The Teenage Years Essay Research Paper THE

The Teenage Years Essay, Research Paper

THE TEENAGE YEARS:

HOLDEN S STRUGGLE

In the novel Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield, as an individual entity is internally torn up by dividing forces. One supports adolescence, while the other supports adulthood. This battle is known as the transitional period, or the teenage years and is illustrated by three main themes. First, his outlook on all things sexual displays an important part of this struggle. Next is his perception of himself and others, which contains many of its own obstacles. Finally, Holden s desire to remain a child and dwell in the past conflicts with the reality that he needs to grow up and focus on the future and is the basis of his struggle.

Throughout the novel, Holden can be caught boasting stories of his sexual conquests. His tales are filled with could ves and would ves , all of his sexual encounters with women are very limited and incomplete. Proof of this is evident when he hires a prostitute to fulfill his sexual needs and in the end decides not to have sex with her.

I was a little nervous. I was starting to feel pretty sexy and all, but I was a little

nervous anyways. If you want to know the truth I m a virgin. I really am.

I ve had quite a few opportunities to lose my virginity and all, but I ve never

got around to yet. Something always happens. For instance, if you re at a

girlfriend’s house, her parents always come home at the wrong time- or at

least you re afraid they will. (Page 92)

His encounter with the hooker displays his inexperience and his nervousness when it comes down to sex. Holden, however, would rather blame fate than admit that he is still a virgin because of his own actions and feelings.

Holden s sexual immaturity is again demonstrated when he begins to talk about homosexuality. He is preoccupied with identifying gay men because he feels that it may make him seem as if he has reached some sort of high level of sexual maturity. In actuality this is very immature. One generally cannot discover another s sexual preference by merely looking. To presume otherwise is a sure sign of a child trying to disguise themselves as an adult.

Holden s relationship with Luce is like that of a student and teacher s in Holden s eyes. Luce qualifies as an adult because of his knowledge and experience in the world of sex. Holden tries to portray an image of sexual maturity yet again, but this facade is dispelled when he relentlessly questions Luce about all things sexual.

Listen. Let s get one thing straight. I refuse to answer any typical

Caulfield questions [about sex] tonight. When the hell are you going to grow

up. (Page 16)

Luce tires easily of Holden s questions, not because Holden is simply curious. His questions are posed so frequently and structured in such a way that it is obvious that Holden is trying to made their

conversation seem more like one that is between two men rather than a boy and a man.

Holden is enthralled by sex. Customary to his age, however, Holden is not yet quite comfortable with it. He sometimes tries to pass off as someone who knows what he is talking about when in reality it is just an act. He struggles to come to terms with sex and his relationship with it.

Holden himself, his perception of himself and his feelings regarding the elderly all show his desire to stay a child. This struggle is almost definitely futile considering one must eventually grow up, or self-destruct by trying not to.

First off, Holden s name clearly illustrates the fact that Holden desperately wants to remain a child, but must grow up. His first name is simply deconstructed and merely means to hold onto . His last name, when divided into two parts, has two separate meanings. Caul is a membrane, which encloses the fetus when in the womb. Field is an open space. With these three parts of the name analyzed, one can see that Holden s name sums up his basic want. He wants to hold onto childhood for as long as possible. He wants to stay wrapped up safely inside a warm and safe place but must be thrust forth into the great open space known as the real world .

Holden describes himself as a young boy although his physical attributes make it seem as if he is older.

I act quite young for my age sometimes. I was sixteen then and I m

seventeen now, and sometimes I act like I m about thirteen. It s really ironical,

because I m six-foot-two and a half and have gray hairs. (Page 9)

This is a clear example of how he is a mixture of both adolescence and adulthood. He can t control his physical growth, however he can, to a certain extent, control his mental growth. As far as he s concerned, he ll try and stay a child for as long as possible.

Holden s aversion to the elderly and their bodies stems from an inner fear of growing old. His description of Old Spencer portrays this.

What made it even more depressing, Old Spencer had on this very sad,

ratty old bathrobe that he was probably born in or something. I don t much like to

see old guys in their pajamas or bathrobes anyways. Their bumpy old chests are

always showing. And their legs. Old guys legs at beaches and places always

look so white and unhairy. (Page 7)

Holden

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