MATEI ALINAMATEI ALINA

J.D. SalingerJ.D. Salinger

Jerome David Jerome David SalingerSalinger, was an , was an American writer who American writer who established his established his reputation on the basis reputation on the basis of a single novel, of a single novel, The The Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye, , whose principal whose principal character, Holden character, Holden Caulfield, epitomized the Caulfield, epitomized the growing pains of a growing pains of a generation of high school generation of high school and college students. and college students.

The Book The Book

One of the most One of the most influential and very influential and very controversial book in the controversial book in the twentieth century was twentieth century was The Catcher in the The Catcher in the Rye Rye by J.D Salinger. The by J.D Salinger. The book’s main protagonist, book’s main protagonist, Holden Caulfield has Holden Caulfield has been subject to much been subject to much criticism and analysis. criticism and analysis.

To really understand who Holden To really understand who Holden represented, we must look into the novel represented, we must look into the novel itself find the life story of its mysterious itself find the life story of its mysterious author. author.

Was Was The Catcher in the RyeThe Catcher in the Rye just a just a book written to entertain? Or was it put on book written to entertain? Or was it put on paper to serve some greater purpose or to paper to serve some greater purpose or to prove some major point? prove some major point?

The novel's The novel's protagonist, Holden protagonist, Holden Caulfield, has become Caulfield, has become an icon for teenage an icon for teenage rebellion and defiance. rebellion and defiance. Written in the first Written in the first person, person, The Catcher The Catcher in the Ryein the Rye follows follows Holden's experiences Holden's experiences in New York City in the in New York City in the days following his days following his expulsion from Pencey expulsion from Pencey Prep, a college Prep, a college preparatory school.preparatory school.

ConflictsConflicts

Holden vs. Holden vs. himself. himself.

Holden vs. Holden vs. society. society.

Holden is the storyteller in Salinger's novel. He tends to have rebellious manner as reflected his isolation and solitude from society. Holden does not have any friends and cannot keep relationships. These is because he finds and exaggerates any negative aspect of all the people he knows or meet.

Young readers see Young readers see in Holden Caulfield a in Holden Caulfield a little bit of what they little bit of what they are, while older are, while older readers see in readers see in Holden a bit of what Holden a bit of what they once were. they once were.

Ultimately, we all Ultimately, we all know that in some know that in some way, Holden is one way, Holden is one of us. of us.

Some Values & Themes in Some Values & Themes in Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye

The need for inner direction and The need for inner direction and commitment to actioncommitment to action

The ability to feel compassion and to The ability to feel compassion and to expect justice for allexpect justice for all

The recognition of superficial standards of The recognition of superficial standards of behavior; the challenge of seeking positive behavior; the challenge of seeking positive change in one’s moral environmentchange in one’s moral environment

The novel offers The novel offers realism in its use of realism in its use of language, its use of language, its use of social criticism where social criticism where it is due, and its it is due, and its presentation of real presentation of real problems which problems which adolescents face in adolescents face in the process of the process of achieving maturity. achieving maturity. The book also offers The book also offers romanticism in its romanticism in its view of the innocence view of the innocence of childhood, its quest of childhood, its quest for truth, idealizing the for truth, idealizing the past, and its emphasis past, and its emphasis on individual on individual discovery and growth. discovery and growth.