Holden Caulfield as a hero Essay -- essays research papers

Holden as a HeroCatcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is a story about the trials of life and the toll it can unsay on the psyche. I believe that Holden Caulfield is an under credited hero. He is a teenager forced to grow up in a time of paroxysm with severe emotional handicaps placed upon him by family, friends and life in general. Holden is one confused kid trying to beat the Man in the 1950s. He grew up ignored by his parents, drifting from school to school in search of a purer lifestyle. On page one Holden humbly describes his lousy growing up. If you truly want to hear about it, the first thing you will probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was likebut I dont feel like going into it, if you want to know the truththat stuff bores me. Holden does not want to go into his childhood and play the victim. He tells us that he had a rough time and leaves it at that. Later in the book he alludes to how his parents just shuffled him from school to school hoping that he would do better at the next one. All he tells us about is his dad is that he is a big shot corporate lawyer, not lots about what kind of father he was. Suggesting that he was gone a lot and not around to give a good role personate for Holden. In turn it shows up in Holdens attitude towards adults.Throughout the book Holden shows his resentment towards the Man. He always refers to how phony the authority figures are. Mult...