Donnie Darko and The Catcher in the Rye Comparative Essay: The Transition into the Adult World
When one’s views contrast with those of society’s, a societal phenomenon of alienation occurs. Both, J.D Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye, and director Richard Kelly’s film, Donnie Darko, emphasise this estrangement by contextually presenting protagonists who suggest that teen discordance is universal due to their opposing collective perspectives. The book, The Catcher in the Rye, is about a young-adult’s three-day experience living in New York city after being kicked out of his school. The narrator, Holden Caulfield, recounts his experiences and interactions within those three days through thorough analyzation. The film, Donnie Darko, is about a teen, Donnie Darko, who is supernaturally transported to a tangent universe, guided by a ghost, Frank, in which his actions determine the future of the normal universe. In both the book and the novel, the ironic nature of societal seclusion being self-inflicted shown through the rejection of society by the protagonists themselves, both works are able to reinforce the universality of teen discord. Although there is trust to be found in adults, superficiality is present in the mass majority of the adult society. This phoniness amongst adults is present in both the book and the movie ultimately which contributes to the prevalence of distrust amongst the adolescent protagonists. Their self-instigated alienation and hypocritical fallacies is what allows them to perceive the world for what it is, superficial. However, this hypocritical insight conversely further pushes them into the world of superficiality. Both works suggest phoniness is an inevitable part of adulthood.
An individual’s reluctance to conform to society’s phony values allows for an ideological awakening which forces one to think in a contrasting manner to that of society’s. Both works suggest that one can only truly understand the inside view of society’s norms only when the outlook is from the perspective of an outsider. This contrasting idea of the societal outsider providing insight of the phoniness of society is ironic. This is true not only in the sense that the one who does not conform to societal superficiality is able to better understand it, but also in the sense that the characters conversely recognize their own inner phoniness. In the Catcher in the Rye the narrator, Holden, states, "I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life." (Salinger, 22). This sort of self-realization of his own hypocrisy effects Holden’s perception of his society as he becomes analytic of the superficiality of the adult world. This results in him becoming disassociated and distrustful of others because he realizes how society’s phoniness is inadvertently reflected within his own behaviour. Throughout the book, Holden uses his own hypocritical behaviour and alienation to avoid becoming phony himself. He continually interacts with adults and even uses the phony customs himself, which he states he detests, to comply with societal norms to avoid having extensive periods of interaction with those he who believes are phony. The same is true in the film Donnie Darko. “Why are you wearing that stupid man suit?” Frank questions Donnie, suggesting Donnie himself is a phony who is simply ‘wearing’ an identity, much like everyone else. This is a moment of self-realization for Donnie as he realizes he is more than someone who he believes to be. This further pushes Donnie away from the adult world as Holden uses his own phoniness as a shield against society. Although Donnie is considered an outcast prior to being transported to the tangent universe and having his actions influenced by Frank, he openly expresses his thoughts on those he finds to be superficial after this eye-opening experience. This is exemplified through situations involving adults such as his gym teacher and Jim Cunningham, both who are characters who others presume to be ‘real’. Donnie’s contrasting perception of topics which the adults speak about is what allows him to realize the superficiality behind what they are saying, exemplifying Donnie’s detachment from society. For example, Jim Cunningham is known as the perfect man, however, Donnie is quick to see through Jim’s façade and it is later revealed Jim had been a pedophile, far from the perfect man. Frank is the vessel which brings Donnie supreme knowledge. Frank can be considered a metaphor for the knowledge of the superficiality of the adult world, which enforces contrasting views with society’s. Due to Frank, Frank being the knowledge and reluctance to give into superficiality, Donnie is considered an outsider due to his offset behaviour as a result of this knowledge. This is exemplified when it is revealed by Frank to Donnie that Jim is a pedophile, whereas everyone perceives him as a role model. In both works the motif of the outsider having more knowledge of society’s phoniness than members of the society themselves is prevalent. The paradoxical nature of self-imposed societal-rejection allows more analytical insight of society one has become alienated from.
