9.How does "The Catcher in the Rye" relate to its Time Period?

Throughout the novel Catcher in the Rye, I believe that it relates to its time period because not only was the book published around the 1950's but from the 1940's there were many moments in the book that influenced some scenes to that specific time period. One of the more obvious relations is the fact that the book is written during the post-World War II. Throughout the novel, Holden talks about the war and the many effect it's had on his brother D.B. with a slightly detached air. Holden also mentions the Atomic bomb during the novel which is a very known historical event that took place during that time period. The atomic bomb was one of the most shocking and known events that happened during World War II, which was when the U.S. busted out in August of 1945, four to five years earlier than Holden's narration. You can see the dropping of the bomb as a sort of a nation-wide "loss of innocence" if you were so inclined. The novel Catcher in the Rye, had many events, such as the ones I have mentioned, that relates itself to the time period that it was written in. I was content with the details of the post War that the author decided to add in, I think it added a lot of interest and history towards the book.

What effect does this book have on me? Does it excite me, confuse me, bore me? If so, why?

The novel The Catcher in the Rye had quite a strong message and I found it to teach me some important life lessons, however I found the book quite underwhelming. I found Holden to be a spoiled child whom needed to stop feeling sorry for himself and deal with the world around him. Holden lived in a wealthy family his entire life. Through having a privileged existence he is casually able to be a smug brat and criticise those who don’t meet his standards of social duty. As an inclusive sixteen year old, Holden doesn’t know much about the world around him, but he acts as though he knows everything about life. Today society’s role models tend to be those who are working hard for themselves rather than phonies causing problems. Perhaps I would have more respect for Holden, therein having a more open opinion on the story, in the 1950’s. Aside from the frustrating actions of Holden, the writing itself was quite interesting with the usage of repeated phrases like “kind of” and the constant use of the passive voice. Overall the novel has been adored by many, but personally the hypocritical actions of Holden Caulfield were too displeasing for me.

What is this book saying about life?

The Catcher in the Rye is a Bildungsroman novel, so the main purpose is a young boy going through the phases to become a man. The story shows the struggles that come with growing up, that it is not easy, but it is inevitable and it must be dealt with. Holden spends his day critiquing the people around him calling them “stupid” or “phonies”, but then proceeds to make conversation and act as though they’re the best of friends. The book tells the reader that the world is full of phonies, a point that Holden makes very clear, but recognizing the fact that there are phonies doesn’t make you any less of one. The harsh fact of life is that you do not always get what you want.

“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 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.” (224-225)

If Holden could be one thing he would want to preserve children’s innocence, save them from the cliff which symbolizes adulthood. What Holden has to learn is that it is not his responsibility to save children from growing up and he needs to accept the fact the growing up is impossible to stop.

What part of life do you understand better, or see differently after reading the book?

Since the book follows the struggles of an adolescent teenager there are many components which I can relate with, but there are many differences between Holden and the average teenager of today. The first major difference is the difference in time, Holden was a teenager in the 1950’s which I now understand is much different than a teenager in 2014. It’s interesting to see the experiences of a teenager without the influence of social media affecting them. It was much more difficult to keep close relationships with people whom you don’t see on a daily basis, and in Holden’s case the only person that he kept a strong bond with was his sister Phoebe. For a teenager to be expelled in 2014 their parents would have be notified immediately, whether by email or phone. Holden’s headmaster at Pency prep stated that he would call Holden’s family, but seemingly he did not. Another way technology did not affect Holden is the way it has affected teens today is the use of the computer. The computer could either been an extreme asset or a major liability in terms of Holden’s work habits. In the story Holden does not fully apply himself in his studies, so the computer would either make work easier, therefore more appealing, or it would be a major distraction like it is with many teenagers today.

The Catcher in the Rye vs. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

There are many parallels in the stories the Catcher in the Rye and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The similarities fall into both literal and symbolic categories. The two stories both follow the travels of a young boy on the path to discover his identity. Huckleberry is trying to unveil his morals through finding his purpose and identity. In comparison Holden is trying to reveal his maturity and manhood, whether he knows it or not. Both of the boys' stories begin with them running away. Huckleberry runs away so that he can escape the abuse from his father, while Holden Runs away because he was kicked out of boarding school, he does not want to return to his mother and father, and he wants to experience the adult world. Each story has unique and influential resolutions. Huckleberry learns that true decisions come from ones heart, while Holden discovers that growing up may not be as terrible as he believes, then sought out for professional help.

10. What is the climax of the story?

The Climax of the story is when Holden is watching Phoebe on the carousel. This is when Holden solves his inner conflict of growing up. At this point Holden comes to terms with himself that growing might not be so bad after all. This conclusion shows a great deal maturity. Holden had been watching Phoebe on the carousel going around and around while grabbing for the gold ring. Holden was concerned for her safety, but realized that kids are going to do what they want to do and you can’t stop them. Some things are just better that way. What Holden may not have realized was that his idea about the gold ring fits with his idea on growing up. You can’t stop growing up and maybe things will all be okay. At this point Holden finally states that he is extremely happy, so happy in fact that he was “damn near bawling.” Holden then proceeds to watch Phoebe reaching at the ring thinking that things will turn out just fine.

