The Children of Holden

J.D. Salinger's novel "The Catcher in the Rye"
introduced American literature to a new kind of
protagonist - the angst ridden teenager stuck in the
mire of adolescence. Holden Caulfield was frustrated,
cynical, and weary of a society that was full of
disappointment. His struggles with school, the
opposite sex, and the loss of his brother Allie
helped him to become the voice of a generation of
teenagers. Out of Holden's skepticism over his future

• "I think I am, but how do I know?" - a new literary
  genre was created contending with the tumultuousness
  of adolescence itself. Applying psychologist Erik
  Erickson's concept of the "identity crisis," this
  thesis will explore three representations of teen
  angst adolescent identity conflict, and the problems
  associated with it - identity foreclosure, negative
  identity, and identity diffusion. Erickson's identity
  crisis usefully describes the angst that accompanies
  the grief, trauma, and maturation struggles that
  characterize "The Catcher in the Rye," and its
  progeny, the Children of Holden: Laurie Halse
  Anderson's "Catalyst," Jean Ferris's "Bad," and
  Stephen Chbosky's "The Perks of Being a Wallflower."

  Autorentext

  Nathan Sun-Kleinberger holds a Masters degree in EnglishLiterature from Western Washington University and teaches Englishat Kentridge High School. When he is notmired in teen angst he enjoys bicycling, listening to jazz,and being a daddy. He lives in Renton, Washington with his wifeYuxiao and daughter Aviva.

  Klappentext

  J.D. Salinger's novel "The Catcher in the Rye"introduced American literature to a new kind ofprotagonist - the angst ridden teenager stuck in themire of adolescence. Holden Caulfield was frustrated,cynical, and weary of a society that was full ofdisappointment. His struggles with school, theopposite sex, and the loss of his brother Alliehelped him to become the voice of a generation ofteenagers. Out of Holden's skepticism over his future- "I think I am, but how do I know?" - a new literarygenre was created contending with the tumultuousnessof adolescence itself. Applying psychologist ErikErickson's concept of the "identity crisis," thisthesis will explore three representations of teenangst adolescent identity conflict, and the problemsassociated with it - identity foreclosure, negativeidentity, and identity diffusion. Erickson's identitycrisis usefully describes the angst that accompaniesthe grief, trauma, and maturation struggles thatcharacterize "The Catcher in the Rye," and itsprogeny, the Children of Holden: Laurie HalseAnderson's "Catalyst," Jean Ferris's "Bad," andStephen Chbosky's "The Perks of Being a Wallflower."