The Catcher in the Rye Research Paper Essay Example
"The Catcher in the Rye Research Paper" Childhood is one of the most critical and important times in a child's life. Family should play a very large role in a child's life. According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of a family is "the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their own or adopted children" (419). A dysfunctional family unit lacks communication, love, and happiness. The children within a family need supportive, attentive parents to demonstrate positive attitudes even through traumatic events. The main character, Holden Caulfield, in J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye lives in a dysfunctional family. He matures in a normal household in New York City until his younger brother, Allie, passes away. The once normal family suddenly turns into havoc. This novel portrays many aspects of life within a dysfunctional family, such as the Caulfields. The Catcher in the Rye is criticized by many people of all ages. Some schools have banned the book; others have argued it's important within the high school curriculum. Throughout this novel, J.D. Salinger illustrates the characteristics, causes, and effects of the dysfunctional Caulfield family. The characteristics of a family are very important pieces to defining a dysfunctional family. The novel points out one character in particular who feels the need to hold the family together on a thin string, Phoebe, Holden's younger sister. When Holden comes home to visit Phoebe, their parents are not home. As Holden hides in the closet from his parents, he overhears Mrs. Caulfield and Phoebe talking, " I have a splitting headache,' my mother said. She gets headaches quite frequently. She really does. Take a few aspirins' old Phoebe said" (Salinger 178). Phoebe is being the caretaker in this example by replacing what a mother would say to a child with a headache. She is taking the responsibility of holding the fragile family together because her parents are not