Catcher in the Rye, thematic essays

Catcher in the Rye, thematic essays A Lack of Companionship, a Lack of Joy Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel (qtd. in Davidoff 106). As long as man has existed, man has strived to have companions: to feel the love of friends and family. In J.D. Salingers The Catcher in the Rye, protagonist Holden Caulfield rose from his sadness and found happiness only when he realized the importance of the love and companionship offered by friends and family. Holden faced many obstructions in his quest to find the joy that was missing in his life. Unfriendly and non-understanding people seemed to attack Holdens life from all directions, yet Holden ultimately discovered happiness through the kindness of his sister Phoebe. By learning from Holdens quest for happiness, we as humans will be able to peer deeper into our own quests for joy and our own understandings of where happiness actually comes from. In order to find happiness, one must first recognize his sadness and ultimately acknowledge the supreme importance of friends, family, and every companion Sometimes one notices the void of sorrow only when he realizes that he is without anyone to love. Loneliness can sometimes become apparent when one finds none to spend quality time with and love, as was Holdens case when he is left without a single companion. The first example of this phenomenon in the story is when Holden leaves his high school Pencey, and all the friends within it. When Holden was packed and leaving the school he, took a last look down the goddam corridor. I was sort of crying. I dont know why (Salinger 52). Holden is sad because he is leaving every companion he has: every source of affection. A second time in the novel when Holden is confronted with the lurking void of loneliness is when chatting in a hotel lounge with a peer from hi...