Growing-up In Flight: A Study Of The Theme "Initiation" In The Catcher In The Rye

The Catcher in the Rye by Jerome David Salinger renders a panoramic picture of an adolescent's world, in which Salinger delicately traces Holden's Odyssey from a physically and spiritually embittered adolescent to his eventual initiation into the society.This thesis attempts to provide a thorough interpretation of the novel from the perspective of initiation on the basis of a close textual analysis. The study is conducted on four aspects:to explore features of adolescence and give an overview of initiation stories; to discuss influences of environments on the protagonist's growth; to analyze the protagonist's spiritual crisis caused by his unbalanced personalities by applying the tripartite personality of Sigmund Freud; and to analyze the protagonist's coping strategies from youth to maturity.This thesis argues that it is inevitable for adolescents to go through loneliness and pains in initiation, and adolescents should respond to all the challenges in life with optimism and especially make efforts to melt into society. In China, many young people are confronted with same issues like Holden's in initiation. It is necessary for adults to pay more attention to adolescents throughout their initiation into maturity and provide them with more understanding and love. "To be a catcher in the rye" is not only Holden's lofty ideal but also each adult's responsibility. The Catcher in the Rye by Jerome David Salinger renders a panoramic picture of an adolescent's world, in which Salinger delicately traces Holden's Odyssey from a physically and spiritually embittered adolescent to his eventual initiation into the society.This thesis attempts to provide a thorough interpretation of the novel from the perspective of initiation on the basis of a close textual analysis. The study is conducted on four aspects:to explore features of adolescence and give an overview of initiation stories; to discuss influences of environments on the protagonist's growth; to analyze the protagonist's spiritual crisis caused by his unbalanced personalities by applying the tripartite personality of Sigmund Freud; and to analyze the protagonist's coping strategies from youth to maturity.This thesis argues that it is inevitable for adolescents to go through loneliness and pains in initiation, and adolescents should respond to all the challenges in life with optimism and especially make efforts to melt into society. In China, many young people are confronted with same issues like Holden's in initiation. It is necessary for adults to pay more attention to adolescents throughout their initiation into maturity and provide them with more understanding and love. "To be a catcher in the rye" is not only Holden's lofty ideal but also each adult's responsibility.