily matures enough. He longs for love and being loved both physically and mentally. So he never stops seeking love. However, he fails to do it out of various reasons.The Catcher in the Rye describes Holden’s inner world vividly. In this special period, adolescents badly need their parents’love, peer groups’positive influence and the right guidance from schools and society. Otherwise, they will be lost in complicated societies.

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