Alienation and Connection in The Catcher in The Rye Literature Essay Sample

📌Category: Books, The Catcher in the Rye
📌Words: 860
📌Pages: 4
📌Published: 11 June 2022

Alienation often occurs when there is a lack of social connection, and radical, harmful societal views can become prevalent. In the Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, alienation mentally destroys Holden, sending him in a downwards spiral.

Alienation is something that both protects and harms Holden. Holden is afraid of experiencing a connection with someone like he did with his younger brother Allie, who passed away when he was just 13. After the traumatic experience, his behavior changed towards people. He is unable to connect with peers on an emotional level, and has trouble with proper conversation skills. This is seen when Holden speaks with Carl Luce, a long time friend of his, who doesn’t appreciate Holden only asking questions about sex when they first meet. Holden enjoys the company, as he is very lonely most of the time, but does not realize how he is coming across to other people. This is also seen when he goes on a date with his childhood girlfriend Sally; it begins well, but once Holden feels an emotional connection forming between the two, he self destructs, beginning to talk about the future they could have together and how pessimistic his views on society are. This scares Sally away, and once again Holden is left feeling alienated. Even though driving potential emotional connections away can prevent Holden from feeling the way he did when Allie passed away, it is also very harmful for him because he has no real friends other than his little sister Phoebe. It is clear that Holden has not recovered from Allies death, as the internal fear of feeling connection still remains within him.

“Life is a game, boy. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules.” (Ch.2 p.8). Spencer can see that Holden is separated from the rest of his classmates academically and socially, and tries communicating with Holden that he needs to play by the rules in order to be successful in life. Holden doesn’t believe it though, but politely nods when receiving the information. Holden doesn’t respect nearly anyone older than he is; “If you sat around there long enough and heard all the phonies applauding and all, you got hate everybody in the world, I swear you did.” (Ch.19 p.142). Holden clearly doesn’t want to associate with the rest of society, and doesn’t want to the play by “the rules”, he would rather be on the other team, a team that is lost in where they are going in life so they blame it on every phony around them. This negative view on the world is what causes Holden to feel so depressed and separated from everyone around him, and he lacks a sense of connection for the majority of the story.

Later on in the story, Holden is feeling at his all time worst “I guess it was because I was feeling so damn depressed and lonesome.”(Ch.20 p.153) Holden had been drinking every single day on his New York adventure. He uses alcohol as an escape from his thoughts and feelings, and when it wears off he begins to feel back to his usual ways. He decides to go back home to see Phoebe, his favourite person to talk to. Phoebe is Holden’s main source of connection, and makes him believe that not everyone in the world is phony and arrogant. “You did! You did!... Daddy’s gonna kill you.” (Ch.21 P.165). “You don’t like anything that’s happening.” (Ch22. P.169). Phoebe points out Holden’s flaws, and it makes Holden upset to hear it, but it was very much needed for him to hear those words. Connection with Phoebe allows Holden to accept the fact that he is lost and needs to get a grip on life. “This fall I think you’re riding for—it’s a special kind of fall, a horrible kind. The man falling isn’t permitted to feel or hear himself hit bottom. He just keeps falling and falling. The whole arrangement’s designed for men who, at some time or other in their lives, were looking for something their own environment couldn’t supply them with. They gave up looking before they even got started.” (Ch.24 P.187). Once again, Holden hears those hard felt words that he needed to hear if he’s going to change for the better. After Holden connects with Phoebe and Mr. Antolini, he begins to feel very down on himself knowing how terrible his mental status is, and how his life is going nowhere. His initial instinct is to run away, and go somewhere far away. “.. I’d build me a little cabin somewhere with the dough I made and live there for the rest of my life.” (Ch. 25 P.199). He feels as if being alienated will create a peaceful environment for him to live out his days, however Phoebe is the one who saves him from running away and tells him that isn’t the case. Phoebe wouldn’t go back to school unless Holden stayed home, and ultimately Holden does decide to stay home

In conclusion, alienation is a social habit that sets you up for failure, grief, depression, and is an internal practice that Holden thought would protect him from all the phonies in the world. Holden’s views of society are immature, and having a firm belief in staying connected with others ultimately will help one be successful in life’s challenges it throws at them. It is because of connection at the end of the story that saved Holden from potentially killing himself, as being able to cope with everyday life would have gotten harder each day for him.

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