Change In The Catcher And The Rye Essay - 808 Words

George Bernard Shaw once said that, â€Å"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.† In J.D. Salinger’s novel, The Catcher and The Rye, Holden’s fear of change shows us that change, although difficult, is inevitable as one matures from a child to an adult. We see how Holden is overwhelmed with change which makes him enjoy things that stay the same. When Holden is able to look back at this experiences, he matures and is able to grow. Holden is overwhelmed by change, and it leads him to prefer things that stay the same or do not change. We see that when Holden goes to the museum that he realizes that the only thing that ever changes is the people. At the museum the exhibits never†¦show more content†¦If Holden is trying to apply himself and does well in school, there is no reason for Holden is fail out of school or get kicked out. This is a very important moment in The Catcher in the Rye, which makes it a little sad that it happens so close to the end of the book. The reader does not get to experience this new Holden which is trying to have a bright future in which he actually applies himself in school, which has never happened before. Holden’s experiences in the mental facility, really help holden learn the priorities of life and to not fear the normal teenage experiences, which consists of changes. Holden is scared because he feels bad about the wrong things he judges people, and because he does not understand the world around him. Holden will not acknowledge his phobia. Holden only expresses his fear a few times throughout the entire book, when Holden talks about sex, he admits that,â€Å"[s]ex is something I just do not understand. I swear to God I do not† (63 Salinger). Sex is something that you learn as you grow up, but if you try to ignore the concept of growing up, you will not understand adult concepts. In the book, Holden’s central goal in the entirety of the book, is to resist growing up and try to abstain from the process of growing up. Holden would like to have everything explained in simple terms and be easily understandable and externally fixed. Growing up and the processShow MoreRelatedEssay Holdens Fear of Change in The Catcher in the Rye1910 Words   |  8 PagesPeople rebel for a cause. In the book â€Å"The Catcher in the Rye† , the protagonist, Holden Caulfield is living in a school called Pencey Prep. Holden is failing all of his cl asses except English, and he often curses and smokes cigarettes in his dorm. One of Holden’s main problems in life is the death of his brother Allie. Allie, who died of leukemia 3 years prior to the events of the book, was the only person who deeply understood Holden. 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