Corruption in Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger

If you were to witness something corrupt, what would you do? Would you try to stop it? Or would you just look the other way and pretend it was not there? In today’s society, corruption is almost everywhere, and too often, people just look the other way, allowing it to continue. In writing The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger attempts to show people the evils of a corrupt society, and how it can harm anyone. He does this through Holden’s experiences at Pencey and in NYC, as well as the uncertainty and confusion that Holden feels about sex. While he is at Pencey, Holden experiences corruption many times. This may be one of the reasons that he does not try in his classes. At some point, he joins a secret fraternity, not because he wants†¦show more content†¦But when the prostitute arrives, she is around Holden’s age, is nervous, and just wants to get it over with. This makes Holden even more uneasy, because he realizes that she might have been like any other girl his age, but she has been corrupted. This is one reason that he is unable to go through with it, the other being that Holden does not feel like he can connect with her. Another time this confusion and uncertainty is shown is when Holden is thinking about Stradlater and Jane. He is worried that Stradlater will corrupt Jane, a girl whom Holden still cares for, by seducing her to have sex with him. Stradlater is â€Å"unscrupulous† (40), and most of the time he does succeed in having sex with the girl; once, he got close to doing it with Hol den and Holden’s date in the car with them. Stradlater is corrupt in this way, because he is promiscuous and corrupts the girls he dates. But even Stradlater is not as corrupt as Luce, the Student Advisor he had while he was at Whooton. While Holden is waiting for Luce to arrive at the Wicker Bar, he thinks about the time when he went to Whooton, another private school, and Luce was his Student Advisor. Instead of advising the students, Luce would â€Å"give these sex talks†¦late at night, when there [were] a bunch of guys in his room† (143). These â€Å"guys† were young boys, and the fact that Luce isShow MoreRelatedEvil and Corruption in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger610 Words   |  3 PagesEvil and Corruption in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden views the world as an evil and corrupt place where there is no peace. His view of the world does not change much through the novel. However as the novel continues, Holden gradually comes to the realization that he is powerless to change this. In the book Holden succeeds in making us think that the world is crazy. Shortly after Holden leaves Pencey Prep, he checks in to the Edmont HotelRead MoreCatcher in the Rye vs Frankenstein Novel Study Essay1304 Words   |  6 Pagesage, they lose their innocence due to the corruption that exists in society. This is demonstrated in the two novels, Catcher in the Rye and Frankenstein. The two authors, J.D. Salinger and Mary Shelley prove this statement through their use of various literary devices. Key characters in both novels- Holden and the creature- learn through personal experiences that innocence cannot, in fact, be preserved forever, and they both face the reality of corruption. The use of allusions in both novels playsRead MoreCatcher Rye And Perfect Day For Bananafish1562 Words   |  7 Pages The Catcher in The Rye and Perfect Day For Bananafish In â€Å"The Catcher in the Rye†,by J.D Salinger, Holden Caulfield, a troubled 16 year old boy who constantly gets kicked out of every school takes it upon himself to become â€Å"The Catcher in the Rye†, in reality not being real occupation but an idea he chose to adopt for himself after he heard a little boy singing in the street. The catcher in the Rye can be described in Holden’s perspective as a person, almost like a hero that helps childrenRead MoreSymbolism In Catcher In The Rye841 Words   |  4 Pagesof purity is an inevitable feeling. In The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger uses motifs, symbols, and extended metaphors to convey the theme that innocence can not be prevented. Saliger uses motifs which allows the reader to understand vulnerability from being shown into the adult world through the use of the hunting hat and estrangement from his surroundings by the migration of the ducks. The hat signifies his recurring display of timidity. Salinger indicates to his readers that Holden uses hisRead MoreHolden Caulfield and the Pressures of Society: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger1286 Words   |  6 Pagesnovel to life. In the bildungsroman, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, characterization is often found, especially regarding the protagonist, Holden Caulfield. Salinger also includes many themes in his novel relating to growing up in a corrupt society. Hence, this paper will compare, contrast, and evaluate literary criticisms regarding the themes and characterization of J.D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye. Many critics of The Catcher in the Rye discuss in depth the characterizationRead MoreHow Salinger’s Holden Caulfield Relates to Teenagers Throughout Time1412 Words   |  6 PagesSalinger’s Holden Caulfield Relates to Teenagers Throughout Time In 1951, J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye was #1 on the New York Time’s bestseller list. Since then, the American Literary Association claims The Catcher in the Rye is a â€Å"favorite of censors.† The use of harsh language and profanity has been a long time debate of educators causing the novel to be pulled off bookshelves and propelling J.D. Salinger and his protagonist, Holden Caulfield, into reluctant fame. The translationRead MoreThe Theme of Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger Essay568 Words   |  3 PagesThe Theme of Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger In the novel Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, the protagonist Holden Caulifield views the world as an evil corrupt place where there is no peace. Holden has a phony phobia that restricts him from becoming a fully matured adult. In Holdens attempted journey in becoming a fully matured adult, he encounters many scenarios involving friendship, personal opinions, and his love of children. His journey is an unpleasant and difficult one with manyRead MoreEssay on The Death of Innocence in The Catcher in the Rye1156 Words   |  5 Pages   Ã‚   Holden identifies with, yearns for, and despises traits of the adult and child realms. In the novel The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, the protagonist, Holden Caulfield, fears becoming an adult who exhibits the characteristics that he holds complaints against. Throughout this Bildungsroman narrative, Holden searches for his identity. He tries to figure out his place either in the adult or child realm. Holden possesses a combination of fear and hatred for phonies. Holden usesRead MoreUse of Symbolism in The Catcher in the Rye and The Great Gatsby820 Words   |  4 PagesUse Of Symbolism In The Catcher In The Rye and The Great Gatsby There are many writers like James Joyce, Patrick Kananach and Thomas Moore who use symbolism to convey and support indirect meaning in their writings. J.D. Salinger and F. Scott Fitzgerald both use symbolism in similar ways. In both The Catcher In The Rye and The Great Gatsby, the authors used symbolism to convey emotions and reality. In The Catcher In The Rye, J.D. Salinger uses Holdens red hunting cap, the exhibitsRead More Use Of Symbolism In The Catcher In The Rye and The Great Gatsby804 Words   |  4 PagesUse Of Symbolism In â€Å"The Catcher In The Rye† and â€Å"The Great Gatsby† There are many writers like James Joyce, Patrick Kananach and Thomas Moore who use symbolism to convey and support indirect meaning in their writings. J.D. Salinger and F. Scott Fitzgerald both use symbolism in similar ways. In both â€Å"The Catcher In The Rye† and â€Å"The Great Gatsby†, the authors used symbolism to convey emotions and reality.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In â€Å"The Catcher In The Rye†, J.D. Salinger uses Holden’s red hunting cap, the exhibits