Existentialism in Catcher in the Rye Essay example

Existentialism in Catcher in the Rye nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; The Catcher in the Rye creates an existentialist out of Holden Caulfield by giving him a strong personal opinion, a different sense of view, and isolation.nbsp; Holdens individuality and his different way of thinking creates within him an Existentialist that refuses to accept weakness but holds sympathy for the weak and vulnerable.nbsp; The basis for these beliefs lies within the most commonly identifiable theme of existentialism, which states that the philosophy stresses the concrete individual existence along with the individual freedom and choice.nbsp; It also stands on the idea of moral individualism, in which one must choose his†¦show more content†¦Spencer in order not to sound inferior to him.nbsp; A Danish philosopher and existentialist, Soren Kierkegaard, once wrote, I must find a truth that is true for me... the idea for which I can live or die.nbsp; Holden stays true to this statement as he leads a life, not as a phony, but as himself, leading a solitary life in order to stand up for what he believes in, even if he stands alone.nbsp; Holden seeks the truth that, when the ultimate motive becomes uncovered, remains to be free of corruption.nbsp; Even the good things in life, the good and honest acts, can be contaminated due to the wrong motive. nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Holdens motives pertain to those of Pascal, a 17th-Century French philosopher, who saw the human self as sort of a contradiction.nbsp; Although Holden felt a need to isolate himself, he also had a need to love.nbsp; He began to miss the people he knew, and this willingness to congregate with people contradicts his desire to stay apart.nbsp; Kierkegaard believed that the individual must defy the norms of society for the sake of higher authority of a personally valid way ofShow MoreRelatedThe Catcher Of The Rye, By F. D. Salinger1795 Words   |  8 Pagesunderwent a tremendous change in structure as well as philosophy. J. D. Salinger’s book The Catcher in the Rye helped contribute to this revolution by highlighting new philosophies in literature. This is evident in pre-1950 writing as well as the changes that persisted through the remaining part of the decade, especially in the writing style popularized during the Great Depression. The Catcher in the Rye also contributed to a change in conflict. This conflict started as an external object to overcomeRead MoreThe Catcher Of The Rye By F. D. Salinger1795 Words   |  8 Pagesunderwent a tremendous change in structure as well as philosophy. J. D. Salinger’s book The Catcher in the Rye helped contribute to this revolution by highlighting new philosophies in literature. This is evident in pre-1950 writing as well as the changes that persisted through the remaining part of the decade, especially in the writing style popularized during the Great Depression. The Catcher in the Rye also contributed to a change in conflict. This conflict started as an external object to overcomeRead MoreThe Theory Of Self Orientation1958 Words   |  8 Pagesdefine existentialism, would manifest themselves with the end of World War II and the onset of the Cold War. These same beliefs can be seen in J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, a novel which follows the cynical and apathetic teenager Holden Caulfield, on his journey of self-introspection and a search for his true self. Existential elements are abundant in the story, but the element of choice seems to establish itself with a prominence in Holden’s life. The novel explores how existentialism sees choiceRead MoreThe Theory Of Self Orientation1957 Words   |  8 Pagesdefine existentialism, would manifest themselves with the end of World War II and the onset of the Cold War. These same beliefs c an be seen in J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, a novel which follows the cynical and apathetic teenager Holden Caulfield, on his journey of self-introspection and a search for his true self. Existential elements are abundant in the story, but the element of choice seems to establish itself with a prominence in Holden’s life. The novel explores how existentialism sees choiceRead MoreLiterary Theories And Literary Criticism1318 Words   |  6 PagesKill a Mockingbird. †¢ Based on the Post-colonial theories of Fanon, Foucault, Said. †¢ Harper Lee, the author, reveals the attitudes of white people towards the black people, showing how prejudice the white people are towards the black people. Existentialism 1. †¢ Soren Kierkegaard considered to be the first existential philosopher. †¢ Philosophical theory that emphasizes the existence of a free and responsible individual who determines their own paths and development through acts of free will. †¢ PrimaryRead MoreIs catcher in the rye and the stranger still relevant2691 Words   |  11 PagesAlbert Camus’ ‘The Outsider’ and J.D Salinger’s ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ both have central characters who find themselves on the boundaries of the society they live in. Holden Caulfield finds himself ‘lonesome’ in 1950’s New York, in the lead up to Christmas, while Meursault, the protagonist of Camus’ novel faces trial before a jury after committing the murder of an unnamed Arab man, in 1930’s Algeria. The question we must ask ourselves as readers is: are the stories of these two men still relevantRead MoreTranscendentalism, Realism, Naturalism, And Existentialism- Shaped The Advancement Of American Literature1486 Words   |  6 PagesTranscendentalism, Realism, Naturalism, and Existentialism- shaped the advancement of American literature. They were considered to be theoretical and political philosophies wh ich held important positions in the development of modern literature. The original authors, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Mark Twain, Lawrence Sargent Hall, and Jerome David Salinger, presented works inspiring new perspectives and social outlooks upon reality and it’s offerings. Through characterizing the progress of the philosophiesRead MoreEssay on The Need for Brutality in A Clockwork Orange 4668 Words   |  19 Pagespublished A Clockwork Orange, it contained a twenty-first chapter which showed Alex jaded with ultraviolence and ready to settle down (Burgess, A Clockwork Orange 207-219). In the tradition of rites of passage novels such as Huck Finn and Catcher in the Rye, he emerges from various trials with the cold, cruel adult world with a new-found threshold for love (Connelly 42). Alex develops a penchant for maudlin pop songs, a sharp contrast to the dynamic symphonies he once adored (Burgess, Orange 212)