" The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger Themes, Motifs and Symbols, 1) Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored In a iterury work. Throughout the novel, Holden seems to be excluded and victimized by the world around him. AS he says to Mr. Spencer, he feels trapped on "the other side" of life, and he continually attempts to mie his way In the world in which he feels he doesn't belong. He tries to look unique but the truth is that interactions with other people usually confuse and overwhelm him, and his cynical sense of superiority serves as a type of self protection. Bring as many examples as possible to prove that statement. This novel is about a young character's growth into maturity, but he is doing his best to resist process of maturity. Instead of acknowledging that adulthood scares and mystifies him, Holden invents a fantasy that adulthood is a world of superficiality and hypocrisy (phoniness), whlle childhood is a world of innocence, curiosity, and honesty. Find the episodes in the texts In which these ideas are displayed, Although Holden expends so much energy searching for phoniness in others, he never directly observes his own phoniness. His deceptions are generally pointless and cruel and he notes that he Is a compulsive llar. Find several episodes to prove this statement. 2) Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, and literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text's major theme. Holden's loneliness is a concrete manifestation and a driving force throughoat the book. Both physlcal and emotlonal relationships offer Holden opportunity to break out of his Isolated desperately continulng searching for new relationships, he always undoing himself only at moment. How can you account for that? What are the situations, which can prove it? 31 Symbols are objects, character, figures, and colors