Analysing Archetypal Motifs In The Catcher In The Rye

The Catcher in the Rye, which is the only novel of American writer J.D.Salinger, has been always the focus of criticism since its publication. Critics and scholars appreciate and analyse this work from different perspectives. The thesis will make an in-depth interpretation of the archetypal motifs buried in the novel with the help of the archetypal criticism. There are two main archetypal motifs displayed in the novel. One is the motif of quest; the other one is the motif of initiation. The study of the two motifs reveals the protagonist’s longing for love and innocence and his confusion of self-identity during the process of initiation.The thesis consists of five chapters. The first chapter mainly contains the purpose and significance of the thesis, a brief introduction of the author and the book and an overview of the previous study on the novel at home and broad. The second chapter firstly introduces the archetypal criticism theory, including its formation, development. Influenced by Frazer’s social anthropology and Jung’s psychoanalysis, the archetypal criticism theory was finally completed by Frye, offering a brand-new perspective for analysing and appreciating literary works. Secondly, this chapter discusses relevant archetypal motifs in the archetypal criticism theory, namely quest motif and initiation motif, briefly introducing the archetype of quest motif and its development and also the archetype of initiation motif and some features of novels with initiation motif. The next two chapters which are the most important chapters in the thesis mainly analyse the quest motif and initiation motif reflected in the novel. The third chapter analyses the quest motif buried in the novel from three aspects which are seeking for love, seeking for self-identity and seeking for innocence. The thesis has a discussion about the reasons, ways and result of the protagonist’s seeking for love, self-identity and innocence respectively. The fourth chapter probes into the initiation motif hidden in the novel, including the protagonist’s initiation pattern: escaping from the old surroundings; transforming from ignorance to maturity and returning with spiritual maturity. In this chapter, first, the thesis analyses the phoniness of the old surroundings which contain the school and the family forces the protagonist to make a choice of escaping. Then, through the analysis of the protagonist’s different responses and psychological changes, it shows that the protagonist is transforming from ignorance to maturity. At last, according to the standard of maturity in the novel, the thesis makes a comparison of different attitudes the protagonist holds toward life, showing that the protagonist has fallen from innocence and returned to his life with maturity. The fifth chapter is the conclusion of the whole thesis, summarizing some main views in the thesis and some enlightenment brought by the protagonist’s quest and initiation.