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The catcher in the rye: where do the ducks go in winter?

The catcher in the rye: Where do the ducks go in winter?

If you really want to hear about it, the first thing

you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and

what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents

were occupied and all before they had me, and all

that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel

like going into it, if you want to know the truth.

There is something pretty disturbing to find yourself before this words when opening a book. Atonishment, indignation; those might be some of your first sensations, but afterwards they will inevitably turn into some kind of fascination. And that’s one of the reasons why this novel is so famous and recognized all over the world;" The catcher in the rye" surprises, fascinates , seduces. In case you don’t know yet, the story is about and emotionally disturbed teenager , Holden Caulfield, who is expelled from College for poor achievement. He decides to leave school a few days than what he is supposed to in an attempt to deal with his current situation, so he vagues in New York for a few days.

If Great Gatsbyґs narrator admits himself to be " reserved to all judgements", our character does the exact opposite. Holden criticizes almost everything and everyone, he is an adolescent trying to prevent himself from turning into what he despises the most: a phony. Many consider Holdenґs life as a transition from childhood to maturity, which is becoming difficult for him to handle. Holden hates most adults, because of them being "big phonies" and likes kids very much,( specially his sister Phoebe), because they still represent innocence and purity; conditions he wishes to have for ever.

I think that one of the most difficult questions to answer is: what makes this book so influential? Why do normal people all over the world have copies in their personal libraries? I think that this question might have a lot of possible answers. One of them resides in the reader’s ability to identify with the narrator. The character is so realistic, so well constructed, that sometimes the things he says makes us think " that’s exactly what I wanted to said and couldn’t put it into words". Besides, the first person point of view provoques a more emotional and realistic effect in the reader . It’s sarcastic and pessimistic view reveals the negative side of the mind that people often try to avoid. Seeing the character react so negatively towards everything makes the reader hesitate about his or her own attitude towards life. Thatґs one of the reasons why The Catcher in the Rye is still as popular today as the year it was first published. Despite the fact that the book takes place in another time and place, many teens today can still relate. The issues covered are timeless.

Another aspect which might be [next page]