In Wuthering Heights, Bronte starts descring her setting by saying,”usually a large mansion or remote castle which is dark and foreboding: usually isolated from neighbors” (Bonte). It is obvious that the the dark and isolated environment described at the beginning of the novel foreshadows the gloomy atmosphere found in the rest of the book. Many authors set the tone, setting, or theme by using the first chapter or first few chapters. In The Catcher in the Rye, the opening character that Salinger creates sets thethemes of the story.
The beginning of the book sets the story by revealing three major themes; like the loss of innocence, being isolated from society, and the struggles of becoming an adult. The opening of the story introduces the loss in innocence theme. Holden does not want to grow up. The loss of innocence is practically forced upon him by his society.
It is clear that Holden’s society is forcing a loss of innocence upon him when he sates: “Most guys at Pencey just talked about having sexual intercourse with girls all the time” (Salinger 37).Here, Holden's innocence is proved by the contrasting experiences of the boys around him. Holden’s differences in actions show that he is not like them and he is still innocent. Holden’s society is forcing him to lose his innocence in order to be like them. If people around Holden are losing his innocence, it is inevitable that he eventually will as well. By introducing this at the beginning of the book, it foreshadows Holden’s struggles in the later chapters.
From the very beginning of the novel the theme of isolation is also present. In the first scene of The Catcher in the Rye Holden is alone, isolated from society. It is clear that Holden is isolated when he states: “I remember around abound three o’clock that afternoon I was standing way the hell up on the top of Thomsen Hill, right next to this crazy cannon that was in the Revolutionary War and all. […] because practically the whole school except me was there […]” (Salinger 2).
This in said at the very beginning of the book, showing us that Holden is disconnected with others. Holden is isolated from society and additionally society criticizes him. This upsets him, but he continues to push these people away causing a continuous isolation. The author clearly introduces Holden’s loneliness right away, making sure the reader realizes it. The struggle of becoming an adult is also a theme that is introduced at the beginning of the story. The moment Holden realizes he is growing up; he immediately doesn’t want it to happen.
It is obvious that Holden has trouble with accepting this process when the author states: Game, my ass. Some game. If you get on the side, where there aren’t any hot-shots, then what’s a game about it? Nothing. No game” (Salinger 8). This quotes shows that Holden thinks everything in life is a game. Holden believe it is all unfair.
Even though he doesn’t want to play the game, he knows he has to, because it is part of life. He believes that he has been put on the bad side.He would like to grow up in a world that never changes. This introduces the challenges Holden has with growing u The author of The Catcher in the Rye uses the themes of the loss of innocence, being isolated from society, and the struggles of becoming an adult in order to introduce the book. Throughout the book these themes carry out and go more in depth.
Many authors use the beginning of their works to introduce topics or themes that are reoccurring or symbolic. These themes ultimately connect to the overall meaning of the text.