9. What is the Holden of the present doing to solve his past conflicts?

In the final chapter Holden makes it clear that he is currently living at some sort of institution through sentences like, “[E]specially this one psychoanalyst guy they have here” and, “He drove over last Saturday with this English babe that’s in this new picture he’s writing.” Holden also admits to being sick, which, presumably, is mental illness since he is not in a hospital, which shows a great deal of maturity. The present version of Holden still shows some sign of judgemental traits when he refers to the psychoanalyst’s question as stupid, but another side of him shows a lot of growth because the so called “phonies” whom he would complain about before, he misses now that it’s over. “Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.” (277)

8. What sort of conflict does Holden deal with in terms of the society?

Holden faces many conflicts with society, the most substantial being his inability to integrate with culture because of his strong personal views on people. Holden dislikes phonies and is very quick to label someone as a phony even while barely knowing them. Holden dislikes complex and unpredictable situations and since the society is filled with them, Holden isolates himself. Holden finds solace in constant ideas. He dreams of a world which is frozen, silent, predictable, and unchanging. A possible reason that Holden isolates himself so much is because he’s afraid of an unpredicted change resulting in the loss of a loved one, for example what happened with Allie. When Holden looks through Phoebe’s papers while she is sleeping, Holden spends the time projecting his own idealizations of what childhood should be like upon her. He believes childhood to be joyous and full of curiosity, while he sees the world of adults to be hypocritical and superficial. It isn’t until Holden sees his child sister, Phoebe, acting more like an adult than he that he finally tries to eliminate his rash views on society.

7. What causes Holden’s inner conflict?

Holden suffered through traumatic situations while he was younger, with the most impactful being the death of Allie. Allie died of leukemia at the age of eleven, when Holden was thirteen. Holden and Allie were extremely close so his death brought Holden into a state of depression.

“I was only thirteen, and they were going to have my psychoanalyzed and all, because I broke all the windows in the garage. I don't blame them. I really don't. I slept in the garage the night he died, and I broke all the goddam windows with my fist, just for the hell of it. I even tried to break all the windows on the station wagon we had that summer, but my hand was already broken and everything by that time, and I couldn't do it. It was a very stupid thing to do, I'll admit, but I hardly didn't even know I was doing it, and you didn't know Allie.” (50)

Something else that brought on Holden’s inner conflict was his relationship with his parents. Since they did not communicate much, Holden did not have anyone to comfort him or pay attention to his problems as they arose, thus his problems spiraled out of control for years. Holden explains to Mr. Antolini, “That digression business got on my nerves. I don't know. The trouble with me is, I like it when somebody digresses. It's more interesting and all.” (238) which is a direct link to Holden’s story. Holden digresses the thought of adulthood.

6. What is Holden’s inner conflict?

Holden’s inner conflict is the struggle of becoming a man and facing that fact the he is being a hypocrite and is in fact a phony himself. The reader can constantly find Holden telling lies, spending time with people he dislikes, and stating that he agrees with ideas which he doesn’t not. Holden not only defines the word “phony” as a person whom is not genuine, but also someone who is extremely typical. Holden is correct in the fact that there are many phonies throughout the story, but the point of the matter is that even though people are phony, the world will not live up to Holden’s idea of a straightforward “black and white” world. The idea of phoniness can be very harmful and hurtful, which is a lesson Mr. Antolini tries to teach Holden. Holden idolizes the idea of childhood and despises the adult world, he believes all adults are awfully phony. The story is a bildungsroman, which brings a great problem to Holden because how does one grow up if the very thought of it disgusts them?

5. What is Holden's relationship with his parents?

There is not a strong relationship between Holden and his parents. Ultimately there must have been some driving forces in sending Holden away to for high school and since Holden spends the majority of his year away from home the conflict hasn’t been resolved. Holden’s father has standards for Holden, such as passing all of his classes, and Holden likes to rebel against these standards which is shown when Phoebe analyzes that Holden was kicked out of school and says, “Daddy’ll kill you!” The only role that his parents seem to play in his life, is bringing fear upon him. Holden’s mother constantly smokes during the middle of the night which shows that she may be experiencing great troubles, which can presumably be featured around Holden, but the details are never mentioned. A healthy upbringing results in a healthy adult, Holden was raised in a way that resulted in an unhealthy relationship with his parents by not being able to trust them or talk to his parents about any problems. Holden’s relationship with his parents may have been the very thing that caused his need for physiological help.

4. What fears does Holden have?

The most significant of Holden’s fears are the fears of growing up, intimacy, and human interactions. It is clear that the novel is bildungsroman, but what gives the Catcher in the Rye an interesting contrast to other bildungsroman stories is that Holden resents the very thing that progresses his story. Just like the Eskimos in the museum, eternal fixations give Holden a sense of reassurance, whilst change puts him into an uncomfortable state. Intimacy is the only fear that Holden admits to.

“I knew I didn't have to get all dolled up for a prostitute or anything, but it sort of gave me something to do. I was a little nervous. I was starting to feel pretty sexy and all, but I was a little nervous anyway. If you want to know the truth, I'm a virgin. I really am. I've had quite a few opportunities to lose my virginity and all, but I've never got around to it yet. Something always happens. […] I came quite close to doing it a couple of times, though. One time in particular, I remember. Something went wrong, though – I don't even remember what any more. The thing is, most of the time when you're coming pretty close to doing it with a girl – a girl that isn't a prostitute or anything, I mean – she keeps telling you to stop. The trouble with me is, I stop. Most guys don't. I can't help it. You never know whether they really want you to stop, or whether they're just scared as hell, or whether they're just telling you to stop so that if you do go through with it, the blame'll be on you, not them. Anyway, I keep stopping.” (120-121)

Even though Holden never follows through with his intimate acts he constantly searches for new relationships. Holden’s last crucial fear is social interactions. Holden is very capable of holding conversations, such as when he befriended the two nuns, but his conflict is with forming strong bonds with anyone. The strongest bond he has is with Phoebe whom he rarely sees because of school. Holden uses alienation as a form of self-protection. By excluding himself from others he can keep his views of hierarchy with himself on the top and the phonies on the bottom.

