Adolescent Perplexity And Quest

Jerome David Salinger's famous novel The Catcher in the Rye,is regarded as a "modern classic" in post-war American literature. It has attracted a lot of critical attention since its publication. The protagonist, Holden Caulfield has become the focus of criticism and received diverse interpretations. The thesis attempts to apply Freudian psychoanalysis to make an analysis of Holden's spiritual odyssey from puzzlement to awakening. The writer tries to prove that Holden makes a great effort to explore the meaning of life by deeply thinking about the relationship between the world and human instead of compromising with society after undergoing the adolescent crisis.Adolescence is a crucial period in human development, during which the young go through various changes to prepare themselves for adulthood. However, Holden is obsessed with distressing incidents in his childhood. He represses his painful memories and innermost desires to the unconscious region of the mind. Lacking understanding among the peers and absent of guidance and warmth from the elder people, he feels profoundly frustrated, lonesome, anxious and crazy in the modern society and even has thought of committing suicide. After the three-day heartbreaking journey in New York City, he experiences insincerity, hypocrisy, immorality and mutual deception in the adult world. No matter where he turns, the phoniness is ubiquitous. Thus, he takes a conscious attitude of rebellion. Freud believes that the solution of interpersonal conflicts requires powerful motive force. His little sister Phoebe's genuine love and affection provoke his reconsideration of the world, release him from suffering and liberate his mind from repressed unconscious. He wants to be a catcher in the rye, which demonstrates his eagerness of growing up and a wish for a more humane world. Holden grows spiritually and finally comes to terms with the world. His spiritual exploration is painful and tortured but worthwhile. Thus, the thesis reaches a conclusion that the novel confirms the meaningful quest instead of resignation.Holden's conflicts represent American adolescents' psychological nature during the 1950s, and such case can be found in literatures of all countries and generations. Thus literary studies have broader implications; that is, how to guide adolescents by means of artistic catharsis and inspiration to encounter frustration and vexation, divert continuous anxiety and psychic wildness, and establish values, beliefs and ideas, as well as explanations as to how to negotiate one's world.