Holden Caulfield, from The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, is a common reader of books and is very familiar with literature. Because Holden is familiar with literature, he uses constant allusions throughout the story to help reference historical figures or fictional characters to the reader. By doing this, the reader is able to clearly understand the point the narrator is trying to make. All allusions have a specific logic behind them, and here are a few allusion references in the novel and its explanation:
Romeo & Juliet – At Grand Central, Holden mentions the story while talking to the nuns. Holden feels very awkward talking to the nuns about this story because it involves sexual content. Because Holden is not comfortable with simply talking about sex, it represents his insecurity. Also, Holden despised Romeo. This embodies Holden’s hate for fake, famous characters that many other people love. Holden also states that it drives him “crazy” when somebody gets killed.
More information on Shakespeare: http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/
Emily Dickinson – Holden makes a remark about Emily D. while he is heading towards the Wicker Bar. He mentions how Allie believed Emily Dickinson was an astounding war poet. Emily and Holden both had a very different outlook on the environment around them. J.D. Salinger and Holden both resemble Emily in the way that they both confine themselves from many except for a select few. Holden secludes himself from many and only converses with a few amount of people. After writing this novel, J.D. Salinger fettered himself in his house and only conversed with his family and a small social group.
More information on Emily Dickinson: http://www.online-literature.com/dickinson/
Ring Lardner – Lardner was a author, journalist, and columnist. He was known for his sarcastic and ironic writing. While Holden is talking about his younger brother's literature, he mentions Ring Lardner. Holden states that Lardner was his favorite author after DB. It significant that Holden likes Lardner as a writer because they both have many similarities. For instance, they both are sarcastic, they both live in New York, and they both have a drinking problem.
For more information about Ring Lardner, visit: http://www.todayinliterature.com/biography/ring.lardner.asp
Out of Africa – Out of Africa is a novel Holden is reading throughout the book. He got the novel in the library and says that he actually enjoyed it. The novel is about a character called Karen Blixen who acts as a protector of all the African people who stay on her farm. It is very significant that Holden likes this novel because he relates to Karen. Holden relates to Karen because he too wishes to protect and all of the innocent people in his life. We can now see clearly that Holden is battling with himself because he does not want to grow up.
For more information about Karen Blixen, visit: http://www.karenblixen.com/chronology.html
The Return of The Native – Holden mentions this novel on page 110. “Then I started wondering like a bastard what the one sitting next to me, that taught English, thought about, being a nun and all, when she read certain books for English. Books not necessarily with a lot of sexy stuff in them, but books with lovers and all in them. Take old Eustacia Vye, in The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy. She wasn't too sexy or anything, but even so you can't help wondiering what a nun thinks about when she reads about old Eustacia.” Eustacia is a daring woman who wants to live a more adventurous life. Also, she is an outcast who is avoided by many because they fear she is a witch. Holden relates to Eustacia because he also wishes to travel and explore. Also, Holden is a loner and does not fit in with his community as well.
For more information on the author of this fa-nominal novel, visit: http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/hardy/bio.html
In the novel Catcher in the Rye, the main character, Holden, is similar to Benedict Arnold.
Benedict Arnold was a General in the Revolutionary war. Arnold was revered as a hero as well as a villain due to him switching sides during the war. When Arnold fought with the Patriots he was revered for his involvement during the invasion of Canada, a battle in which he was wounded. He returned home a hero but soon after he married a woman who was a very prominent Loyalist to the British cause. Some say his wife persuaded him to join the British but none the less he did. In his time with the British Arnold requested to be placed in the command of West Point in which he planned to hand over to the British but was unsuccessful. Holden can relate to Arnold due to his split personality. Holden is known to vary in emotions for example one moment he can be happy then the next he will be completely depressed. One can see the similarity in the two because of their always changing points of view.
Another allusion in the Catcher in the Rye is its reference to William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet. Hamlet is the story of Prince Hamlet of Denmark, who like Holden, has times in which he has varying emotions. Hamlet can be depressed in one moment then in another be in a full rage. Holden resembles Hamlet due to their uncontrollable emotions.
Another one of William Shakespeare’s work that resembles Holden is the well known story of Romeo and Juliet. Holden and Romeo are very similar in the sense that they both make decisions using their emotions. The young Romeo ends up killing himself due to his love of Juliet. Holden can relate to this because he has relationship issues and makes poor choices to try and fill the void that they leave.
All the characters that resemble Holden have one thing in common, they have very strong emotions. When they are sad they are deeply depressed, when they are mad they are enraged, and when they are happy they are on top of the world. One could say that Holden is Bipolar due to the fact that he has very differing emotions and they are always strong ones.