3. What affects does Phoebe have on Holden?

Holden isn't very close with his family aside from Phoebe. The strong bond that the two share is very clear. Throughout the book Holden constantly finds himself thinking of Phoebe, whether he’s thinking of calling her or buying her a record. Holden takes the risk of getting caught by his parents just for the chance to see his little sister again. Phoebe also knows a lot about Holden, not only facts about him, but his feelings, “You don't like any schools. You don't like a million things" (220). Phoebe is the only one that Holden will truly let in. Phoebe has helped Holden in numerous ways, with the most significant being how she was able to prevent Holden from running away. Initially it is her plan to run away with him, not because she wants to run away from anything herself, but rather how she wants to take care of Holden. Through the carousel scene Phoebe is able to spark something within Holden, triggered by placing the red hunting hat upon his head that helps to realize the flaws in his plan. Phoebe is one of the few characters whom actually works to resolve conflicts in the story.

2. What problems does Holden have with authority?

“Life is a game, boy. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules.”(12) This is advice that is given to Holden by Mr. Spencer, Holden’s favourite teacher from Pency Prep. Holden is inconsistent with his views on authority. There are many rules that he follows without question, such as paying for food and clothing, whereas some rules he breaks constantly, even his own. In chapter 9, Holden discusses his "sex rule" which stated, "last year I made a rule that I was going to quit horsing around with girls that, deep down, give me a pain in the ass."(82) then that very night Holden "spent the whole night necking with a terrible phony". Another rule that Holden breaks very often is his consumption of alcohol. The drinking age in both Pennsylvania and New York was 18 in the 1950’s. One of the main reasons Holden lacks authority within himself is because he doesn't have an authoritative figure to look up to. With the little communication he shares with his parents and his feelings towards adults makes finding an authority figure difficult. Holden struggles to find an authoritative figure many times throughout the course of the novel, but each time something prevents his efforts. For example, when Holden is looking to Mr. Spencer as an imposing figure he abruptly decides to leave for New York, leaving Mr. Spencer behind. Holden’s authoritative problems shows the reader his inner conflict like how he is unable to decide what is best for himself.

1. What does Holden gain from being kicked out of boarding school?

The story of the Catcher in the Rye revolves around Holden going through his right of passage to become a man. This leads him to act as any teenage boy would through rebelling against his parents. Therefore flunking out of boarding school indirectly shows his parents how he feels. Whether he is doing this consciously or subconsciously is not clear, but either way his message is conveyed. Holden is asking for help in the only way he can. Holden’s personality doesn’t let him specifically ask for help. At the beginning of the book Holden doesn’t quite know what he wants. He thinks he wants to grow up and be free, so by being kicked out of boarding school he appears to have achieved such a result. Holden’s entire adventure in New York City benefits him in more ways than he may realize. His journey led him to discover what he truly wants, to remain innocent forever, and taught him the very important lessons of growing up and not always getting what you want. Although getting kicked out of boarding school is terrible in many ways, overall was a positive experience for Holden.

Green Day - Who Wrote Holden Caulfield?

Lyrics:

A thought burst in my head and I need to tell you
It's news that I for thought
Was it just a dream that happened long ago?
I think that I just forgot

Well it hasn't been the first time
And it sure does drive me mad

There's a boy who fogs his world and now he's getting lazy
There's no motivation and frustration makes him crazy
He makes a plan to take a stand but always ends up sitting.
Someone help him up or he's gonna end up quitting

I shuffle through my mind
To see if I can find
The words I left behind
Was it just a dream that happened long ago?
Oh well...
Never mind.

Well it hasn't been the first time
And it sure does drive me mad

There's a boy who fogs his world and now he's getting lazy
There's no motivation and frustration makes him crazy
He makes a plan to take a stand but always ends up sitting.
Someone help him up or he's gonna end up quitting

There's a boy who fogs his world and now he's getting lazy
There's no motivation and frustration makes him crazy
He makes a plan to take a stand but always ends up sitting.
Someone help him up or he's gonna end up quitting

There's a boy who fogs his world and now he's getting lazy
There's no motivation and frustration makes him crazy
He makes a plan to take a stand but always ends up sitting.
Someone help him up or he's gonna end up quitting

Crash Course on "The Catcher in the Rye" by John Green

Review of "The Catcher in the Rye," #2

This book follows a few days in the life of a boy. Holden Caulfield: seventeen, pupil (or rather ex-pupil) of Pencey Prep, Agertown, Pennsylvania, and alienated kid. Holden has recently received the news that he has been expelled from Pencey, where he feels just as lonely as he has in every other school he's been kicked out of. He's so lonely, in fact, that he even spends free time with his fellow boarders – who he often hates – just to avoid spending a Saturday night by himself.

This book is sometimes easy to relate to but sometimes a little depressing. At times it seems that Holden's luck will never get any better. It felt like I was reading a book with the potential to be brilliant but lacking a really good story. It has to be said that the characters immediately hook you and the things that happen to Holden are undoubtedly interesting, but it feels at times like it doesn't go the way you want it to – which left me feeling that it lacked a certain something.

