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Nicholas Duncan

Ms. Norton

AP Literature

August 7, 2016

The Impression of the Ordinary

"A story must be exceptional enough to justify its telling; it must have something more

unusual to relate than the ordinary experience of every average man and woman. This quote, by

Thomas Hardy, directly relates to much of literature. History itself only tends to record what is

deemed incredible, unusual, or noteworthy in order to inspire, warn, or entertain. While very

important, these stories neglect to explore the importance of the ordinary individual, and the

characteristics of these peopletheir feelings, emotions, desires, and experiences. Such a story is

found in J.D. Salingers Catcher in the Rye, as she explores for a large audience the non-glorified

life, emotions, and experiences felt by teenager Holden Caulfield.

He was simply a high schooler in New York City, whose story details the many mental

and emotional challenges that he and most other teenagers, at some point or another, encounter.

He faced several severe bouts of depression, fear, anxiety, carelessness, and hopelessness over

the course of a few short days. Suicidal thoughts, mood swings, and confusion accompany these

situations, leaving him little room for solace. The few times he feels at peace with himself and

the world is when he is in the presence of the one person who he cared most for, and who always

loved and would take time for himhis younger sister.

The challenges Holden faces are described with astonishing detail and thought, and

shows exceptional understanding of such situations and are presented in a relatable manner, as

Holdens actions are each supplied with a long process of thoughts that do not always lead to the
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logical conclusion, as does our own thoughts and actions with the situations we face. But in all

the events of the story, a common theme is developed and explored. It is a topic with which all

readers relatethe desire to belong and be loved. Holden simply through all circumstances

wanted to be understood, and wanted to belong. He searched for relationships that gave him

comfort, and searched through many avenues to acquire such security.

This topic is developed best as one analyzes people he encounters. The most notable

character was Phoebe, his younger sister, who was, in Holdens own words, quite fond of

me (Salinger 156). Phoebe was completely and blindly loyal to Holden, being willing to

selflessly leave behind the life she knew to go with Holden when he considered running away.

Holden also had a notable encounter with two nuns. They were rather poor, but happy and

content. With them he was able to have a comfortable conversation that greatly distilled much of

the anger, confusion, and sorrow he had felt prior. Holden also frequently recalled his past

experiences with a friend named Jane, and strongly desired to see her again. They had once spent

an entire summer just talking and playing checkers and golf, and from this grew a simple but

healthy relationship between them. It is one of the few truly beneficial friendships Holden seems

to have had in his life.

It was his desire, more than anything else, to belong and be needed, as it is ours. From the

comfort he received from others he developed a desire to be a provider of such comfort for

others as well. The novels title, The Catcher in the Rye, is a direct reference to this: I keep

picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye And Im standing on

the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch them if they start to go over

Thats all Id do all day. Id be the catcher in the rye and all. I know its crazy, but thats the only

thing Id really like to be (Salinger 173). It was his desire to be needednot wanting reward or
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recognition, that best illustrates Salingers purpose for the bookthat belonging is desired by all,

and that it is part of our being to be both a beneficiary of this need and a contributer to fulfilling

this need in others.

Books describing the unusual and extraordinary tend to inspire and awe its audience, but

rarely do these works have direct lasting impact on the readers themselves. These stories tend to

place the audience in an entirely different category than the protagonist. A protagonist who is

often who is smarter, handsomer, more beautiful, braver, luckier, or more remarkable in some or

many other ways. This distances the reader from finding value in the work for themselves.

Because of this, stories expressing the ordinary tales of another ordinary person can, in fact, be

of more value to the novels audience than any other. The greatest stories relate the ordinary to

reveal the extraordinary aspects of the human nature within us, and this allows the story to have

lasting impression on its audience. It is why The Catcher in the Rye is so impactful on the reader,

and why it has such value to myself and others who have read and comprehended its purpose.
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Works Cited

"A Quote by Thomas Hardy." Goodreads. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2017.

Salinger, Jerome. The Catcher in the Rye. LB Books, 1991.