Throughout the novel The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, the protagonist, Holden Caulfield goes through a hero’s journey and finally reaching his goal or “destination”. Holden goes through each of the twelve stages of a hero’s journey and makes it in end to his goal of finally feeling useful or helping others. He starts in his ordinary world, in his hometown and goes on a journey in the special world of New York City and then back to his ordinary world, his hometown, to soon achieve what his final destination. Throughout Caulfield's progression as a character in the novel, his actions and activities reflects upon the 12 steps of a hero's journey.

In the beginning of the novel, Holden starts out in his hometown Agerstown, Pennsylvania. In his ordinary world, we learn many things about Holden. He attends a school name Pencey Prep. And in that school he failed all his classes except one, which was english. It is also implied that he has depression in the novel, he implies he is in a “mental hospital” because he mentions about his “goddam checkups and stuff” (5) and “this one psychoanalyst guy they have here” (213). He also displays signs of depression and mentions past events that can directly be the cause of depression for example, lost of a loved one, no friends, drug use, smoking, etc. This is important because the ordinary world sets the character personality. We also learn that he is going to leave Pencey Prep and move to a different city. This is where his call to adventure begins. He feels like Pencey Prep and his hometown has let him down and he does not feel like he fits in which disrupts him from being in his ordinary world. Even though the hero is eager to go to the call of adventure, he still has fears and second guesses themself. He holds back and stays in his home town for a bit. The next step in the hero's journey is meeting the mentor. Holden meets with his old social studies teacher, Mr Spencer, who has the flu. Mr Spencer tells holden to get his stuff together and that holden doesn’t seem to do any work and care about his future. Later on Holden’s roommate Stradlater goes on a date with this girl that Holden likes. After the date, Holden is mad that when Stradlater won’t tell Holden about the date and Holden is worried he had sex with her. They get into a fight and then Holden finally decides officially leave his hometown in Pennsylvania.

This is where holden crosses the threshold into the special world. He meets one of his old classmate’s mom and flirts with her a bit. This is where basically he crosses the threshold because he is on the train which is taking him to the new place. Now comes test, allies, and enemies which has the character step out of their comfort zone and explore new things. He first wants to call up someone to meet up. But he later decides to go to a restaurant. He tries to talk to people there and fail. Everyone basically rejects him. Even the taxi driver isn’t interested in talking with Holden. He then meets his “enemies”. Holden meets an elevator operator/ pimp named Maurice who sends a prostitute name Sunny up to his room. He chokes and decides to not have sex with her and pays $5. Later Maurice comes in and beats the full $10 out of him. Next he must face the Approach To The Inmost Cave and the Ordeal. He is helpless and goes out on a date with his another girl name Sally who he also likes. She likes him but latter storms off when they get into an argument. But after all the trouble he had, he finally gets his “reward”. He finally is able to see his little sister Phoebe which he loves her dearly. He tells her that his fantasy is to catch kids from falling off a cliff filled with rye.

But now it is time for him to make his journey back. He has to push back into the ordinary world. He calls an english teacher Mr. Antolini. Holden respects him because he picked up a boy who jumped out of a window. Mr Antolini also tells Holden what he needs to do with his life. But later that night, he wakes up from Mr Antolini putting his hand on his head. He leaves weird out. Now it is time for his resurrection. He goes to Phobies school and sees the word F*%@ You on the wall which he rubs off. Phoebe meets up with him and he says that he is running away to the west. She wants to come with him but he won’t let her. She is mad but later not mad after Holden lets her ride the carousel. This is where he Return with the Elixir. He is finally happy and accomplished his goal of helping people. He has returned to his ordinary world but now he is going to start a new school and start applying himself. He is now a changed man and is willing to do new things that he didn’t do before.

Overall Holden demonstrates the hero's journey throughout the novel. He starts in his ordinary world in Pennsylvania and crosses the threshold into the special world, into the special world of new york, where he meets allies and enemies. But eventually he returns to his ordinary world and becomes a changed person.