the catcher in the rye

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《麦田里的守护者》中霍尔顿悲剧成因分析

张乐

摘要：《麦田里的守护者》是J.D.塞格林的一部杰作，它深刻探索了二战后美国

年轻人的精神世界，是美国经典小说之一。本文主要从他的自身因素，家庭中父

母错误的教育方式以及来自学校，社会的不良风气的影响，这几方面详细分析了

主人公霍尔顿悲剧命运的成因。霍尔顿看不惯那时的世道，却有无力改变。他变

得自欺欺人，矛盾重重，最终，他的精神彻底崩溃，通过分析主人公霍尔顿的悲

剧成因，启迪家庭、学校、社会应重视青少年的内心世界，而青少年也应以本作

品中主人公的亲身经历为鉴，好好对待自己，认真对待生活。

关键词：霍尔顿悲剧自身素质家庭、学校及社会因素

TheAnalysisoftheCausofHolden’sTragedyinthe

CatcherintheRye

ZhangLe

Abstract:elisoneof

thegreatmodernclassicoftheAmericanliteraturewhichexploresthepsychological

permakesadetailedanalysisofthecaus

ofHolden’sTragedyintermsofhischaracterflaw,hisparentswrongteaching

methodstowardshimandtheinfluenceofunhealthyatmospherefromschooland

stoemannersandmoralsofthetimebutheispowerlesstochange

y,his

yzingthecausofHolden’stragedy,theauthor

triestodemonstratethatfamily,schoolandsocietyshouldpaymoreattentionto

teenagers’innerworldandteenagersshoulddrawalessonfromHolden’xperience.

Teenagersshouldtreatthemlveswellandtreatliferiously.

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Keywords：Holden’sTragedycharacterflawfamily,schoolandsocietyfactors

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Contents

Introduction：...........................................................................................1

’stragiclife.................................................................................2

1.1Personalunhappinessinhimotionallife.............................................2

1.11Parentswhocan’tunderstandhim.............................................2

1.12Friendswhocan’tcherishthesameidealsandfollowthesame

path.............................................................................................................3

1.13Loverswhoshowfalaffection..................................................4

1.2Personalimperfection5

1.21Alackofpyschologicalhealth...................................................5

1.22Alackofphysicalhealth...............................................................6

1.3Personalunhappinessinhisschoollife.........................................................6

1.31Poorachievementinschool..........................................................6

1.32Disagreeableteachers.....................................................................................7

’scharacters....................................................................................................8

2.1Toostubborntoadapthissurroundings......................................................8

2.2Toonaivetopursuehisideallove.....................................................................8

2.3Toocontradictioustorealizehis“puredream”.......................................9

luencesoftheschoolandsocietyonhislife............................9

3.1Hypocrisy,snobbishness,lfishnessasthe“corrosive”...................10

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3.2Thenatureofthecapitalistsocietyasthedevil.....................................10

Conclusion...............................................................................................11

Notes…………………………………………………………………….12

Bibliography..........................................................................................13

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TheAnalysisoftheCausofHolden’sTragedyinthe

CatcherintheRye

ZhangLe

Introduction：

JeromeDavidSalinger(1919-2010)isanoutstandingAmericanwriterof

publishedTheCatcherintheRyein1951,hebecamemoreand

velistheonlyfull-lengthnovelofSalinger,whichis

consideredas“modernclassic”.ThenoveltellsusHolden’stragicstoriesinhisown

toneHoldenisachildfromawealthyfamilyHecanenterintoanexcellentschool,

ool

sappointedathisschoolandhedoesn’twantto

sflunkedduetothefailureofmanysubjects.

Insteadofdoingbacktohome,thisperiod,

hesufferedalotHoldencannotbearthesightofeverythingaroundhim,heevenwant

deafanddumbheinclinedtoliveaplacewhich

shutofffromtheoutsideworld,

result,ckofmovie,butheidlesawayhistimein

ststhexrelationshipwithoutlove,butcallsaprostitute

irrationallyHewasdisgustedathisgirlfriendSallywhoisvulgarandvanity,but

can’eexperiences,hesuffersnothingbut

lf-deception,nd,hecan’tbalancehimlf.

eThe

CatcherintheRyehasgreatsocialsignificanceandartisticcharacteristics,many

scholarsstudiesthisnovelfrommanyaspects,thetheme,thelanguage,thecharacters

ointhispaperistoexplorethe

causofHolden’fanalyzingthecaus,

wecandrawsomelessonsandpaymoreattentiontothegrowthoftheyouth.

