In many works of modern literature, authors complicate our understanding of a hero.

Write a
well-organized essay in which you explore a particular character in relation to the multiple
possible existing or new definitions of the hero, and discuss how the how the the authors efforts
to create this character relate to the central themes of the work as a whole.
Nicole Calandrino
Mrs. Anderson
The Catcher in the Rye Essay: Draft 1
September 26, 2016
What defines a hero? Superpowers? Victory? A journey? The word hero carries many
definitions from epic heroes like Odysseus and Achilles of The Odyssey and The Iliad and
superheroes like Superman and Batman, but what about the heroes for us common folk? So,
there are traditional and modern definitions for heroes meaning that it is possible that T
he
Catcher in the Ryes very own Holden Caulfield could in fact be a modern hero. Whether or not
one believes Holden to be a hero may depend on their personal definition of what a hero should
be and their interpretation of Holdens character in comparison. Holden does not fulfill nor
contradict the modern definition of a hero but rather, he complicates the debate through his
experiences before and through his days in New York and through the ultimate themes of the
novel.
Back to asking what defines a hero, many would refer to Heros Journey by Joseph
Campbell which inspired may tales, including S
tar Wars. This journey can be condensed into
three stages: departure (quest), initiation, and return (victory). So, at face value we can check
off departure, initiation, and return for Holden. Holden leaves Pencey, goes on a journey which
becomes his initiation to adulthood in New York, and returns to reality in the scene at the
carousel with Phoebe where he decides to stop running and face his conflict with growth. Now
while Holdens journey to adulthood was a sort of quest and he was eventually initiated into
adult life in his return to home when he decides to stop running, this return was not a victorious

one. Im not saying Holden needs to slay a dozen dragons and save a princess to be
victorious yet to be defined as a hero without debate, he could be a bit more heroic, whatever
that really means.
The themes involved in Holdens story correlate with innocence, growth, and the
confusion involved with adolescence. This makes Holden relatable, but not inspiring. He
complicates this definition of a hero because he follows many of the stages of a heros journey
without the triumph or strength one would expect from a hero. If Holden had a stronger grasp on
either becoming an adult, or going against adulthood he might have been capable of being a
more solid hero. However, Holdens place throughout the novel is entirely liminal, making it hard
to prove he really overcame or accomplished anything.
A hero does not have to be consistent but they should display overall growth. Holden
consistently displays the same habits throughout his days in New York, even using the same
vocabulary: constantly calling people phonies. Because Holden is not apparently aware of what
he resents about the world around him, he does not attempt to improve. Through the novel he
continuously acts out but his episodes do not result in reflection or correction. The recurring
themes of confusion and denial are extremely apparent in the novel and discredit Holdens
heroism.
Holdens denial is truly what complicates his journey. As the novel progresses, Holden
does not so while he may follow the basic outline of a heros journey, he does not come out
improved. If the themes of confusion and denial were not so apparent in Holdens thoughts and
actions, he might be capable of reflecting a more widely-accepted definition of a hero.