In conclusion Holden is a very troubled individual and is a classic character that portrays the troubles of life and what Teens go through with their school, relationship, and just general life problems. Holden’s story is quite possibly relatable to all of us in some way, shape, or form and is a relevant story to all Teens and young adults going through the hard times of high school.
Romeo & Juliet – At Grand Central, Holden mentions the story while talking to the nuns. Holden feels very awkward talking to the nuns about this story because it involves sexual content. Because Holden is not comfortable with simply talking about sex, it represents his insecurity. Also, Holden despised Romeo. This embodies Holden’s hate for fake, famous characters that many other people love. Holden also states that it drives him “crazy” when somebody gets killed.
More information on Shakespeare: http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/
Emily Dickinson – Holden makes a remark about Emily D. while he is heading towards the Wicker Bar. He mentions how Allie believed Emily Dickinson was an astounding war poet. Emily and Holden both had a very different outlook on the environment around them. J.D. Salinger and Holden both resemble Emily in the way that they both confine themselves from many except for a select few. Holden secludes himself from many and only converses with a few amount of people. After writing this novel, J.D. Salinger fettered himself in his house and only conversed with his family and a small social group.
More information on Emily Dickinson: http://www.online-literature.com/dickinson/
Ring Lardner – Lardner was a author, journalist, and columnist. He was known for his sarcastic and ironic writing. While Holden is talking about his younger brother's literature, he mentions Ring Lardner. Holden states that Lardner was his favorite author after DB. It significant that Holden likes Lardner as a writer because they both have many similarities. For instance, they both are sarcastic, they both live in New York, and they both have a drinking problem.
For more information about Ring Lardner, visit: http://www.todayinliterature.com/biography/ring.lardner.asp
Out of Africa – Out of Africa is a novel Holden is reading throughout the book. He got the novel in the library and says that he actually enjoyed it. The novel is about a character called Karen Blixen who acts as a protector of all the African people who stay on her farm. It is very significant that Holden likes this novel because he relates to Karen. Holden relates to Karen because he too wishes to protect and all of the innocent people in his life. We can now see clearly that Holden is battling with himself because he does not want to grow up.
For more information about Karen Blixen, visit: http://www.karenblixen.com/chronology.html
The Return of The Native – Holden mentions this novel on page 110. “Then I started wondering like a bastard what the one sitting next to me, that taught English, thought about, being a nun and all, when she read certain books for English. Books not necessarily with a lot of sexy stuff in them, but books with lovers and all in them. Take old Eustacia Vye, in The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy. She wasn't too sexy or anything, but even so you can't help wondiering what a nun thinks about when she reads about old Eustacia.” Eustacia is a daring woman who wants to live a more adventurous life. Also, she is an outcast who is avoided by many because they fear she is a witch. Holden relates to Eustacia because he also wishes to travel and explore. Also, Holden is a loner and does not fit in with his community as well.
For more information on the author of this fa-nominal novel, visit: http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/hardy/bio.html
In the novel Catcher in the Rye, the main character, Holden, is similar to Benedict Arnold.
Benedict Arnold was a General in the Revolutionary war. Arnold was revered as a hero as well as a villain due to him switching sides during the war. When Arnold fought with the Patriots he was revered for his involvement during the invasion of Canada, a battle in which he was wounded. He returned home a hero but soon after he married a woman who was a very prominent Loyalist to the British cause. Some say his wife persuaded him to join the British but none the less he did. In his time with the British Arnold requested to be placed in the command of West Point in which he planned to hand over to the British but was unsuccessful. Holden can relate to Arnold due to his split personality. Holden is known to vary in emotions for example one moment he can be happy then the next he will be completely depressed. One can see the similarity in the two because of their always changing points of view.
Another allusion in the Catcher in the Rye is its reference to William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet. Hamlet is the story of Prince Hamlet of Denmark, who like Holden, has times in which he has varying emotions. Hamlet can be depressed in one moment then in another be in a full rage. Holden resembles Hamlet due to their uncontrollable emotions.
Another one of William Shakespeare’s work that resembles Holden is the well known story of Romeo and Juliet. Holden and Romeo are very similar in the sense that they both make decisions using their emotions. The young Romeo ends up killing himself due to his love of Juliet. Holden can relate to this because he has relationship issues and makes poor choices to try and fill the void that they leave.
All the characters that resemble Holden have one thing in common, they have very strong emotions. When they are sad they are deeply depressed, when they are mad they are enraged, and when they are happy they are on top of the world. One could say that Holden is Bipolar due to the fact that he has very differing emotions and they are always strong ones.
In conclusion Holden is a very troubled individual and is a classic character that portrays the troubles of life and what Teens go through with their school, relationship, and just general life problems. Holden’s story is quite possibly relatable to all of us in some way, shape, or form and is a relevant story to all Teens and young adults going through the hard times of high school.