The Catcher in the Rye VS Frankenstein

  "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger and "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley are both novels which I have read as part of my grade ten English curriculum. Both books are timeless classics, and they have many things in common in their story lines. One example of a similarity which the two stories share is the main characters Holden Caulfield, a teenage boy from New York, and Victor Frankenstein's creature, which he had created in Geneva, Austria. Despite the fact that these characters are very different at first, as you dive into their stories, you will realize that these two are not that different at all. A main trait that both of these characters share is their personalities - they isolate themselves from society in order to protect themselves. In Holden's case, he isolates himself by perceiving that other people are "phonies" in order to not try to get to know them, and therefore become attached. Attachment to people is something that he dreaded because he feared losing the people that he got to know, for example his brother Allie, who died at a young age. The creature's situation is very similar - it isolates itself from mankind because of fear of how they might react to the creature, and how they would interpret its actions. Both characters are very emotional, even though sometimes, they try to hide it (moreso in Holden's case). Also, they are willing to help other people even though they do not know them, like Frankenstein helped the poor family of cottagers tend to their daily chores, and when Holden donated money to the nuns which he had met on the street.

  

  Now, although the characters are very similar in their personalities, they think very differently about the consequences of their actions. When Holden was failing four out of five of his subjects at school, he knew that it would cause him to get the ax and for his parents to become mad and disappointed with him. Also, he knows that if he goes home right away, his parents might get suspicious of him and question his quick return from school. The creature, on the other hand, has very little rational thought to show. After it had seen the way the cottagers reacted to him, it became angry and upon meeting Dr. Frankenstein, demanded that he make him a female companion to share emotions with. When Dr.Frankesntein refused, though, the creature vowed to murder every single one of the doctor's closest companions, until he felt the way the creature felt. On Victor Frankenstein's deathbed, the creature was engulfed by feelings of remorse and regret, yet it felt that its actions were justified because it had felt anguish and loneliness since the day of its creation.

In short, it is evident that the two characters have a similar mindset, but it is how they choose to solve situations and take the consequences that sets these two intrigueing personas apart.