Frustrated and depressed, a fight that leads to a bloody injury leaves Holden at breaking point. What better to do than escape his last unhappy days at Pencey and run away to New York? Across three days Holden makes decisions, recalls significant figures from his past and fights against a looming feeling of isolation…

There were places I wanted the story to go and characters mentioned who I thought I was going to meet, so the story almost felt like it needed to continue into a different book. You do get to like Holden and feel quite close to him – a huge plus side – but it is a shame the novel has such an unsatisfying end. The Catcher in the Rye is like nothing you will have read before. It has a mysteriously appealing quality that I loved, but I couldn't recommend this book with the words, 'You have to read this', because it is likely that it will disappoint as a story.

Overall I would say that this teen and adult book is a sort of expression of emotion rather than a directly entertaining book, because it doesn't resolve itself like the normal book you would read for pleasure. However, I did enjoy it and I think that it is interesting in itself. Read it for this kind of experience – so you can make up your own mind on the 50s bestseller – but perhaps not if you want something guaranteed to satisfy…

http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2014/feb/19/review-jd-salinger-catcher-in-rye

Review of "The Catcher in the Rye" #1

Let's just say that this book is certainly one open to a lot of controversy and debate, yet that is what makes it such an interesting read.

The Catcher in the Rye certainly wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, however find it an exciting and compelling read, with a gallon of brutal reality poured in along with some humour, contrasting with moments of depression.

Despite being written in 1951, I think many teenagers would be able to relate to the various themes present in the book. It is a modern classic of the coming of age genre. I find the main character, 17-year-old Holden Caulfield, absolutely intriguing and as I read the book, it was fascinating to get inside the head of the strange, rebellious protagonist.

The book begins with Holden directly addressing you, the reader, and he begins to retell the events over a three day period from last December. His story starts at Pencey Prep, a prestigious boarding school filled with "phonies", as Holden likes to call them.

What strikes me the most is the way Salinger creates the a brash atmosphere from the very beginning of the book with Holden being portrayed as insolent, lazy and quite frankly, completely clueless about his future.

Almost all of the story is one long flashback of this three day period with occasional references to the present. One thing that sets The Catcher in the Rye apart from other similar novels, I think, is the fairly frequent use of profanity - be warned! The heavy use of colloquialism is effective in making the reader relate to the characters better and make the characters seem realistic, but on the other hand, if you're under fourteen, I would certainly not recommend the novel to you! It isn't only the language used that makes The Catcher in the Rye unsuitable for younger readers, but also the themes discussed, centred around the idea of morality.

J.D. Salinger's novel is a wake-up call to all teenagers and in a sense, is an inspiring read because it sends out the message that we should all remain hopeful and true to ourselves. Teenagers can relate to it because of its complex themes of rebellion, identity and independence but I would recommend you read it before you're an adult otherwise you may have the urge to slap Holden for his actions when reading the book!

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/jun/21/review-salinger-catcher-rye

What makes this book?

Personally, I think what makes this book astonishing is the fact that it's so real and relatable. Holden has the same mindset as so many other young teenagers have these days, you see the progression through the book as Holden goes through puberty and matures into a young man. Along the way he goes through realistic experiences that any other average teenager would. Holden Caulfield is so easy to relate to that you tend to want to follow in his footsteps and learn how he handles situations, even if it doesn't work out for the best. He teaches you that not everything is perfect in life and you're going to have times in your life where you feel nothing but trapped and misunderstood as a kid in this world. He always over analyses things, people, and situations. He does what he wants to, which i think a lot of people wish they could. Holden is sarcastic in a way that makes you think. Although I do really hate endings that leave you hanging, I think JD Salinger did it in a way that seriously makes you think about the book. He also lets your imagination do a lot of the work. He lets you wonder why and how Holden got sick at the end of the book, but that is where your imagination picks up the rest.  

What are the major themes in your book?

One of the major themes in Catcher in the Rye is depression. One of Holden's biggest challenge in the novel is trying to learn how to deal with himself and his identity. The words crazy, madman, and depressed are some of the most commonly used words in the novel, and  because Holden seems to be a typical teenager battling with typical teenage issues of identity he seems to use those specific words throughout the novel for effect. For example, when Holden says he's crazy he seems to mean that he's not acting like himself or he is acting oddly, inconsistently, or even stupidly, but he is not actually going insane. Another example is when he says he wishes he were dead, at first it seems as though he is just saying that as teenage expression to make his emotions seem intense to the readers, but as the novel continues to explore his mind state, it becomes more and more obvious that Holden is beginning to lose it. While narrating the novel Holden becomes more clear through his hints and his own language that he is truly thinking of killing himself as an escape out if this world that he can't control or understand and seems to hate so much.  

What specifically causes that mood?

The novel Catcher in the Rye is narrated by a cynical, and somewhat bitter teen named Holden which causes the novel to have a negative mood. Throughout the book, every person he meets, he never hesitates to mention the flaws of the person he is describing. Holden described his life with a hatred passion, and he also had the power to make you hate everyone he ever thought about. There are many moments in the novel where Holden complains about different people, including his ex-professor, Mr.Spencer. Holden goes on about how he strongly dislikes talking to him. 'The minute I went in, I was sort of sorry I came.'(7) Even though Mr.Spencer seems like a nice person who genuinely cares about how Holden is doing in school, Holden still makes you dislike him because of the negative comments that he describes him with. Not only does the negativity come from describing his elders, they also come from describing his peers, such as Ackley. Holden describes Ackley's terrible teeth and tall rounded shoulders with disgust. Although at times it was humorist to read what Holden had to say about other characters, it also brought down the mood and could get aggravating, wanting him to not be so judgemental and harsh.

