Home

There were many settings throughout the course of The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. Because of the way that Holden traveled throughout the novel, the settings varied from city to city, hotel to hotel. One setting in particular though stuck out to me and that was home. Before Holden arrived at his home, he always felt depressed and alone. He never had the sense that someone was always there for him, or that he was never alone until he went home. No matter how far the journey, Holden knew that home for him was the setting for happiness. Holden stated, "I walked all the way. It wasn't too far, and I wasn't tired...  The best break I had in years, when I got home..." (Salinger, 156-157). He knew that when he arrived at home that Phoebe would be there waiting for him like she always had been. The idea of that gave him a sense of comfort. Even though it was a change from what life had been like away from home he liked it. He stated, "I felt swell for a change... I just felt good for a change" (Salinger, 159). People say that "Home is where the heart is" and for Holden's sake it really was home. He loved being surrounded by those that he loved and those that loved him. Home gave him a sense of individuality and security, which will help him in becoming the man that he secretly has always wanted to become.