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’stragiclife

Holden’sforunderstandingandtruelovebutpeople

nsitivetohissurroundingsbuthecannotadjust

sforaworldwherethereisnohypocriticalaffection

,healso

twithnumerouscontradictionsandcannot

getridofthoinfluences.

1.1Personalunhappinessinhimotionallife

Asasixteen-year-oldboy,heshouldbehappyandlivelyinhimotionallife.

However,livinginacularworldmanyfactorscandestroyhishappiness.

1.11Parentswhocan’tunderstandhim

ilycanprovide

r,Holdencan’t

ofthisproblemisthatthere

isnocommunicationbetweenHoldenandhisparents,Hisparentspayslittleattention

toHolden’

beginningofthisnovel,Holdentellsushowheevaluateshisparents：“They’renice

andall--I’mnotsayingthat--butthey’realsotouchyashell”[1]Accordingtothewords

fromHolden’ssister,herwouldflewinto

ca,

hismother,herheartbecomesveryfragileduetothedeathofHolden’

motherfeelsheartacheforthedeathofherbelovedsonandsheishystericalwithgrief.

SoHolden’notlikestudy,

notaccustomofstayingathis

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’’tget

understandingandcommunicationfromhisparents,evenifhelongsforhisparents’

stogohome

andheiagerforhisparents’nhethinksofhisparents’

rudenessandcritic,

result,ree,

hisparentsleadtoHolden’sunhappiness.

1.12Friendswhocan’tcherishthesameidealsandfollowthesamepath.

Inhisschool,ealthywaysandcustomsare

ayedatschooljustin

wouldn’dhisfriendshadnocommongoal.

ile,hisfriendsalsocan’t

bearHolden’sthoughtandcan’andhis

’sfriends

kleyforexample,Ackleyisaguywhoroomsnext

thalwayslooks

avioralso

yspickedupothers’eofHolden’s

warning,rtogetscissorsforAckley,

eadofsympathizingwithHolden,AckleylaughsatHolden

onlytellsAckleythathehasadamngood

r,

enalsowouldnotlike

,hecan’tliveinaharmoniousatmospherewithhis

rguycalled

Stradlater,aterisaplayboywhodallyswith

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lknown,itiswrongforamantoplaywithawoman’saffections.

geshisgirlfriends

kesHolden

eHoldenthinksthatthegirlisavictiminStradlater’sloveaffairs.

wantstospendtimeorhavex

ldenthinksofStradlater’sbamotive,hecan’tkeephistemper.

nehand,Holdenfeelsanobscure

therhand,Holdenalwayskeepspursuingpure

loveinhisinnerheartandhecan’tbearthesightofsoiledloveappearinginhismind.

Atlast,tradlater,heswaggersoutofroom

elfishboyheis!Stradlaterneverthinkofthe

helpofHoldenandhehasnopatiencetolistenforHolden’novel,

denwantshimto

ateralso

doesn’blames

Holdenthathedoesn’ovecas,wecane

vedifferentviewson

life,ore,noone

cansharehissorrowandgloomy;noonecantrulyknowandunderstandhim.

1.13Loverswhoshowfalaffection

ttogetherjustbecau

n

heescapesfromtheschool,stospendtimewithothers.

odywouldavailable.

Finallyhefindsanaddressofastrangeandindecentgirlandcallsheruplateatnight.

en’slasthopeistocallSallywhoisso

way,reisno

doesn’tlikethistypeof

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s,Sallyisabeautifulgirl,whichmakesHoldencan’thelptouchingher.

TheyounglikeHoldeninthestageofadolescencewouldhavethisfeelingtowards

dingagirlfriendblindlyjusttofeedone’sneedisnotnsibleandmature.

Holdenkeepspursuingpureloveinhisidealbutindulginginfalloveinhisreality.

TheincompatiblenesssurelycannotavoidandcausHolden’slf-contradictionand

depression.

1.2Personalimperfection

Accordingtothenovel,Holdenhaspoorpsychologicalandphysicalhealth,to

makethingswor,theconditionofhisheartandbodyclearlyhassomethingtodo

withhimotionalandhealthystate.

1.21Alackofpyschologicalhealth

Holdenisarebelliousboywhodoesn’twanttodowhatsocietywantshimtodo.

nnerworldisunderanunhealthycondition.

rtisalsobrokenbythedeathofhisbeloved

en’yes,heisthesymbolofallgood

thofhisbrothernotonlybringsthesadnessofHoldenbutalsoit

ksthatsuchagoodboylikehisbrother

otbeartotastethesadnessofthedeathofhisfamilymember.