Does it remind me of other texts, movies, songs? T.V shows? Why?

Catcher in the Rye reminded me a lot of the movie Perks of Being a Wall Flower for one reason; the main characters are extremely opposite but also somewhat similar in my opinion. Although they may not be identical by personality, but they do think the same way. In Catcher in the Rye, I think Holden is such a striking and provocative character which is what makes him interesting and, to an extent, dislikeable. Then, in Perks of Being a Wall Flower, the main character Charlie is sweeter and maybe more close to home for many readers. Both characters are similar in that they are written by a teenage boy, both are frank and moving, but their time and overall message is very different. Holden despises the world he sees; Charlie desperately wants to fit in to it, but adding on that, they both want the same thing, to find themselves and figure out where they belong. Although Charlie wants to fit in, he is still considered an 'outsider' and struggles in life just as Holden does. For example, in the movie Perks of Being a Wall Flower, Charlie struggles to find friends and put his trust in people, just as Holden has a hard time connecting with his parents, and both characters have trust and respect for their sisters.

What is the book saying about life?

The book, "The Catcher in the Rye," tells us a lot about life, mainly about the life of teenagers. Holden's long and hard journey teaches us that growing up is sometimes very difficult, especially when you are reluctant to do so. Holden reveals the struggles teenagers have to deal with on their road to adulthood. Holden, suffering from depression, shows teenagers, that they can get help, as at the end of the book he is placed in a mental hospital. As the novel finishes, Holden, realizes that he has to stop living in the past and move forward with his life and start thinking about his future. He also shows us that people are not black and white, and we shouldn't judge them so harshly. He realizes that he cannot always focus on critiquing everyone else and has focus on himself and let people find their own way. Holden teaches adults, as well, that you cannot save everyone. Usually, parents what to keep their children sheltered from the outside world and preserve their innocence, but at some point you have to set them free. Holden is a very complex character and can teach everyone something. Whether you are going through a rough time in life, if you have lost a loved one, or if you are just having trouble growing up, Holden teaches us that this is okay because everyone goes through struggles in life.

Does “The Catcher in the Rye” remind you of other texts?

“The Catcher in the Rye’s” Holden Caulfield reminds me of one of my favorite fictional character “The Outsiders’s” Ponyboy Curtis. Firstly, both Ponyboy and Holden runaway from home, both because something they have done something wrong and want to avoid further consequence. In “The Catcher in the Rye,” Holden had been getting bad marks at his boarding school and had been kicked out. Two days before he was supposed to leave his school, he runs away, trying to escape the ‘phonies’ and to have some time alone before his parents find out he has been kicked out of school. In “The Outsiders’s,” Ponyboy and his friend Johnny get jumped by “The Socials” (upper class kids). They get into a fight, and one of the socials is killed. To avoid getting in trouble, Johnny and Ponyboy runaway from home. Secondly, both boys are violent at some point in the novels. Holden, in “The Catcher in the Rye” has quite a few violent outburst. For example, when him and Stradlater fight at the boarding school, and he also explains that the night he found out Allie died, he smashed all the windows in his garage. Ponyboy, in “The Outsiders” also gets into some fights, as the book is centred around the rivalry between “The Greasers” and “The Socials.” For example, at the end of the book, Ponyboy joins the fight between the two gangs. Thirdly, both characters feel isolated from society. Holden has difficulty making personal connections and is constantly feeling very alone. Ponyboy is apart of a gang called “The Greasers,” the outsiders of society. They don’t fit in with the upper class “Socials”, as they are from broken homes. Ponyboy also feels as if he is isolated from his own group as well because of his love of movies, books and nature, something the other boys don’t find interesting. Lastly both boys realize that nothing good can stay forever. By the end of the book, “The Catcher in the Rye,” Holden realizes that childhood innocence and purity cannot stay forever, as almost every child “falls of the cliff” into adulthood. At the end of of the book “The Outsiders”, Ponyboy starts to realize ‘nothing gold can stay.’ The word gold represents innocents and purity. After the death of his friend Johnny, Ponyboy realizes that he has to face harsh realities in the world as he grows up and looses his childhood innocence.

How can I describe the mood of the book?

I would describe the general mood of the book "The Catcher in the Rye" as depressing and negative. Most of the time, I felt quite bad for Holden. Often he talks about how lonesome and depressed he is and a few times even talks about how he wants to commit suicide. His hero complex, of wanting to preserve childhood innocence, is almost sad in a way and this makes Holden very cynical about adulthood. Holden also is very negative and doesn't have a problem pointing out multiple flaws in the people he meets, because of the expectation he has for society as a result of the death of his younger brother Allie. Holden idolizes Allie for is childhood innocence and would like for all of society to have this innocence, but this is not the case. Holden's journey was a long and hard one; flunking out of school, the loss of a loved one which effected him very deeply and having trouble growing up, this story is often sad but one that most teenagers can relate too. I also felt the mood was suspenseful, as Holden's actions and words often contradicted other things he said or did. This would make me wonder what he was going to do next. It's not only until the very end does the mood take a little bit of a lighter turn. Holden starts to realizing that he has to stop living in the past, and let people decide what to do with their own lives, instead of trying to save them from adulthood. Reader's also realize at the end of the book that Holden is receiving mental help for his depression. Overall, this book had a depressing and negative mood and never really took a turn for the "best" until the end. Even when the book took a lighter turn, the book still was sad and I still felt bad for Holden. I think this is why this book was so interesting, as the mood was quite different from other books I have read. 

