Homework Task: The Catcher in the Rye

What do you think of the idea that although “he cannot change the world in which he lives … it is possible for him [Holden] to find his own place within it”? Write 2-3 paragraphs outlining your response to this statement. Be sure to make specific references to the novel.

The idea that although "he cannot change the world in which he lives ... It is possible for him [Holden] to find his own place within it," is very true and the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, demonstrates this within the character of Holden Caulfield. Whole novel, the character of Holden is searching for his identity and belonging and acceptance by engaging in mature activities. He struggles to find himself as he isolates himself from society and people who want to help him and criticizes others. He is in the process from adolescence to 'phony' adulthood. Physical changes for Holden show that he is defiant against the natural process of adolescence and the hormones that come with this,  "I looked exactly like the guy in the article with lousy hormones." (p. 254). Holden feels that he needs to maintain his youth and innocence, but in contrast, he also feels that he needs to act mature, "I ordered a Scotch and soda, and told him not to mix it-I said it fast as hell, because if you hem and haw, they think you're under twenty-one and won't sell you any intoxicating liquor," (p. 91).  Holden is torn between his 'want' of staying an adolescent forever, but there is this push for him to transition on to adulthood. He is trying to find who he is through these mature activities. Flirting with older women, is another example. Whenever he does so, the women question his age and laugh at him for his efforts,  "I started giving the three witches at the next table the eye again …. They probably thought I was too young to give anybody the once-over." (p. 91). Although he attempts to join the adulthood through these activities, he constantly rejects and criticizes their flaws.

In the last chapter of the book, Holden realizes that he can't hold in to adolescence forever and his view of 'phony' adults is almost gone. This shows that he is ultimately growing up and seeing things in a different perception. This is the turning point for Holden as he realizes that he needs to move on and he can now find who he truly is, instead of trying to change everyone else around him to act like him. "I don't know what the hell to say. If you want to know the truth, I don't know what I think about it. I'm sorry I told so many people about it," (p. 192). He has changed, as in the beginning of the novel, he felt the need to tell everyone everything, but now he regrets it. Also, at times throughout the novel, he has criticized everyone and called them "phony" and had nothing nice to say about them, but at the end, he is in a state where he needs those he rejected, "About all I know is, I sort of miss everybody I told about." (p. 192).