The Catcher in the Rye is a novel by J. D Salinger. The novel follows Holden Caulfield, a teenager from New York City, who is expelled from his prep school and then takes a journey around America. The novel deals with themes of teenage angst, alienation, and rebellion. Holden often struggles with these themes and turns to alcohol, sex, and violence as a way to cope.
However, he eventually learns that these coping mechanisms are not healthy and only make his problems worse. By the end of the novel, Holden has realized that he needs to make some changes in his life if he ever wants to be happy. The Catcher in the Rye is a coming-of-age story that teaches readers that growing up can be difficult, but it is worth the struggle.
In J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield, a lonely teenager, faces alcoholism, sex, and violence. These issues must be addressed on a daily basis by adolescents. Throughout the book The Catcher in the Rye, alcohol is very common. Alcoholic beverages are readily available and relatively inexpensive for teenagers to obtain. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism , more than 1.3 million American teenagers have an alcohol problem.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also reports that each year 6, 000 young people die as a result of underage drinking, car accidents, homicides, suicides, and other injuries. The Holden in The Catcher in the Rye drinks because he is struggling with the death of his brother Allie and the departure of his best friend, Stradlater. Holden retreats to alcohol to ease his pain. Holden’s excessive drinking causes him to black out and makes him vulnerable to sexual predators.
The most disturbing scene involving alcohol in The Catcher in the Rye is when Holden goes to a bar with Carl Luce and gets extremely drunk. He then proceeds to make out with a prostitute against her will. When she tries to leave, Holden becomes violent and threatens to hit her. The prostitute then calls the police and Holden is arrested. The Catcher in the Rye also deals with the issue of teenage sex. Holden is a virgin who is obsessed with sex.
He constantly thinks about having sex and losing his virginity. Holden’s obsession with sex leads him to make some poor decisions, such as going to a hotel room with a prostitute. Sex is a natural part of life, but it can be dangerous for teenagers. According to The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, one in three teenagers will get pregnant before the age of 20. TheCatcher in the Rye also deals with violence. Holden is a very violent person. He gets into fights often and even gets kicked out of school for attacking a teacher.
The most violent scene in The Catcher in the Rye is when Holden goes to New York City and gets into a fight with a gang. Holden beats up the gang members until he is covered in blood. TheCatcher in the Rye is an excellent novel that deals with important issues that teenagers face every day. The novel provides insight on how to deal with these problems in a healthy way.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse also indicates that, according to teens, the reason for underage teenage drinking is a combination of defiance against their parents and maturity. Another cause of adolescent alcoholism is that it demonstrates a stamp of bravery.
According to Dr. Joseph Franklin, The starting point of alcohol use is when one youngster dares another youngster to drink alcohol, and the child does not want his buddies to think he is a chicken so he does it himself. Then the rest of them follow suit. In Between Parent and Teenager (1979), substance abuse is identified as the leading killer among teenagers.
The book also discusses that teenagers turn to alcohol and drugs as a way to cope with the emotional pain they are feeling. The Catcher in the Rye by J. D Salinger is no exception. Holden Caulfield, the main character, turns to alcohol as a way to deal with his problems.
One of Holden’s biggest problems is his relationship with his parents. He is constantly fighting with them and he feels like they don’t understand him. In chapter 11, Holden gets drunk for the first time. He drinks because he is upset about how his parents are treating him. He says, “I was feeling very low, and I guess I wanted to get drunk…I was sort of hoping somebody would challenge me to a fight or something. I was so goddam lonely” (Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye). Holden is looking for a way to cope with his problems and alcohol seems to be the answer for him.
Alcohol isn’t the only thing that Holden turns to in order to deal with his problems. He is also attracted to violence. In chapter 8, Holden goes to a bar and gets into a fight. He is attracted to the violence and he enjoys it. He says, “It was great. I felt so powerful” (Salinger, J. D The Catcher in the Rye). Holden is looking for a way to feel powerful and violent behavior seems to do the trick.
Finally, Holden also turns to sex as a way to cope with his problems. In chapter 17, Holden goes to a prostitute. He is looking for a way to feel close to someone and he thinks that sex will do the trick. He says, “I was just so goddam lonely” (Salinger, J. D The Catcher in the Rye). Holden is looking for a way to fill the emptiness that he is feeling and sex seems to be the answer.
Overall, Holden turns to alcohol, violence, and sex as a way to deal with his problems. These behaviors are not healthy and they can lead to negative consequences. However, Holden is not the only teenager who deals with these problems. Many teenagers turn to alcohol and drugs as a way to cope with the emotional pain they are feeling. It is important for parents to be aware of these issues and to talk to their children about them.