What effects does this book have on me? Does it excite me, confuse me, bore me? If so, why?

In my opinion, this book was anything but boring. I found this book quite exciting and very different from the books I normally would read. At the start of the novel, I was slightly confused as Holden does lie often in the book and continuously call people phonies. I would question why he would do these things. Although as the book progressed I started to understand that Holden’s character was very complex and there were reasons behind his actions. He lies to prevent personal connections and calls people phonies because of the high expectations he has for society. I also liked how all the characters, even the smallest ones, in the books highlighted Holden’s personality. For example, when Holden enters a bar in chapter 12, he is very unimpressed with the piano player, Ernie. He says, “ Anyway, when he finished, and everybody was clapping their heads off, old Ernie turned around on his stool and gave this very phony, humble bow. Like as if he was a helluva humble guy, besides being a terrific piano player. It was very phony...” (pg 84) Even Ernie, a very minor character who only appears once in the book highlights Holden’s personality and his expectations for society. All the characters had a roll to play in this novel. This novel had me on the edge of my seat as I found Holden very unpredictable, as the things he does and says are very contradictory. I found this novel very interesting and exciting and loved the character development in Holden.

5.What are some themes and symbols in the novel? How do they relate to the plot and characters?

4. Holden never directly describes his psychological breakdown, How does Sallinger indicate this instability while protecting his narrrators reticence?

Salinger uses two main techniques with great efficiency. The first is to emphasize a contrast between Holden’s relatively casual description of his actions and the apparent desperation of the actions themselves. When Holden describes walking to the Central Park duck pond late at night, for instance, he casually mentions that he had icicles in his hair and worried about catching pneumonia, but he does not seem to consider it strange to walk outdoors with wet hair in freezing weather. It does seem strange to the reader, however, and Salinger uses that sense of strangeness, as well as Holden’s apparent obliviousness to it, to emphasize his mental imbalance. His other technique is to provide alternative viewpoints in the other characters’ responses to Holden’s behavior as guidelines. For instance, when Holden has his meltdown with Sally and tries to persuade her to flee society and live with him in a cabin, she repeatedly asks him to stop shouting. In his account of the scene, Holden claims he wasn’t shouting, but we believe Sally. Salinger uses her angry, fearful response to signal to the reader that Holden’s mental state is worse than he admits or acknowledges.

The cynical tone

the Catcher in the Rye has a very cynical tone to it. Holden's attitudes and tones through out the book are very harsh. he trusts no one and refers to everyone as a "phonies." He is constantly pointing out the negative attributes of everything and everyone. as he does that, he's projecting his feelings. "It's the act of taking something of ourselves and placing it outside of us, onto others, sometimes we project positive and sometimes negative aspects of ourselves" He really sees himself as phony, and doesn't feel too good about himself. That sets the mood for the entire novel, as harsh, cynical, and negative.

3. There are several themes to this novel, what is the greatest one?

I believe the greatest theme of the novel involves the relationship between the pain of actual experience and feeling one's feelings, on the one hand, and on the other hand the equally devastating numbness that comes with shutting down one's emotions in order to avoid suffering. After the death of Allie, Holden basically shuts down, forcing himself to lose all attachments to people so as never to be hurt again. He continually mentions how important it is not to get attached to anyone, since this will lead to missing them once they are gone. By the end of the novel, he has spiraled so far down with this theory that he has become afraid to even speak to anyone. Phoebe is the only reminder that Holden still has the ability to love. When he looks at her, he cannot help but feel the same tortured love that he felt for Allie. Nevertheless, the surges of these feelings leave him even more saddened. He knows he must leave Phoebe to protect himself, but when she shows up to accompany him on his journey, ultimately he puts his love for her first and sacrifices his own instinct to flee in order to return home.

Holden, it seems, is in the throes of an existential crisis. To a great degree he is numb to the pains and joys of life. Unable to come to terms with his brother's death, he has no one to show him the kind of parental or brotherly love that he himself gave Allie. Whenever someone does end up showing him even a hint of such love (such as Mr. Antolini), Holden ends up being disappointed.

2. Is Catcher in the Rye a Sexist Novel?

I personally would not judge the novel itself as a sexist novel, but I believed it showed how sexist Holden was as a person. Most of the females in the book were mistreated by Holden, which shows that Holden believes men were above women. Although, Holden's sister, was the only strong, mature character, and she was a female. So there is sexism within the novel depicted by Holden, but the novel itself, was not sexist.

1. A strong theme in this book is trying to sustain innocence. Is Holden's desire to protect children from the "dirty" things of the adult world an impossible one?

In my opinon, yes, it is an impossible one. Growing up and facing the truth behind the adult life is a  part of living. he can't "protect" children from the world. it's the circle of life, and he, and all other human beings, will have to face it.

Personal Influence The Catcher in the Rye has had on me

In my opinion, Holden is in that awkward stage. he is immature and blaming everyone around him for his own problems.I believe Holden and the catcher in the rye has a concept of having to deal, accept, and face your own challenges and conflicts. This book has changed has me by making me accept and face change instead of being immature about it like Holden had been. Holden calls everyone "phonies" and just runs away from his problems. Seeing him be so immature, as most teenagers are, makes me want to not do as he did. Don't run from your problems, confront them. You can't run away from then forever, sooner or later they will come back and be an issue again. In order to get to the future, you must deal with the present. The Catcher in the Rye has helped me realize that. In a way, it influenced me as I have learned from Holden's mistakes.

