The Catcher in the Rye
(J.D. Salinger)

J.D. Salinger wrote “The Catcher in the Rye” at a time when the world was expected to conform to the education and social norms of the time, no questions asked. Thus, his novel was not well-received by all because of the flagrant use of profanity, disregard for rules, disgust for conformity, and focus on sexual relationships.

Salinger, like Holden Caulfield, attended various prep schools and had an affinity for rule breaking. Holden seems to be the character that Salinger could live vicariously through. Holden hates everyone, especially those who were willing to conform to be exactly what they “should” be. He hates the world he belongs to and refuses to be what they want him to be because he is disgusted with a world that cares nothing about the individuals in it, but only its own prosperity.

Holden is extremely untrusting of adults and sees no merits in living in a “phony” adult society, which may reflect Salinger’s experiences fighting in World War II. Holden Caulfield is a symbol of youth and innocence, something Salinger saw disappear rapidly in his experiences.

In a world that was just beginning to thrive, full of people happy to conform to its social norms, Salinger’s only full-length novel became a source of controversy. In some areas of the country, “The Catcher in the Rye” is still banned from school reading lists and general education. The book is seen as inappropriate, rebellious, and offensive. In the parts of the country that do study this book, Holden Caulfield is seen as one of the most popular, complex, and interesting characters in literature.