Regardless of context, youth will always choose not to conform. Michael Zhang
Youth face a decision; to conform or not to conform. They will either reject society’s misplaced values and search for their own individuality or conform regardless with the inescapable, primal desire for human connection. The two protagonists of Igby from Igby goes down and Holden from The Catcher in the rye both resent the insular, materialistic society that surrounds them and in a desperate attempt to preserve their own ideals which differ so greatly from what is accepted; they choose non-conformity. Despite differing contexts of the two texts, Post world war 2 for J.D Salinger in the Catcher in the Rye and early 21st century America for Burr Steers in Igby Goes Down, Both societies are portrayed in a similar flawed light. One that regardless of time is irrevocably consumed by superficiality, corruption and deception. However, this resentment towards society by Holden and Igby both eventually crumbles as they accept their maturity, For Holden he recognizes the naivety behind childhood innocence and for Igby it’s his acceptance of those around him as important aspects of his life .Their growth and maturity are represented through symbolism, motif’s and the protagonists thoughts. They both to some extent conform to society as we always do, it’s the easier option.
For Holden, his desire to not conform stems from his hatred towards the phony society and the unscrupulous behaviour of the adults around him. Its this desire to not to fall to the deplorable behaviour of adults that drives Holden’s non-conformity. Ironic as even though Holden is more mature and adult than the adults which surround him which always treat him with disdain and as a child. Salinger is lambasting ignorant social values, and the lack of voice that youth have solely due to a number. Almost all of the adults in Holden’s life he regards as phony and rightly so. They are clearly horrible role models. This...