Hero Essays
J. D. Salingerâs The Catcher in the Rye illustrates the story of an adolescent going through a period of perception-changing times in his life. The story is told from the point of view of the main character and protagonist, Holden Caulfield, a junior in high school. Throughout the novel, Holden is going through a phase in which he realizes the âphonyâ nature of the people in the world. Overall, the story encompasses themes such as loss and confusion ultimately resolved with advice for finding oneself. Clearly, many young adults undergoing a paradigm shift or a maturing from adolescence can relate the bookâs protagonist on a personal or even spiritual level. Because of his relatable journey, I view Holden Caulfield as a hero, not in the archetypal sense, but as a champion for those struggling to find a sense of direction in their lives. Holdenâs entire character has not been fully established yet as he is still immature and has no definite plans for his future. He had been kicked out of three schools for not applying himself, and he calls people who act âfakeâ in real life âphonies.â However, what makes Holden Caulfield such an important character is that he is going through what many have experienced or are experiencing: the transition from childhood to manhood.
On the contrary, Holden seems to resist this transition as he was never serious about his schools. In fact, he came to the point where he thought of ending his life in chapter 14. He writes, âWhat I really felt like doing was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out the window.â Of course, many teenagers have had the same feeling, although I am an exception to this. In chapter 17, he explains to Sally everything he resented about school. âItâs full of phonies, and all you do is study so that you can learn enough to be smart enough to buy a goddam Cadillac some day,â he continues. Eventually, he came up with the idea of running away with Sally up north. With this, Holden shows he has never given thought to his actual future and what he plans to be. At this part of the plot, I did not really identify myself with the character of Holden Caulfield anymore.
I on the other hand do plan on attending college for medicine. Holden in chapter 17 embodied the rebellious nature of some teenagers who, much like the protagonist, choose to run away from his/her problems.The symbolism J. D. Salinger inserts into the story can provide more to the theme. There is a recurring thought that Holden has concerning the ducks inhabiting the lagoon in Central Park in New York City and where they go when the lake freezes up. Holden brings up this train of thought in various locations. The first was in his meeting with Mr. Spencer and again on two different cab rides. The symbolism behind this is that the ducks represent himself and his refusal to adapt to a changing environment. It puzzled him how the ducks would have to move and where. This is where I can relate to Holden. Growing up and moving on is difficult, but it is necessary for life. Holden Caulfield is a hero through what he has endured and who he can emulate. I myself do not relate to him as I have already been through what he has gone through, at a lesser degree, of course, but he can be seen, by some, as an example for a refusal to adapt. He is not a hero that is perfect or super strong, but he is a hero that inspires and relates himself to the common adolescent.
The famous general of the Confederate Army, Robert E. Lee was born on January 19, 1807, in Stratford, Virginia. Although he was born at the elegant Stratford Hall, as a youth he was moved to Alexandria. This young man would become one of the most famous general in America???s history. He was not famous for […]
Leader/Manager The role of a leader is vital in any organization as they are accountable for ensuring the efficient and effective accomplishment of goals and objectives. Accountability for their actions or inaction is crucial for success in their work environments. Leaders must possess decision-making abilities and skills. Legal accountability involves meeting legal compliance requirements, formal […]
Dear Sir/Dame, I am writing this letter to express my interest in becoming a first ambassador and supporting the school as a community. I believe that taking on the role of a young student leader would allow me to give back to the school, considering all that it and its staff have done for me […]
The text discusses Muhd Ali Bin Abu, an individual who was honored as the best group leader at a leadership camp organized by the school. Ali, 16 years old, is described as having average height, square shoulders, a heart-shaped face, and small eyes. Although born into wealth, he remains modest and actively engages in school […]
Student council leadership Student leadership is an issue that has elicited heated debate in the recent past. Many experts argue that student leadership enables one to gain confidence, develop communication skills, become responsible, and develop negotiation skills. However, individuals opposing the issue claim that student leadership makes learners to become irresponsible people in the society. […]
April 2, 2012: Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) have won a landslide victory in Burma (BBC News Asia 2012). This signifies a new chapter in humanity that may improve the lives of millions of Burmese. An Incarcerated leader Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) is one of the worldâs greatest […]
Virgilâs epic poem Aeneid tells the tale of the great leader Aeneas. His greatness was inevitable considering his parentage. He was the son of the goddess of sexual love, Venus and a mortal Trojan, Anchises. He has angered Juno because she knows that Carthage, her favorite city, will one day be destroyed by the Trojans.