The Catcher in the rye's reflection of society

"Society" is the passive backdrop to the novel. This book has had great words spoken about its accurate picture of society in the 1940's. Nothing is exaggerated, nothing is diminished. what you see is what you get. this book is about Holden, what place he has, what place he is going, and what place he wants to be in. In other words, the book does not presume to say anything about society, except as you read through holdens eyes. In the book holden critizes adult society, he believes its all fake. everyone is victim of conformity. But he almost admired the society of children and young teens. In children, he sees purity and innocence. He tries to protect his sister Phoebe from tainted innocence, in order to save her from how adults are in holden's perspective. Since he saw what adults are expected to do and are like in his society, he longs for innocence, so he could have an easier life in his eyes.

10. How is Holden's red hunting hat significant to his character?

Firstly, I believe that Holden’s red hunting hat is a representation of his odd personality. Secondly, notice when Holden wears his hat. He wears his hat when he is in need of something to hide behind and when not in highly populated places. For example, he wears it when leaving Pency Prep, and yelling “Sleep tight, ya morons” down the hallway. This is normally not something diffident Holden would but his hat gives him a boost of self confidence. However, when Holden is in areas where there are lots of people, for example the train, going in bars, and hotels, he choose not to wear the hat, as he is embarrassed. When Holden is wearing the hat, he can be who he wants to be. It is as if the hat is a fake identity. Without the hat Holden lacks in self confidence. The hat represents Holden’s internal struggle of wanting to be different but at the same time having very little self confidence. Lastly, another thing to notice about the hat is it’s color, red. This is the same color as Allie and Phoebe’s hair. It is possible Holden also associates his hat with innocence and purity, as this is what he idolized his siblings for. 

9. Overall, do you like Holden’s character?

Overall, I do enjoy Holden's character. He is not an average teenager. His experiences make him unique and unlike anyone I have ever met. I very much enjoyed reading about his adventures and seeing how he develops as a character. Everything about him was very intriguing. Firstly, I liked the way he talked and described people. Although very judgmental, it made him a very interesting character. Seeing him develop from calling people phonies, to realizing he can’t save all innocents and expect society to live up to his expectations was very fascinating. It was like he had a hero-complex throughout the book and at the end, he realized that he can’t save everyone from loosing their innocences. Holden is a very complex character, as what he says or does often contradicts other things he says or does. For example, Holden is always saying how lonesome he is but he has a lot of trouble connecting with people. This is probably because he has incredibly high standards when it comes to people in general along with society. Holden’s brother dying, and his depression made for a long and hard journey but that’s what makes his character so alluring. He is not your typical teenager, which made his character more absorbing. 

8. Do you think teenagers today can relate to Holden?

I think that all teenagers, depending on their life experiences, could relate to Holden is all different ways. If you have experienced any type of loss, like Holden lost his brother you could relate to Holden. You can relate to Holden if you are suffering from a mental illness such as depression, if you have been kicked out of school, if you lie often, if you  even if you have a hat that makes you feel confident. There are so many different ways to relate to this character. In my opinion the most obvious way any teenager could relate to Holden would be the struggle of growing up. It is difficult growing up and almost everyone has to go through it, Holden included. Once you reach the age of about fourteen to seventeen, you have to decide to either start growing up or still act as child. This decision my seem obvious for some and not for other. For Holden it was not so obvious. It really depends on your outlook of adulthood and childhood. Holden is not your typical teenager. His personality, actions and experiences make him quite peculiar but I think that almost every teenager could find at least one thing in common with him, whether it be big or small.

7. How do you think Holden perceives childhood and adulthood? Where do you think he fits in?

I believe Holden views adulthood as the epitome of phoniness. He thinks of it as something to avoid and to be rescued from. Adulthood, in Holden’s opinion, is where children loose their innocence and are corrupted. Holden views childhood as innocence as purity. Holden explains that he wants to be “the catcher in the rye,” saving children from falling of a cliff into the world of adulthood. He has a desire to protect the innocent children from becoming phonies. 

Holden doesn’t really fit in to either the childhood or adulthood category. He is right in the middle. On one hand, Holden is physically mature and his thoughts prove to be more mature then his actions. For example at the end of the book Holden realizes that he cannot save everyone’s innocence where as at the beginning he continuously calls people phonies. On the other hand he is very immature. For example, he kept calling Stradlater a moron which provoked Stradlater to fight him. When Stradlater feels bad about what he has done, he tells Holden to go wash his face but in return Holden says, “Go wash your own moron face.” (pg45) Another example is when Holden pays a prostitute to come to his room. Holden makes her leave before anything happens, still paying her but she soon returns with her boss, Maurice, asking for more money then originally agreed upon. Holden becomes very frazzled and is unsure of what to do, and begins to cry. Instead of just giving Maurice the money he argues very immaturely and is punched, while the prostitute takes the money from his wallet. Holden is at the crossroads of adulthood and childhood, where he will need to make his decision about either excepting the fact that he is growing up or trying to stay as a child. 

6. How do you think Holden's obsession with "where the ducks go when the lagoon freezes over" is relevant to his character?

