Catcher in the Rye Essay

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must plunge down, so he can gain control and get back up.

At the end of the novel, Holden lets go of all his stresses and initiates the fall. After touring the Natural History Museum, of which he had not been in since Elementary school, Holden felt dizzy, “when [he] was coming out of the can, [and] right before [he] got to the door, [he] sort of passed out” (225). Finally, Holden plummets to the floor, thus symbolizing his great decline. In order to launch his expedition into life, Holden allows nature bring him down, for afterwards he is able to envision his direction, and provide hope for the/his future. Priorly, Holden feared he would never get back up; however, after his moral recession, “[he] didn’t feel so damn dizzy anymore” (225). All his anxieties and concerns that deteriorate him suddenly cease, because he lets them go, thus lightening his load, and enabling him to break free. Holden comprehends that in order to take charge over his course, he must first overcome his fears, and fall. While watching Phoebe submit to precarious activities, Holden recognizes that “If they fall off, they fall off, but it’s bad if you say anything to them” (232). Holden apprehends that the fall is inevitable, for the less one knows about it, the easier it is to overcome. Although challenging, Holden finally lets go of his alms, which allows him to fall, thus beginning his transition into a better lifestyle.

Society constantly influences Holden, for deeply fears turning into something he is not, and even though he dreads the fall, he realizes he has to wake up and move forward. Trying to escape from reality, only pulls Holden deeper into the inside, and permits him to alter his perspective, thus reviving him from his crash. Blinded by society, one must try to adjust to the environment around them, and eventually find their path. This fall is scary, because some do not have faith they will be able to get back up, and this can cause anxieties, which lead to an even larger decline. However, hitting bottom is an essential step in life, in order to regain control and come back stronger. Once one commits to the plunge, their vision will become more clear, and assist them in finding their course.