Working Thesis Statement:
Holden Caulfield—of The Catcher in the Rye—is a unique and iconic adolescent who has paved the way for various narrators to follow, including Oskar Schell in Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. Despite their signature voices and radically different outlooks on life, Holden and Oskar are both deeply troubled individuals who have their trademark catchphrases, wander the streets of New York City, and attempt to regroup following the death of a close family member. They are initially rather dissatisfied with society (Holden is displeased by phoniness and corruption, while Oskar struggles to fathom the motive behind terrorism), but these two characters ultimately show a willingness to change after obtaining support from other family members. Although the two novels were written in different eras, the underlying connections between Holden (in the 1940s) and Oskar (in the post-9/11 era) highlight the universal struggles of adolescents.
Jason,
ReplyDeleteI love this thesis! I think that it is really well developed with a specific focus. Two other similarities/differences I noticed (I know, there are a lot) are Holden's and Oskar's maturities (both seem to view the world in ways beyond their years...but at times can be very immature as well) and their uniqueness (both characters have a trademark appearance—Holden with his red hunting hat, and Oskar with his white outfits). It would be interesting to compare/contrast the colors of red and white and discuss what the colors reveal about their characters. Also, Holden and Oskar both seem to alienate themselves (Holden more so than Oskar). Why do they do this? Do they alienate themselves as a means of protection?
I hope this helps!