Throughout the years people have established their own philosophies filled with their own insight on how everything should be looked upon. Some philosophies are similar while others are different, but there is no correct one philosophy that everyone should believe in. Existentialism, a philosophy that began in the 1800’s as a European movement, became popular in the 1940’s through the 1960’s during World War II. Since war was going on Americans felt the government contradicted what was actually going on in combat. This ties into an Existentialist point of view since they prefer freedom over being controlled by laws. The main concept of this philosophy is individualism and the power to make a decision that solely reflects oneself. These ideas and more are included in author J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, where a young man named Holden Caulfield is coming to terms with the transition from childhood to adulthood throughout this novel. In the story, Salinger portrays existential elements through the pressure of social expectations and the struggle of individuality. The amount of money a person has come into play during this novel since social structure is unavoidable.
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During Holden’s time at Elkton Hills, he roomed with Dick Slagle who had “inexpensive suitcases [that he kept] under the bed, instead of on the rack, so that nobody [would] see them standing next to” Holden’s suitcases that were from Mark Cross (Salinger 120-1). The cause of Dick Slagle’s insecurity is due to society looking at him differently which cast this essence of him not being wealthy. Existentialists believed social structure should exist but they were against the purpose of classifying people based off an individual’s income. Dick Slagle who might not have a prosperous income feels the pressure that society has put on the non-wealthy people. Instead of dealing with society face to face, Holden decides he wants to take a different approach where he would not have to deal with society at all. Thinking of unrealistic goals, Holden concludes that he wants to go live in a cabin where he would live out his days with children growing up with no influence of society corrupting them. Instead of thinking about school like Holden should be “he dreams of unambiguous spaces that are free of everything that could spoil innocence” (Baer and Gesler 407). Saving a child's innocence was a major theme throughout the novel, especially since Holden had a younger sister Phoebe who he wanted to protect. In the end of The Catcher in the Rye Holden accepts that Phoebe can not be guarded from the world especially when she rides the carousel while trying to grab the golden ring without falling off. Holden realizes “The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the golden ring, [Holden] ha[s] to let them do it, and not say anything. If they fall off, they fall off” (Salinger 232). Holden cannot control Phoebe’s life because she has to make her own decision to find herself just like all children. Even though Holden is trying to help protect Phoebe, he ultimately can not because only Phoebe can make her own decisions that will affect her. Phoebe has to be the one to do things independently. To go more into depth about shielding children,
During Holden’s time at Elkton Hills, he roomed with Dick Slagle who had “inexpensive suitcases [that he kept] under the bed, instead of on the rack, so that nobody [would] see them standing next to” Holden’s suitcases that were from Mark Cross (Salinger 120-1). The cause of Dick Slagle’s insecurity is due to society looking at him differently which cast this essence of him not being wealthy. Existentialists believed social structure should exist but they were against the purpose of classifying people based off an individual’s income. Dick Slagle who might not have a prosperous income feels the pressure that society has put on the non-wealthy people. Instead of dealing with society face to face, Holden decides he wants to take a different approach where he would not have to deal with society at all. Thinking of unrealistic goals, Holden concludes that he wants to go live in a cabin where he would live out his days with children growing up with no influence of society corrupting them. Instead of thinking about school like Holden should be “he dreams of unambiguous spaces that are free of everything that could spoil innocence” (Baer and Gesler 407). Saving a child's innocence was a major theme throughout the novel, especially since Holden had a younger sister Phoebe who he wanted to protect. In the end of The Catcher in the Rye Holden accepts that Phoebe can not be guarded from the world especially when she rides the carousel while trying to grab the golden ring without falling off. Holden realizes “The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the golden ring, [Holden] ha[s] to let them do it, and not say anything. If they fall off, they fall off” (Salinger 232). Holden cannot control Phoebe’s life because she has to make her own decision to find herself just like all children. Even though Holden is trying to help protect Phoebe, he ultimately can not because only Phoebe can make her own decisions that will affect her. Phoebe has to be the one to do things independently. To go more into depth about shielding children,