Change in The Catcher In The Rye and What's Eating Gilbert Grape Essay

Catcher in the rye composed by J.D. Salinger along with Whats Eating Gilbert directed by Lasse Hallstrm Grape have allowed me to broaden my understanding of the Area of Study: Change and the value of texts through their techniques, themes and language.

Change refers to the process of becoming different. In the prescribed text Catcher in the Rye, the composer has introduced the concept of change on numerous levels. There are social, psychological and emotional changes that have had an effect in the short term as well as in the long term.

Holden Caulfield is the protagonist of the text; he flunks out at school, loses his older brother Allie to leukaemia and has to deal with the alterations that occur during teenage years. Holden feels isolated in the majority of the text, which is shown through him expressing how he has a minimal amount of people in his address book.

The technique of flashback is used in the text to show the long term change. Although this technique is used frequently in the text Holden still says I like Allie and speaks of him in present tense. Holden is holding onto the past which doesnt allow him to move forward in his life and inevitably overcome change. He is very resistant to the thought of change and this is supported by means of the language used by Holden.

Bildungsroman which is a theme referring to the coming of age is used throughout the text. Holden is immature minded and this is highlighted to the responder through direct speech when Luce, Holdens Student Adviser when he was at Whooton, says to Holden Same old Caulfield. When are you going to grow up? This excerpt allows for the development of thoughts in relation to Holdens need to change.

Holdens deteriorating physical and mental condition is a short term change to Holden. His changing dialogue is a representation of the degeneration mindset of Holden. The deteriorating physical and mental condition can be represented through Holdens change in attitude, his perspectives of life and his openly expressed emotions.

Catcher in the Rye is a valuable text in developing my understanding of the concept change as it demonstrates the inevitability of change and the need to be able to embrace it.

Whats Eating Gilbert Grape is an emotional and effective film in terms of understanding the concept of change. Gilbert Grape loses his father from suicide and is swamped with the burden of looking after his mentally challenged brother Arnold as a result. This life altering circumstance leads to unavoidable adjustments to Gilberts life. Gilbert meets a girl Becky and doesnt want his unusual lifestyle to threaten the budding romance he has with her.

Change is shown through Arnie as he overcomes his fear of water after being left alone in the bathtub whilst Gilbert went to visit Becky. Water is an aspect which illustrates emotion which is why this scene is valuable in the development of the notion of change. Undeniably Becky is the catalyst for change, from the visual and verbal features we can see the trust between Gilbert and Becky which is represented when he takes her to visit his very obese mother. This is a significant turning point and a main change to Gilbert as usually he is ashamed of his mother and has never taken her anywhere.

Change is been shown through Gilberts mother who used to be the prettiest girl in town and after her husbands death didnt cope and became obese. This struggle to deal with the change of losing her husband can be linked to how Holdens mum struggled to overcome the death of Allie. Holden says his mother has not been healthy since the death of Allie, resulting in a lack of motivation.

There is a variety of film and camera techniques used throughout the film to emphasise key aspects relating to change. The director portrays life as a journey which the audience sees through the opening and closing scenes, he uses techniques, themes and symbols along with the characterisation to help educate the audience about the concept of change.

Gilbert is left with the decision on whether to stay with the people who need him most or escape before his life passes by him. The choice he makes will undoubtedly lead to a major shift in his life.