Salazar, Aleckxandra Kate G.

AC2B

Part I. On Characters and Characterization

Identify at least 3 major characters in the novel and give a brief description of them.
a. Holden Caulfield
Holden Caulfield is the protagonist of the novel “The Catcher in the Rye.” He is a 17-
year-old boy who narrates his story of the past year. He appears unappreciative and
obstinate at first glance, and nothing seems to interest him. Holden dislikes adulthood and
finds it difficult to enter it, yet he has no other option. It is time for him to adapt,
according to both society and his physique. He finds appeal in the vices of maturity, such
as alcohol, tobacco, the thought of sex, and a certain level of freedom. Yet he hates how
the adult world compromises, loses purity, lacks substance, and loses sincerity.
b. Phoebe Caulfield
Phoebe is Holden’s 10-year-old sister, and despite a six-year age difference, she is the
only one with whom he feels a genuine connection. She represents the innocence Holden
wishes to preserve as well, according to how he perceives the world and maturity. The
major way Phoebe advances the story is by assuming the role of the more trustworthy
narrator and dispelling his brother's catcher-in-the-rye illusion. She explains that he fails
to understand the poem's premise because he's mistaken the wording. She worries a lot
about her brother.
c. Sally Hayes
Sally Hayes is Holden's non-exclusive girlfriend. Sally is aware of how seductive her
appearance is to males. She is less worried about having any depth below the surface,
according to Holden. Even though Holden hopes for a support system, he is dismayed by
her lack of all that. Holden describes Sally as "dumb" despite the fact that she is
scholarly; however, it is unclear if this assessment is founded on actual intelligence or is
only a result of Holden's conflicted feelings for her. In terms of her likes and etiquette,
she is undoubtedly more traditional than Holden.

Part II. Significant Plot that reveals prevalent theme/s

Point out 3 significant events that reveal Holden’s (main character) unsettled personal issues.
Then, discuss how these events affect his life and his way of living.
a. Chapter 5: Inability to take action
In chapter 5, Allie’s left-handed fielder’s mitt became one of the dominating symbols of
the novel. As it reveals how Holden cherished his young brother, he develops into the
sort of person who is unable to take real action to better his situation as a result of his
refusal to mature into maturity. He won't let go of past tragedies, including the passing of
his younger brother; as a result, he stays mired in anguish and suffering rather than
attempting to deal with issues and move forward. Additionally, he fails to take the
necessary steps to forge a successful and happy tomorrow for himself. Phoebe, his
 younger sister, becomes upset when she learns that Holden has removed himself from
school again. Her statements serve to highlight how deeply ingrained Holden's pessimism
is and how he is unable to see that for him to be content and feel a part of the world, he
must change. In the end, his attempt to hold hope for something better just keeps him
trapped in negative thought patterns.
b. Chapter 9: Painfulness of Growing Up
Holden worries about development and is intimidated by complexity, as seen by his
opinions about the Museum of Natural History. Like the Eskimos and Indians statues at
the museum, he wants all to be comprehensible and immutable. He is terrified since he
commits the acts that he condemns in others, and because he is unable to comprehend
anything around him. However, he won't admit to having this dread; he only sometimes
expresses it. Holden creates the notion that maturity is a world of shallowness and deceit,
whereas childhood is a world of purity, wonder, and sincerity, instead of admitting that
adulthood terrifies and perplexes him. The vision of the catcher in the rye best captures
his perception of these two worlds: he envisions youth as a beautiful rye field where kids
run around and enjoy, while maturity is similar to passing a tragic fall from a cliff—for
the kids of this world. Holden is able to isolate himself from the outside world by
donning a cynical armor thanks to the conceptions he has made about childhood and
maturity. Holden's experiences, especially those with Mr. Antolini and Phoebe, show the
superficiality of his concepts as the story goes on.
c. Chapter 22: Phoniness of the Adulthood
Holden makes many references to "phoniness" throughout the book. Adults, in his
opinion, are hypocrites who seek to harm anyone they come into contact with. Adults, he
observes, are petty, pretentious, superficial, and deceitful. He longs to be shielded from
him and fantasizes about a situation in which he can spare other kids from having to
come to terms with the sinister side of grownups as well. The concept of "phoniness"
represents all Holden feels is wrong with society and everything he wants that could
escape from. He's a very pessimistic narrator because he can't run from the "phonies,"
who are constantly after him. Holden spends a lot of time and effort spotting phoniness in
others, but he never really looks at his own lies. He admits that he is a blatant liar and that
most of his lies are meaningless and hurtful.

