the Catcher in the Rye: Motif

I think the author uses motif as the dominant literary feature in the book to help the reader realize what the main character is like and how he sees other people. Another reason J.D Salinger uses this element so often is because it creates a stronger atmosphere when talking about Holden by saying how he thinks everyone is a phony if they say a word he hates or acts different. Immaturity is one of the aspects of the main character and it is represented through his red hunting hat because it's a childish thing to wear and he puts it on when he acts like a little kid.

The book goes on a short journey through a tough part of Holden's life and describes what he goes through and what he thinks about in the process. One of the biggest signs of immaturity I saw in the character was how his life changed again in a strong way and all he worries about throughout the process is his parents finding out; the motif improves this idea by helping support how he needs to learn how to grow up to prepare for adulthood. He uses the school being bad as an excuse to fail his classes instead of blaming himself, which is also a childish thing to do. Motif is a large part of the Catcher in the Rye, mainly, because it contributes to giving the reader an idea and information about Holden's personality