THEMES

Throughout the book we see examples of:

• The conflict between adolescent idealism and the real world

• Alienation to create self stability

Themes of Catcher in the Rye: 

• Emerging themes

• Alienation,  Conformity, Societal Idealism,

Alienation Messages

• Self Inflicted alienation can be bad

• Alienation Detaches Character from the world

• Compulsive Lying becomes internalized

• Consequential Lying

Conformity Messages

• Holden Hates Conformity  

• Never tried to conform or see into aspects of conformity

Societal Idealism Messages

• Holden sees kids as perfect. He values their kindness, compassion, truthfulness, and supple bodies as something lacking in adults and realizes that ,as he grows up he too will become the phonies he despises.

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