Thatistosay,hecan’

ksthewindowsofcartoexpresshis

thateveryonemustexperiencehappinessandsadnessinhis

neshouldfaceupto

r,Holdensometimeventhinkshis

ashethinksofhis

brother,s,heisnsitivetothingsthatmaynot

tance,hedoubtsthatStradlaterandthegirlmayhavethexaction.

Hedoesn’ife,whenhe

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meetsanyproblemsthattroubleshim,Holdencan’tuareasonablewaytoresolve

’nd,heonlygoesfora

psychoanalyst.

1.22Alackofphysicalhealth

BecauHoldensuffersfrompsychologicalproblems,suchasdespair,

loneliness,scareandpessimism,hetriedsomespecialmeanstocurehis

psychologicaldias,ngwhenheis

yesofmostpeople,Holdenshouldbealivelyand

,hesuffersdianotonlyfromhisheartbutalsohisbodyforhe

heheightofsixfoottwoandahalfbuthenearlygetsT.B,

wefeelheartachethatHoldenusmokinganddrinkingtoreleahisdepressionand

sadnessandtobeawayfromsolitude.

1.3Personalunhappinessinhisschoollife.

oolisfullofphonieswhohe

sgustedwiththeindifference,fraudandphoniness.

Underthiscondition,soutoffour

wantstosaygoodthoteacherstowhomhe

ortunately,

unhappyschoollifeisaheavyblowtohisvulnerableheart.

1.31Poorachievementinschool

salotofclassical

books,ol,hedoesn’tlikethephony

therreason,he

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doesn’tenjoystudyingthosubjectshedoesn’tlike,becautheycannotgivehima

sliteraturebest,especiallyhelikesreadingwarbooks

stofindaspacetodevelophimlf,butheonlyliveinthe

flunkedfromschoolanddoesn’t

hereallyescapefromschool?Intheendofthisnovel,we

knowthathispsychoanalystkeepsaskingHoldenifheisgoingapplyhimlfwhen

en’sopinion,it’ssuchastupid

shouldbeagoodplacetocultureourteenagersbutinHolden’yes,

’tgain

achievementsbyschooleducationwhichinthattimeonlyatooltocreate“bright

future.”

1.32Disagreeableteachers

,whoisthephoniestbastardheever

ysgoaroundshakinghandswarmlywithparentswhenthey

ivestheparentswhoarelittleoldfunny-lookinga

can’eshim

rsshouldtagood

ouldteachHoldenhowtotreatpeopleequallyandguide

r,kesagreatbadeffecton

oolmatesmaybeartheirheadmaster’s

writesanotetohimforhethoughtitwill

isthing,wecanehow

kindboyHoldenheis!ButSpencerreadshissayandnotesneglectingHolden’s

cherscan’

HoldensaysSpencerandhimwereonoppositesidesofthepole.

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’scharacters

AlthoughoutsideworldcanhaveastronginfluenceonHolden,Holdenalsohas

fatalweaknesswhichcancauhistragedy.

2.1Toostubborntoadapthissurroundings.

It’stsfor

hisschoolandthophonyclassmates,whichisthemainreasonforHoldendon’t

ersfrommuchconflictanddoesn’tknow

notnsibleway

today’ssociety,oursurroundingsisfullofhypocrisy

’tstudyinschooljust

lreadyflunked

fourtimes,buthedoesn’now

thatwecan’tchangeothers,aswe

otbeinfluencedbysocalled

leverpeoplewillchangetheirattitudeandactionswhenthey

’sstubborncharactertosome

extentattributedtohistragicfate.

2.2Toonaivetopursuehisideallove

r,incapitalist

society,ifpeopletoonaive,sforideallove

beJanebecomeagirlasphonyasothersandhisgirlfriendsallyactuallydon’tlove

scontradictoryandcan’isunluckybecau

extent,eves

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inlove,kindness,annotgetpureloveinasocietythathypocrisyand

ntpersonlikeHoldenisputinadangerous,

disadvantageous,ore,Holden’stragedyisalsoduetohis

naivecharacter.

2.3Toocontradictioustorealizehis“puredream”

Holdenhasa“puredream”ures

himlfasthesoleguardianofnumerouschildrenrunningandplayinginahugerye

istocatchthechildreniftheywanderclotothe

“catcherintherye”isan

analogyforHolden,whoadmiresinkidsattributeshestrugglestofindinadults,like

innocence,kindness,ghhehasagoodideal,itcan

notfitforrealitywhenhefallsoutoffourschools,spendsaneveningdancingwith

threetouristgirlsandhasaclumsyencounterwithaprostitutehemanifestscomplete

spendsatotalof3days,characterized

largelybydrunkenessandloneliness[2].Heevenwantstokillhislifetoreleahis

stoescapetherealitytoaplacewhereisnotroubleand

y,hedecidesnotleavehisfamily.

