(Revised) Prompt #2

2008, Form B. In some works of literature, childhood and adolescence are portrayed as times graced by innocence and a sense of wonder; in other works, they are depicted as times of tribulation and terror. Focusing on a single novel or play, explain how its representation of childhood or adolescence shapes the meaning of the work as a whole.

       J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye centers around adolescent Holden Caulfield struggling with growing up.  Holden copes with understanding feelings of alienation and his sexuality.  Overall, this contributes to the novel's themes of the pain of growing up and artificiality of the adult world.

      At school, Holden feels as if he has no real friends.  He often uses the term, "phony" to describe his peers as he thinks they are disingenuous.  The only real friend he can communicate with is his little sister, Phoebe.  Sincerity is something he thinks is lacking among almost everyone but remains within younger people.  An example of his alienation is during a school-wide football game, when he chooses not to attend it to read a book instead.  The alienation he feels is something many kids feel as they get older, a lack of understanding form others.  Holden is chosen by Salinger to represent a stereotypical misunderstood adolescent.  
      As Holden gets older he also feels pressure to lose his virginity.  However, he has never felt comfortable to do so even if conditions were right.  At one point during the novel, he sees a couple performing sexual acts and thinks of them as "perverts" and doesn't understand why they would do such things.  At another point, he hires a prostitute but only wants to talk to her in the end.  Holden struggles to understand sexuality even though those around him have already done so, which additionally adds to his alienation.   

     Holden's experiences through the novel highlight the trials of getting older.  Salinger communicates that the "phoniness" he perceives among his peers and adults is a lack of sincerity among adults.  His bigger message is that kids can struggle to make the transition from childhood to adulthood as they realize the completely different social dynamics.  Kids are honest and innocent, adults have the capability to be insincere an manipulative.  As kids enter the stage in between childhood and adulthood, they can in turn be alienated like Holden.  So, the alienation is supposed to highlight this struggle.  Holden's other issue of understanding sexuality also comes at the same transition to adulthood.  Through his experiences in the novel, he represents that struggle with sexuality that comes with growing up.  Together, both Holden's feelings of alienation and sexuality contribute to Salinger's greater purpose of communicating how difficult it can be growing up and the insincerity of the adult world.