Catcher in the Rye Essay: Levels of Meaning -- Catcher Rye Essays

Levels of Meaning in The Catcher in the rye whis secernate   Protected by a cocoon of naivet, Holden Caulfield, the principal character in the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, therapeutically relates his lonely 24 hour retain in downtown New York metropolis, experiencing the phony adult world epoch dealing with the death of his innocent younger brother.  Through this well-developed teenage character, JD Salinger, uses elementary language and dialogue to outline many of the complex underlying problems follow adolescents.  With a unique beginning and ending, and an original tactile sensation at our mod society, The Catcher in the Rye is understood and appreciated on triple levels of comprehension. The book provides new insights and a fresh view of the world in which adolescents live. One way for readers to measure their level of comprehension in this story, is to look for the meaning of the title, its effect on the books theme and how it provides a deep look into Ho ldens character. Being an attention demanding tool, the title also can provide a mystery to which the reader can understand by pulling in concert the clues, hidden in the text. To an experienced reader, who may be familiar with the book, resourcefulness of a thumber in the rye is app bent throughout the story. However, for a new reader the journey begins past the middle of the book. While analyzing the city around him, Holden hold backs a kid walking in the street tattle and humming. As Holden nears he realizes the child is signing that song, If a tree trunk catch a body coming through the rye in a very pretty voice, making traffic come to a belly laugh halt, and making Holden feel not so depressed.(116) So far, the titles words argon just a catchy song, though their repetition, at a key mo... ...ginal tune, by Robert Burns, has the line If a body meet a body comin thro the rye, not If a body catch a body comin thro the rye. This is not the first time Holden has distorted so mething, though this lie has meaning. The original poem talks of the love of two people meeting each other, temporary hookup Holdens image is that of falling children being caught. Love is replaced by Holden protecting children, who are facing a death-like situation, a change showing how much of an extend to Allies death made on Holdens life. One might also see that Holden himself is falling out of innocence and needs a Catcher in the Rye himself, the books central paradox. In the end any reader could posit that The Catcher in the Rye is Holden Caulfield, though this title opens up a door into understanding his deep personality, the books theme, while exploring the central paradox.