The coming-of-age styled story telling used by both texts allows for the gradual development of the characters from self-imposed alienated adolescents to more adult-like. This is representative of the inevitability of having to evolve under social circumstances as you get older and becoming a part of the phoniness present in society. The imagery created by Holden of him standing on a cliff on which children are playing is a metaphorical representation of the separation of childhood from the adult world. Holden adapts himself to the role of ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ in this portrayal, he prevents the kids from falling. “. . . I’m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff—I mean if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That’s all I’d do all day. I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all.” (Salinger, 224). The cliff on which the children are playing represent childhood and them falling is a metaphorical statement of the transition into adulthood. Holden uses this to symbolise how he confides in his desire to preserve the innocence of the children as he believes the adult world is engulfed in phoniness. This desire of remaining a child due to the fear of the phoniness of the adult world shares a direct correlation to Holden’s narration and actions throughout the book. Conforming to society’s values, according to Holden, is phoniness, therefore he resists his coming-of-age. However, this is ironic as Holden is emphasising his own phoniness by resisiting maturity as it is impossible to age while still preserving his differing views than those of the adult world. Holden himself is living a lie, something which he scrutinizes throughout the book. However, he is unable to resist maturity through seclusion. This maturation is symbolised by him deciding against going on the carrousel therefore acknowledging growth is unavoidable and succumbing to his own phoniness. In the film, Donnie is also unable to succumb to maturity. Donnie shares Holden’s thoughts on the innocence of children in contrast to the superficiality of the adult world, “… a storm that will swallow the children, and I will deliver them from the kingdom of pain. I will deliver the children back to their doorsteps and send the monsters back to the underground. I’ll send them back to a place where no one else can see them. Except for me, because I am Donnie Darko.” Donnie recites this poem in his class in which the monsters represent adults. Donnie is constantly reluctant to take responsibility for and face the consequences of his actions. Donnie often utters the phrase, “He made me do it!” in reference to Frank as he believes Frank is to be blamed for his actions. However, at the end of the film Donnie acknowledges all his wrongdoings, thus becoming more adult-like. Donnie eventually sacrifices his own life to save the real universe. Donnie Darko’s death symbolises the inevitable inherent superficiality awaiting a child in adulthood.
Contrasting views with those of society’s results in ‘outsiderism’. When one is unable to conform to the phoniness of the adult world, one instigates these conflicting views. However, this isolation is not desired, even though it is self-inflicted. In the book, Holden is fearful of integrating himself within the phony population of the adult world. He has extremely different values compared to those of society’s which he disregards as he believes normal adult society is fake; in Holden’s mind the adult world is essentially a lie which adults live on a daily basis. He perceives all interactions as superficial and completely meaningless. Holden believes everyone is simply putting on a front, not being their true selves, “…I was surrounded by phonies.” (Salinger, 60). Although isolation from society is a prevalent theme in the book, Holden does not enjoy it, he goes as far as getting a prostitute to simply talk to rid himself of loneliness. In the film, Donnie is subjected to a similar world in which he regularly confronts superficial adults. Donnie’s societal views on topics such as emotion and success contrast with those of various adults he encounters. For example, Donnie confronts his gym teacher when she marginalizes emotion as he believes it is a very inaccurate and superficial view which disregards his personal values and beliefs. Donnie also confronts Jim Cunningham when he is invited by his school as a motivational guest speaker. Donnie is quick to acknowledge that Jim is simply hiding behind a mask of lies which he believes are appealing to the societal masses rather than actually sharing who he is in actuality with the world. Although Donnie upholds his contrasting views with those of society’s phony values thus becoming a societal outcast, he too, like Holden, fears loneliness, “She said every living creature dies alone, I don’t want to die alone,” Donnie states. This fear of loneliness is what thrusts both characters into the phoniness of the adult world. The fear of being alone causes Holden to integrate himself within society to rid himself of the feeling of seclusion. This also motivates Donnie to sacrifice himself, which symbolizes growing up, as he saves his loved ones so he ‘does not die alone’ representing his societal integration. Differences in values and views that contrast to the conventional opinions present in the majority of the society result in isolation. Both works, The Catcher in the Rye, and Donnie Darko, reveal the concepts of alienation through self-imposed societal rejection. In particular, how the perceptions of those facing ‘outsiderism’ allow them to be more analytical of society, while still involuntarily transitioning into the society they oppose.
Works Cited
Donnie Darko. Dir. Richard Kelly. Prod. McKittrick, Sean, Nancy Juvonen, Adam Fields. Perf
Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore, Mary McDonnell, Katharine Ross,
Patrick Swayze, Noah Wyle, Steven Poster, Sam Bauer, Eric Strand, and Michael
Andrews. Beverly Hills, CA: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2008.
Salinger, J D, E M. Mitchell, and Lotte Jacobi. The Catcher in the Rye. , 1951. Print.
