Alienation sometimes called estrangement is a psychological, sociological or Philosophical-anthropological category, largely derived from the writings of Hegel, Feuerbach and Marx. When one is not accepted by society, he becomes an Outsider to everyone around him.Alienation refers to an individual’s estrangement from traditional community or others in general (social isolation), the dominant values of society, or even themselves (self-estrangement), but in General the term implies a lack of identification between a person (or what he Considers himself to be) and another entity Alienation is a very widely, and Loosely, used Concept, which originates in its modern form with Marx.
For Marx Alienation is a Condition occurring in pre-Socialist societies, where the human Nature of man is made other than; alienate what man is really capable of being?The novels the Catcher in the Rye and 1984 Present Characters who’s Inability To conform to the norms of their Society Results in their Alienation. Alienation is a feeling of not belonging. This feeling can be physical, mental, Religious, spiritual, psychological, political, social, or economic and often it tends To be a combination of more than one of these types. Alienation is a driving force That pushes the human conscience to extremes.
Whether it is alienation from Civilization or alienation from society, drastic changes consequently occur.States Of alienation come to exist as the result of many situations. Throughout Adolescence, children often feel socially inept and may choose to ignore their Problems through isolation and withdrawal. We all feel that we are being judged By peers, but what happens when these feelings take over and unrealistic Assumptions are made.
One of the biggest factors that contribute to alienation is the stress of “fitting in” and being Accepted. The pressure to fit in with your peers and be accepted by your parents Is immense.Some teens do not know how, or do not want, to fit in. This may lead to feelings of worthlessness or abnormality.
Teens who feel this way begin to show signs of depression, such as self-worth problems, withdrawal, and irritability. If this is left untreated, they may develop a full case of depression. In extreme cases, the teen may even commit suicide. When someone feels unwanted, their risk of suicidal or dangerous behavior increases greatly.
A perfect example of a youth experiencing such problems Is the novel “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger This timeless piece of Literature is based on problems teenagers have while trying to fit in. Through his Own personal experiences, Salinger has hit the nail on the head when discussing This topic.
The book narrates through the main character, Holden Caulfield, a social Misfit who has a problem focusing in school. Holden has no problem being social When it is forced upon him, but otherwise, he shy’s away. Many teens go through breakdowns. They hold in their emotions of Discontent with society and their lives because it is a “norm”.
When these feelings Become too intense, a person may let them all go and lose grip on reality. Minor Breakdowns, such as Holden’s, can help someone realize that they need help Coping with their stress. Something like this will only be beneficial in the long run. Holden showed signs of dangerous behavior when he went to New York all alone and wandered the streets late at night.
In J. D. Salinger’s novel “The Catcher in the Rye,” Holden Caulfield’s immaturity and disgust for society, which is really a disgust of himself, leads to his alienation from others, especially the character of Sally.J.
D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye represents the life of a teenager dealing with his personal issues. The main character’s name is Holden. Holden has a record of poor grades and has been kicked out of a number of good private boarding schools.
Phoebe, Holden’s sister, seems to be the only person in the book that Holden can have a mature conversation with without thinking the person is not genuine. Another extremely important character in the novel is Sally Hayes. Sally is a love interest of Holden who plays a large part in Holden’s life.Jane Gallagher also plays a major role in Holden’s life even though she never physically appears in the novel.
There are many situations where Holden feels alienated from his friends and society. The Catcher in the Rye represents the theme of alienation through one of the main characters in the novel, Sally. There are many instances where Sally alienates Holden. Sally alienates Holden when they are in the cab.
After Holden tells Sally that he loves her, she tells him “crew cuts are… corny” and that Holden should grow his hair out.
Sally alienates. Holden in this situation because she tells Holden that she loves him too but that he should change the way he looks. Her comment was rude and shows how she likes him but that he doesn’t completely fit her standards. Holden can also alienate himself from people.
Holden also alienates himself throughout the novel. Holden alienates himself from Sally when he tells her that she can be “a royal pain in the ass” sometimes. He alienates himself in this situation by insulting his peer and hurting her feelings and ultimately making her not want to be with him.Another situation in which Holden alienates himself is on the night he gets very drunk and calls Sally.
On Sally and Holden’s date, Sally asked Holden if he would come and help her trim her Christmas tree over the holidays. When Holden is under the influence later that night he calls Sally and tells her that he will “trimma god dam tree for her” like Sally had wanted Holden to earlier in the novel. The drunken phone call upsets Sally and shows Holden’s true immaturity and need for acceptance.Sally is not the only person that Holden pushes away and alienates himself from; Holden also alienates himself from Jane Gallagher.
The theme of alienation reveals the reactions between Holden and Jane Gallagher. Holden wants to talk to Jane the night Stradlater, his roommate at Pencey Prep, has a date with Jane. Despite desperately wanting to connect with Jane he cannot bring himself to talk to her. Holden keeps telling himself that he should go down stairs to say hello but he claims that he’s “not in the mood right now” because he’s nervous about seeing her.
Holden and Jane were very close. Holden remembers one time where he “practically sat…
in her lap” holding her in his arms and “kissing her all over-anywhere” while she cried. Holden remembers how with Jane you were always disliked. He recalls about how “all you knew was, you were happy” when he was with Jane. He felt the kindliness that a person who has such a wonderful personality and a flame puts off.
Simply being with Jane made Holden happy, yet he fears that she won’t like him anymore and pushes her away. Holden constantly alienates himself from Jane.He can never bring himself to talk to her, but he is always thinking about her. When Holden arrives in New York, he goes to a phone booth and feels like calling Jane, but again he “didn’t feel like it”.
Throughout the novel Holden talk about his and Jane’s past relationship and how wonderful he thought it was, but he does not do anything to rekindle their friendship. Holden alienates himself from Jane by fearing her. Holden alienates himself repeatedly from both Jane and Sally. Throughout The Catcher in the Rye, the main character Holden alienates himself from females.
Holden often alienates himself by displaying abrasive behaviors and saying inappropriate comments. Sally Hayes puts up with Holden’s actions for a while, but eventually she can’t deal with them anymore. Jane on the other hand never even speaks to Holden because he cannot approach her. Holden’s immaturity alienates him sometimes too.
He often makes a fool out of himself by trying to act cool or older. Every time Holden does this he contradicts himself because he is acting fraud, something he hates. Salinger explored deep into the awareness of a troubled teenager in The Catcher In The Rye.
