The Plot follow Holden as he gets expelled from his school, and leaves early after getting into a argument with his roommate. Due to his bad previous record of getting in trouble, he does not want to return home earl, thus arousing supsicoins in his parents. instead he stays in a hotel, and spends his time attempting to hire prostitutes, meeting up with his old girlfriend, and visiting old places he used to visit when he was younger. The most notcialble part of the book is when he visits his little sister phoebe, who is the only character he seems to not have any real, solid descrepenses with. After comtemplates running away, he decides agaisnt it, as the idea upsets pheobe and takes her the zoo, where Holden reflects that he miss'es his former classmates, and, oddly, a pimp who was cruel to him earlier in the book.
Quotes:
"That Killed Me."
Holden says this frequently, often when he finds something funny, but has sinister overtones.
"I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. It's awful. If I'm on my way to the store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I'm going, I'm liable to say I'm going to the opera"
This quote shows Holden's rebelliousness streak. He doesn't even know why he lie's, but i suspects its because he wants to be different from the rest of the world, and he does this by acting in a way that most people wouldn't.
"You know that song, 'If a body catch a body comin' through the rye"?
This qoute reflects the title of the book, and the fact that Holden wants to be a "Catcher in the rye". this isn't even a real job, so this goes to show how he goes out of his way to be different.
"When I really worry about something, i don't just fool around, I even have to go to the bathroom when i worry about something, Only, i don't go. I'm to worried to go. I don't want to interrupt my worrying to go".
This Shows Holden's teenage insecurity's. It also shows that his insecurity's have become a part of him, and he almost wants them, reflected by the final line of this quote.
"Dont tell anybody anything, if you do, you just start missing everybody."
This shows Holdens reluctance to make attachments to anything, and perhaps is the reason why he acts the way he does.
How Does the text relate to Identity?
The book is about one young teen, and his struggle for identity. over the course of the book you begin to find Holden discover his identity, for instance he reflects a lot on his past, which is a key part of your identity, and he also thinks a lot of whats to come aswell. Hopes and dreams are a large part of your identity.
He also goes into a large detail about his likes and dislikes, especially on social issues. he often complains about how people react to him and to others. This is his opinion and this is a key part of everyone's identity, there opinion.
In conclusion the book itself, is about the struggle for identity, and the process of acceptiting who you and who others are.
Summary:
Catcher in the rye is the story of a troubled teenage boy called Holden Caulfield, Set in late 1940's america. The book reflects on the themes of angst, rebellion and confusion.
