The Quest for Identity in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye
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Date
2020-06
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Abstract
The Catcher in the Rye is a postmodern American masterpiece. Written by J.D. Salinger, the novel achieved extraordinary popularity among adolescents since its publication in 1951. This dissertation aims at analyzing how J.D. Salinger depicts his protagonist’s, Holden Caulfield, quest for identity in a postmodern society. Depending on Erik Erikson’s theory of Psychological Development, this qualitative analytical study sheds light on Holden’s self- image as well as his view of the postwar American society which causes him identity confusion and feelings of alienation. Moreover, the dissertation discusses Holden’s journey towards adulthood and investigates its outcome. Therefore, the significance of this dissertation lies in its focus on adolescents (Holden’s struggle for identity which corresponds to one of the most important stages of an individual development.) The findings show that Holden’s search for identity was not an easy one as he finds himself constantly overwhelmed by the impact of his family and society. However, despite the circumstances, positive outcomes can be interpreted from the findings as Holden starts to realize what really suits his long quest for identity.