Today China is a global economic superpower. If one man can be credited to have led China on the path of economic modernization, it is certainly Deng Xiaoping, the former paramount leader of China. He is the one that started Chinaâs âsecond revolutionâ. Deng was a nation builder par excellence. He is the quintessential Chinese […]
Leadership is the ability to bring people together to dedicate themselves to a common goal. Leaders are able to effectively communicate and motivate the team to perform the set goals. In the book Developing the Leader within You John Maxwell describes how each and every individual can develop the leadership quality within them. He defines […]
Certain leaders stand out in our memories when thinking about leadership. We remember them for their charm and charisma or maybe we remember the way they presented themselves. We remember that important conversation we shared which was so important to us, and that speech that left the crowd speechless and inspired. We recall the leader […]
A leader is someone that is profoundly remarkable of which he or she should accordingly address and immediately attend to the needs of the people within the bounds of his or her leadership in the most uplifting and accommodating manner regardless of the degree of predicament. From the specific definition itself, a leader is characterized […]
The differences between an effective and ineffective leader is one that build teams one that builds trouble. An effective leader is an integral part of his team, always willing to pitch in to help get the job done. An ineffective leader insists on maintaining a safe rank-pulling and emotional distance from his team, never allowing […]
1.Introduction. Employee management has become a vital resource within organizations. This importance is based on the theory that groups create better quality outcomes than employees working individually. As the use of group work has increased in firms, considerable investigations has focused on the role of leadership and governance in fostering group performance. The general literature […]
Some of people’s favorite books are ones that are easy to relate to life, when you can put oneself in the character’s shoes and feel the struggle as it happens. The adolescent years may be filled with some of the strangest struggles in one’s life. John Steinbeck does not shy away from writing about this […]
This question reflects on the Baby Boomers generation transitions into retirement leaving the next generation to move into leadership positions. For the next generation to transition into the once Baby Boomer workforce, future leaders have to face a range of challenges. This generation will need to learn how to monitor external threats and opportunities that […]
Linda Richards, America’s first professionally trained nurse, transformed her profession by elevating nursing to the respected caregiving occupation it is today. She initially gained nursing experience while caring for her terminally ill mother, which deeply influenced and sparked her passion for nursing. With the help of Doc Currier, the family physician, Linda began her nurse […]
The purpose of this research is to examine the leadership qualities and attributes exhibited by Bill Gates, the leader of Microsoft. The decision to focus on Microsoft as a case study is due to its widely recognized reputation and accomplishments as an organization. Bill Gates, renowned for co-founding Microsoft, consistently maintains the title of the […]
Assignment of âa good leader influence a group of individuals to achieve a common goal and perform well, without having to watch over themâ Introduction Leadership is always considering as an important managerial topic because a good leader does not only able to guide behaviors from followers, but also leads individuals within an organization to […]
PART A: ABSTRACT A very common question which is discussed in the context of conglomerates, successors politics and almost every area involving leadership is: Are leaders made or born? This assignment has thrown in statements which claim that organizations in this era do not require managers. It further argues that leaders need to only know […]
In this research study, I conducted an interview with an employee who has a longstanding working relationship with a manager. The reason for choosing this individual was their firsthand experience of being managed, which provides valuable insights for the paper. Their experience enables them to accurately evaluate the qualities of competent and inadequate managers. Based […]
Abstract This paper examines the impact of leadership styles on employee output and organizational performance, specifically focusing on Bill Gates’ leadership styles and their influence on Microsoft’s productivity. Topic Thesis Statement The performance and productivity of employees in an organization are significantly influenced by leadership styles, as demonstrated by the case of Bill Gates. Introduction […]
Introduction Leadership involves guiding other people, teams or a given organization for the sole purpose of attaining a given goal. Nobody can teach leadership, but it’s enhanced through training and development, coaching or different mentorship programs. It provides direction for building an inspiring vision and identifying what an organization requires so as to achieve success. […]
