The Idea of Sleep

Throughout the movie, Finding Forrester, we are able to watch the developing relationship between the main character, Jamal Wallace, and a mentor in which he meets, William Forrester. This relationship is able to come about due to the fact that Jamal is accepted into a prestigious private high school. Previous to this, Jamal was just another boy living within a bad area in New York. However, following his encounter with Forrester, a bond is formed between the two in which Jamal is able to receive help in writing by the previous writer, Forrester. Due to this relationship, Jamal is able to be transformed from a kid without purpose into a kid in which has been revealed his own identity and meaning in life. This movie shows how a simple relationship/situation in life is able to transform one's life for the better. This idea of transformation of an individual is similar to that of the novel, Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger.

One main connection between both the novel, Catcher in the Rye, and the film, Finding Forrester, is the characters being greatly influenced by family. In the novel, Catcher in the Rye, Holden is greatly changed due to the death of his very close younger brother, Allie. Due to his death, Holden is changed dramatically. For one, Holden’s view on the people around him is completely disoriented. This is due to the fact that every person that Holden encounters, he compares his little brother. Therefore, if the individual doesn’t meet certain requirements/characteristics in which his brother possessed, Holden refers to them as being phony. Due to this, Holden is not very able to make friends considering he finds each individuals flaws, in which Allie didn’t have, and only seems to see them for their flaws. This causes Holden to be a very pessimistic person as he continues to shut out family members and friends. This is similar to that of the movie, Finding Forrester. In the movie, William Forrester also cares for his family greatly. Therefore, when William loses a brother due to post-war trauma and alcoholism, as well as his parents, he begins to live in solitary. This causes William to live in isolation and not make any new friendships or family. Therefore, when Jamal comes to William in seek of help it allows William to open up for the first time since the death of his family members. William’s fear of opening up and being in public places is similar to that of Holden’s main fear throughout the novel. Holden refers to his dream of being “the catcher in the rye” several times throughout the book. This reference is symbolic for Holden’s fear of growing up and having to face adulthood. Holden is overall able to overcome this fear due to the help of Phoebe’s statements as well as some advice from Mr. Antonioli. In the film, William was able