Theme Of Anxiety In Catcher In The Rye - 911 Words

The definition of existential anxiety is the negative feeling that arises in a human being. In the novel, Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, the main character, Holden narrates events that happen after his school, Pencey, kicked him out for his deficient grades.With signs of this anxiety, he quickly finds himself in a state of depression caused by his struggle of growing up. Overwhelmed and afraid, Holden runs the other direction when he is hit with the idea of aging and his immature and innocent characteristics allow him to wander astray. Holden deals with his existential anxiety from his greatest fear, but throughout the story, we distinguish him experience phases of self hate from childish impulses and attempting to move towards the†¦show more content†¦However, having sex is something that is considered adultlike which takes Holden one step closer to becoming independent, but he backs out and goes back to his juvenile ways. To build upon this idea, Holden also shows a glimpse of the path of helplessness when he replies â€Å"no† to retain his innocence and avoids his existential anxiety. Furthermore, Holden starts daydreaming and thinking about his idealized future. He thinks, â€Å"I got excited as hell thinking about it. I really did. I knew the part about pretending I was a deaf-mute really decided to go out West and all† (Salinger, 199). As seen before, Holden is running away from his problems like a child and displays symptoms of helplessness because of his existential anxiety. Instead of facing the problem head on, Holden acts as if he is unable to cope with reality and live up to his ideal self. Ultimately, Holden shows childish impulses and immaturity, which sets him on the path of self hate. The protagonist, Holden, is moving away from the issue of existential anxiety and path of self hate into the path of self compassion from the five steps: breathing, awareness, acknowledgement, acceptance, action, and appreciation, by d emonstrating acts of kindness to others. In the beginning of the story, Holden would often judge a person instantly, such as Ackley and Stradlater, but later in the novel, we notice that Holden shows less judgement and more endearment in the form of the steps of self compassion. An exampleShow MoreRelatedTheme Of Anxiety In Catcher In The Rye849 Words   |  4 Pages Existential anxiety is the negative feeling that arises in a human being. In the novel, Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, the main character, Holden narrates events that happen after his school, Pencey, kicked him out for his deficient grades.With signs of this anxiety, he quickly finds himself in a state of depression caused by his struggle of growing up. Overwhelmed and afraid, Holden runs the other direction when he is hit with the idea of aging and his immature and innocent characteristicsRead MoreHolden Caulfield and the Pressures of Society: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger1286 Words   |  6 Pageso ften have a message or theme for the reader. Not only do authors use themes, but also well developed characters to bring a novel 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 characterizationRead More 1950s Culture Exposed in The Catcher in the Rye Essay1361 Words   |  6 Pages1950s Culture Exposed in The Catcher in the Rye    J.D. 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However, although Charlie and Holden share similar experiences inRead MoreSuccess And Prosperity Of Shakespeare s Macbeth And The Catcher 1710 Words   |  7 PagesSuccess and Prosperity in Macbeth and The Catcher in the Rye From the beginning of time, achieving success and greatness has been the ultimate human goal. Success can be found in many different forms, from ruling a Roman empire to receiving a high grade on a test. Society’s view of success has changed throughout generations, urging people to conform to society’s beliefs in order to fulfill their goals and dreams. The theme of success and fulfillment are evident in literature and theatre pieces thatRead MoreCatcher In The Rye And The Kite Runner First Person Narrative1387 Words   |  6 Pagesdifferent. Different colours, religions, different morals and beliefs, and maybe most important different perspectives on the world. In both The Catcher in the Rye in The Kite Runner the male protagonist tells the course of events from their perspective, and their role as narrator has a significant impact on the novels In both The Catcher in the Rye, and The Kite Runner, first person narration played a critical role in helping the reader know and understand the main characters, Holden CaulfieldRead MoreThe Catcher Of The Rye, By J. D. Salinger1699 Words   |  7 Pageshas changed throughout generations, urging people to conform to society’s beliefs in order to fulfill their goals and dreams. The theme of success and fulfillment are evident in literature and theatre pieces that were written centuries ago, and continue into novels written in the present. The play Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, and the novel The Catcher in the Rye, written by J. D. Salinger follow the lives of two protagonists’ as they are each individually shaped by society’s idea of prosperity