The Catcher in the Rye and Romeo and Juliet Comparison Essay The teen-age is a phase, where you

take a step forward into adulthood. Romeo Montague, Juliet Capulet, and Holden Caulfield all go through the harsh reality of this world, but it is how they deal with their situations is what determines their character. Teenagers handle difficult situations in different ways with lack of maturity such as fighting, depression, and advice. First of all, young adults handle difficult situations by the aggressive use of force. In some events, fighting is motivated by rage, like when Romeo kills Tybalt, a Capulet and an arch foe of the Montagues, after Tyabalt had killed Romeos good friend Mercurtio, many of Veronas people labelled it as revenge. An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life/ Of stout Mercurtio, and then Tybalt fled;/ But by and by comes back to Romeo/ Who had but newly entertaind revenge, (3.1.167-170). Similarly, Holden is enraged and gets himself into a scuffle with his dorm mate, Stradlater, who Holden envies, over a girl. Anyway, the next thing I knew, I was on the goddam floor and he was sitting on my chest with his face all red. That is he had his knees on my chest, and he weighed about a ton. He had hold of my wrists, too. So I couldnt take another sock at him. Idve killed him. (Salinger 43). Also, fights may happen to overcome obstacles that may cause uneasiness for people. For example, Romeo had killed Paris, stopping him to go to Juliets grave, near the end of the play. *Romeo to Paris] Wilt thou provoke me? Then have at thee boy! (5.3.70). In The Catcher in the Rye, Maurice (hotel elevator operator) sees Holden as an obstacle in running his prostitution agency by not paying the extra $5.00 for his services. Then he *Maurice+ smacked me. I didnt even try to get out of the way or duck or anything. All I felt was this terrific punch in my stomach. (Salinger 103). Fighting in some cases such as self-defence is allowed, but violence as a means of showing intimidating power fuelled by rage should not be condoned.

Second of all, teenagers handle difficult situations by falling into a state of depression, not a good solution to overcome adversity. Love, a fortune for mans treasure, on the other hand a cause for great sorrow. In Romeos life, Romeo has affection over a girl named Rosaline, a Capulet, but to Romeos dismay does not love him back. Ay me! Sad hours seem long. /Heres much to do with hate, but more with love: Why, then, O brawling love, O loving hate! /in sadness, cousin, I do love a women. (1.1. 159, 172 173). In contrast, Holden loves his little sister Phoebe, yet due to some circumstances which keep them apart fuelling Holdens sadness. It was so quiet and lonesome out, even though it was Saturday night. New Yorks terrible when somebody laughs on the street very late at nightIt makes you feel so lonesome and depressed. I kept wishing I could go home and shoot the bull for a while with old Phoebe. (Salinger 81). Also depression can affect a person by the worlds issues indirectly and directly such as the impact of peoples actions or verdicts handed down by officials. For example, in Romeo and Juliet, Juliet grieves over the banishment of Romeo from Verona due to Romeos slaying of Tybalt. O God! O nurse, how shall this be prevented? / My husband is on earth, my faith in heaven; / How shall that faith return again to earth, / Unless that husband send it me from heaven / By leaving earth? Comfort me, counsel me! (3.5.206 - 210) Holden, like Juliet, is affected but by people he sees being coined the term phonies. Holden feels like packing his bags and leaving earth due to his shortcoming to handle the phonies and how there are too many of them. What I really felt like, though, was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out of the window. I probably wouldve done it, too, if Id been sure somebodyd cover me up as soon as I landed. (Salinger 104). Depression of the characters in both the play and novel show that they bring this sadness upon themselves and thus is a method that only they themselves can get out of.

Lastly, teenagers find themselves asking elders, who more experienced and wise; for advice which in the long run may benefit them. To start, the nurse, a very dear person and servant of Juliet, tells Juliet to marry County Paris as Romeo maybe forever gone and Paris is much more suitable. O, hes a lovely gentleman! / Romeos a dishclout to him. An eagle, madam, / Hath not so green, so quick, so fair an eye / As Paris hath. Beshrew my very heart, I think you are happy in this second match, / For it excels your first; (3.5.220 222, 224 225). Similarly, Mr. Spencer, Holdens history teacher, is troubled by the fact that Holdens work is by far tedious; and gives advice to Holden to think ahead, and to apply himself. Life is a game, boy. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules. (Salinger 8). This quotes shows that Holden is not up to par like the other side of the game (students), and means that Holden is also being alienated from the rest. Next, some may find advice from those who are close or the same age. Romeos depression leads Benvolio, his friend, to help him in his time of dire need. Be ruled by me, forget to think of herBy giving liberty unto thine eyes; / Examine other beautiesIll pay that doctrine, or else die in debt (1.1.222, 224, 235). Likewise, Mr. Antolini, Holdens English teacher, is caring towards Holden to boost his spirit up, just as Benvolio is to Romeo. Mr. Antolini explains a fall which has no surface, but a fall which keeps going on, he says that to attain the fruit of Holdens labour; he must apply himself and focus, thus provides a Wilhelm Stekel . The mark of a immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one. (Salinger 188). Advice comes in all types, an advice for the future, to help, to ponder over. One may need advice even though one may not show it. In conclusion, Salinger and Shakespeare characterize their protagonists very similar to each other; teenagers of the 15th century were not a lot different from a teenage of the modern era. To begin, the chaotic solution for a teenager to handle his/her situation would be fighting. Next, a

commonality the teenagers had were that they handled situations weeping as they felt they were at a lost; and all the protagonists were keen enough to turn to others when in help. Therefore, Ben Savage once said A lot of the problems teenagers go through, it's better for them to go through them on their own. If you always have a crutch, you don't learn anything.