Holdentrieshardtorealizehis“puredream,butduetohisowncontradictory

character,hefailsintheend.

luencesoftheschoolandsocietyonhislife.

1950s’,

peoplefeelspiritualempty,especiallyteenagerssufferedfromdespair,lonelinessand

isjust

animageofthoteenagers.

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3.1Hypocrisy,snobbishness,lfishnessasthe“corrosive”

Societyandsurroundingscouldinfluenceaman’us“phony”

chers,including

hisclassmates,ldenworshipverymuchbecomephonies.

ertomakemoney,is

uptbyhisbrother’dmasterHaas’snobbishnessmakesHoldsick.

Becauthehypocrisy,snobbishness,lfishnessofthesocietyhecuthimlfoff

appliesthe“phony”nottothepeopleinsincerebuttothowhoaretooconventional.

Forinstance,teacherswho“actlike”teachersbyassumingadifferentdemeanorin

classthantheydoinconversation,orpeoplewhodressactliketheothermembersof

ofthetermactuallyindicatesthathisownperceptionsof

ntstoescapethe“phony”worldHoldenwants

tobeaguardianinafieldofrye,whichemsanidealizedfantasyandavisionof

time,rto

achievetheirgoal,theybecomehypercritical,snobbish,rgenerationis

ina“phonyandlfishworld”isatrendfor

,herefustogrowup,sohelacksoftheabilitytoethe

Holden

strugglefortheworldwherenohypocrisy,snobbishnessandlfishness,hewould

haveatragicfateinevitably.

3.2Thenatureofthecapitalistsocietyasthedevil.

atimewhentheburgeoningAmericaindustryeconomychangedpeople’sinto

indifferent,lsoatimethiconomymadethenation

prosperousandentrenchedsocialrulesrvedasacodeofconformityfortheyounger

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moneyandgettinghighsocialstatusarepresscomefromthe

ore,is

disgustedwiththeindifference,fraudandphoninessinschoolandhegoestoNew

Yorkspendinghistime,onlytofindoutthesocietyivenmorevulgarobsceneand

inessoftheworldaroundhimmakesHoldenconfuandhelpless.

Holdencan’eingexpelledfromtheschoolfor

poorgrades,hisdaysinNewYork,he

experiencesathingfullymanifeststheindifferenceofpeopleinthecapitalistsociety.”

Holdenhasaclumsyencounterwithaprostitute;hisattitudetowardtheprostitute(a

girlhisownage)changestheminutesheenterstheroom,andafterhetellsherhejust

wantstotalk,r,hestillpaysfor

andsmoremoneythanwasoriginallyagreeduponandwhenhe

refustopay,heisbeatenbyherpimp.[3]Thixperiencefullycharacterizedbythe

bilitytosuccessfullyovercomethepsychological

difficultiesandwoundsleavehimonthevergeofemotionalcollap.

Conclusion:

ItisinevitableforHoldentohaveatragedylife,becauHolden’sParentscan’t

ssmatesand

teachersalsocan’lesocietyonlybringspainto

Holden’ile,thelackoflovecareandaffectionfromfamily,

schoolandsocietymakesHoldenrebelliousandviolentaswellasnsitiveand

dnotbecomea

arethefeaturesofHolden’per

introducedthereasonsofhistragedy—hischaracterflawsandtheinfluencesfrom

canethataperson’sfamilyandown

charactersminglestogetherandinfluenceaperson’motionsocialenvironmentalso

playsanimportantroleinone’rawsomelessonsfrom

Holden’stlessonisparents,schoolandsocietyshouldpaymore

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attentiontoteenager’spsychologicalhealthandprovideafairlygoodenvironment,it

ontrary,achild’s

personalityandheartwillbehurtbyapoorenvironmentcondteenagersshould

ouldknow

timportantthingisthatnomatterhow

difficultsituationyoumetinyoulife,justfacethemusicandneveridleawaylife!

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Notes:

[1]SalingerJ、cherintherye[M].NewYour:1958.p.1

[2]/wiki2008.p.5

[3]SalingerJ、cherintheRye.[M].NewYour:

PengninbooksInc.,1958.p.1

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[2]SalingerJ、cherintheRye.[M].NewYour:

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