Part III. Analysis and Interpretation (Realizations and Insights)

How do the characters and plot unravel the central theme of the novel? What can you conclude
upon citing the characters and events from the previous items?
Holden, as the novel’s protagonist and narrator, has been direct on the flow of the events
that happened in his life. Since he was the one who was narrating the novel, the theme was
centered not only around the characters and happenings in his life, but also on how he perceives
and values those stated above. Not to mention the traumatic events he has experienced
throughout the novel, which has greatly impacted the way he approaches situations as he enters
the world of adulthood, Holden has become evidently strange and relatable at the same time.
 The fundamental focus of The Catcher in the Rye is the loss of childhood innocence.
Holden considers this to be his main virtue throughout the most of the novel. It has a strong
connection to his battle with aging. The cruelties and illusion of the real world are Holden's
enemies. He reveres persons who all stand for or defend innocence. Holden aspires to play the
role of the "catcher in the rye," a metaphor for approaching adolescence who saves kids from
plunging off a ledge. Holden is a great "catcher in the rye" because he encourages Phoebe to
preserve her youthful condition by accompanying her to the zoo. Holden is overtaken with
delight as he sees Phoebe on the carousel, acting in a childish manner, and he is, as he puts it,
"damn near bawling." He has learned that he cannot preserve everybody at this time, though, as
he has observed her and the other kids riding the carousel: "If they want to grasp for the gold
ring, you have to let them do it, and not say anything. If they fall off, they fall off."
Throughout the novel, the characters have evidently contributed to the way Holden
perceives life, whether positively or negatively. As much as it is easy to see Holden as an
inconvenient type of person, the reality is that everyone in the novel, including Holden, is far too
self-absorbed to pay attention to anyone. Holden is terrible at persuading others to listen to him.
They may seem fair, but they are self-centered because if we felt empathy for everyone equally,
we wouldn't be capable of accomplishing anything. Understanding that other people count and
that empathy for them is crucial is difficult since you will always be the main player in your own
story.

Part IV. Wisdom Gained

Ultimately, what have you learned from the novel? and how can you relate it to your personal
real-life experience?
As someone who’s been conscious on the topic of growth and change, the novel “Catcher
in the Rye” has captured my attention in various unthinkable ways. In the novel, Holden has
made it clear that he does not want to mature, and he continually makes obstacles for himself
without recognizing that he is mostly to blame for his own sadness in an effort to shield himself
from the harsh realities of the outside world. Being an adolescent myself, I understand where
Holden is coming from. The process of transitioning into adulthood triggers a sense of fear and
uncertainty to people who saw how it changed the people around them. The vices, confusing
sexuality, and even the materialistic desires of these adults have turned their life upside down,
and I believe that somehow, I will also be challenged by these temptations. True enough for
Holden, this serves to distance him from the outside world so that he can place the blame for his
frustration on unfulfilling environments, accomplices, and life experiences instead of having to
acknowledge that he's also a contributor to the issue he so fervently disdains — adults who hurt
others and frequently act hypocritically. Although these factors could not be ruled out as to how
they escalate the situation, it all boils down to the fact that you, as the person who controls your
own life, with your decisions and actions, are the one who’s truly responsible for the
repercussions of your actions in the past. Holden has become the protagonist and the narrator of
his story in the “Catcher in the Rye,” and with this novel, he proved that we could also become
the writer of our own stories, as we journey through the real world, one accountable decision at a
time.