Motifs

Motifs are recurring contrasts, structures, and literary devices that are used in writing to help develop about major themes. In The Catcher in the Rye, motifs that are used are relationships, loneliness, and lying. These are used to highlight the themes of alienation, growing up, and phoniness.

Relating to the larger theme of alienation, motifs dealing with relationships and sexuality are referred to in the novel. Holden Caulfield, the main character, tries to have physical and emotional connections with people to try and break out of his shell, but ultimately fails because he does not know how to go about things like that. Sexuality is something that Holden can not ignore, and he goes looking for intimacy. However, this means that Holden with have to interact and socialize with people his own age, which is something that he would usually prefer not to do because of his distrust towards adults.

Much like relationships, loneliness is a motif used in the novel that ties back to the main theme of alienation. Holden tries to connect with people some of the time, but the rest of the time he keeps to himself and shies away from others. In his quest for companionship, Holden tries to make one meaningless connection to the next, without ever really being able to connect with the other person in the relationship. At the same time, Holden uses isolation and loneliness as a form of protection. So Holden is caught between two extremes- wanting a intimate connection, and wanting to protect himself from others by remained detached. Because of his, Holden often sabotages his own attempts that connecting with other people, sometimes without even meaning to.

The motifs of lying and deception lead to the understanding of the theme of phoniness in the novel. Holden seems to reserve the most judgement and scorn for people that he believes are fake. Despite this, Holden refuses to see his own shortcomings, which make him just as 'fake' and 'phony' as the people he unfairly judges.