How do Salinger and Twain present the ideas of escape in the two novels?
First of all the two authors wrote their books in different times and their ideas of escape will differ, for example Huck was written in the late 1800’s when slavery was still rife in many of the southern regions of America the idea of escape has a literal meaning. Alternately to this Catcher in the Rye was written in the 1940’s and depicts the societies of the then modern America. The ideas of escape were mainly within Holden’s head and not literal forms of escape. Huckleberry also wants to escape the adult control he has experience, he wishes to have a life in which he is a wanderer and regards all the things that society believe as right as oppressive and evil. Similarly to Huck, Holden wants to flee the world of expectations set by his parents and his private boarding school. He leaves school early before Christmas and experiences a sequence of unforeseen problems and in consequence his ends up in a psychiatric home with no hope left of his wanted freedom.
One of the most visible similarities between The Catcher in the Rye and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the way in which the authors use the protagonists as a means to comment on the society of the time in which they were set. However, Holden can be criticised for being excessively judgmental setting him apart from the world of Huck who in comparison is much more descriptive than hypocritical. Whether it would be his older brother D.B. who Holden labels a “prostitute” for moving to Hollywood, his teachers who act different or “phony” in class, he seems to have a negative comment for almost anyone and everyone he meets. This could be due to his psychological issues he’s suffering with.
Not knowing whether he wants to be an adult or a child, his constant grasp on his childhood whilst heading into his certain adulthood. For example when he’s with Phoebe at the carrousel he wants to join her and revel in his childhood but...
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