Holden’s obsession with the ducks is possibly because he can relate to them. He says, “ I was wondering where the ducks went when the lagoon got all icy and frozen over. I wondered if some guy came in a truck and took them away to a zoo or something. Or if they just flew away.” (pg 13) When winter arrives the duck are forced out of their homes and fly south. The beginning of winter is like failing classes for Holden and flying south from their homes would be getting kicked out of school. In the novel, Holden’s parents are not really there, as he is supposed to be transitioning into adulthood and becoming independent. This is hard for Holden, as he idolizes the innocence of the younger generation and therefor still wants to be a kid. Holden is looking for a parental figure (a guy in a truck) to guide him. But, just like the ducks he has to be able ‘fly away,’ meaning lead his life and find his own way, as he is supposed to be becoming an adult. The ducks are relevant to Holden’s character as it represents the crossroads of adulthood and childhood. Holden has to decide whether he is going to be independent and ‘fly away’ or continue being a kid.

5. Why do you think Holden lies as often as he does?

Holden states in Chapter 3 "I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. It's awful. If I'm on my way to the store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I'm going, I'm liable to say I'm going to the opera. It's terrible." (pg 16) I believe Holden’s lies are used to avoid personal relations with anybody. Following the death of his brother, Allie, Holden tries to alienate himself to avoid personal ties with anybody. When people try to make personal connections or ask personal questions, Holden lies to avoid such things. He does this because he does not want to feel the same pain he felt after his brother died. To avoid this pain, he avoids getting to close to anybody. Holden also lies to direct attention away from him and avoid questioning and confrontation. For example, when Ackley asked why him and Stradlater had been fighting, Holden lies and tells Ackley the fight was about him when it was really about Stradlater’s date with Jane Gallagher, somebody Holden really likes. This excited Ackley and the subject become about Ackley and not Holden. Another example of this is when Holden is on the train and meets a the mother, Mrs Morrow, from a boy at Pency Prep. When Mrs Morrow notices the Pency Prep stickers on his luggage she asked him if he knew her son, Ernest and if he likes Pency Prep. Holden does not like Ernest but lies and explains that he is a great guy. Again, Holden lies, this time to avoid confrontation with Ernest’s mother and to avoid her question about him liking Pency Prep.

4. Do you think Holden’s character changes and or matures throughout the book? Why or why not?

I do believe Holden changes and matures a lot throughout the novel. For most of the novel he is continuously calling people phonies and makes quick judgements on people he barely knows, which is immature. Holden was also very stuck in the past. For example, Holden constantly talks about Jane, a girl he once hung out with often but never actually sees her in the novel.  

Holden's character begins to mature and change towards the end of the book as he starts to realize in what direction he would like to lead his life. When he goes to visit his sister, Phoebe, she asks what he was going to do in the future. He answers, "I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all... 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... I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be" (pg 173). Holden starts to look at his future and realizes he want to saves innocents. 

Holden's character matures and changes even more by the end of the novel. Holden begins to understand life. When Holden sits down on the bench and watches Phoebe ride a carousel he thinks, "All the kids kept trying to grab for the gold ring, and so was old Phoebe, and I was sort of afraid she'd fall off the goddam horse, but I didn't say anything or do anything. The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the gold ring, you have to let them do it, and not say anything. If they fall off, they fall off, but it's bad if you say anything to them" (pg 211).  By the end of the book Holden realizes that he can’t save every innocent person and has to let people lead their own life and make their own decisions, that he was immature for calling people phonies and that he has to move forward with his life and stop being so stuck in the past.   

3. Holden is constantly pointing out the phoniness and wickedness in people. Do you think he is being hypocritical when doing so?

Holden seems very hypocritical. He is constantly pointing out the phoniness and wickedness in people when he is a phony himself. He even admits so in the book. In the book Holden says "I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. It's awful. If I'm on my way to the store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I'm going, I'm liable to say I'm going to the opera. It's terrible." (pg 16) Holden's actions often contradict his words, which makes him appear hypocritical. An example of this would be his red hunting hut. He said, "...I put on this hat that I'd bought this morning. It was one of those red hunting hats with one of those really, really long peaks. I saw it in the window of this sports store when we got out of the subway, just after I noticed I'd lost all the goddamn foils. It only cost me a buck. The way I wore it, I swung the old peak way around to the back-very corny, I'll admit, but I liked it that way." (pg17-18) Holden bought the hat knowing it would stand out, but always takes it off when he is in highly populated areas. Holden is trying to make himself appear as confident by wearing the hat but truly is not very confident at all. Another example of Holden's hypocriticalness is is attitude toward sex. Holden values innocence extremely ("catcher in the rye" metaphor), but he spends a lot of time in the novel thinking about sex and trying to lose his virginity, which would be a loss of innocence. Although Holden seems hypocritical, there may other reasons why he acts this way. Holden could be suffering from mental illness as a result of the death of his brother, Allie. Because of this tragic event, Holden has become traumatized and has lost his innocence, as is now trying to protect innocence in society. Holden comes off as a hypocrite but he may just have ideas about what society should be like and just can't live up to these expectations himself, because of the traumatization from his brother's death.

2. Why do you think Holden idolizes Phoebe and Allie so much?

Holden idolizes Phoebe and Allie because they meet his expectations of what society should be like. Holden would like if every person in society stayed innocent, but this is not the case. Holden judges people because of the expectation he has for society. The very young generation, Phoebe and Allie, still have their innocences and this is why he admires them so much. Holden states, "I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all... 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... I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be" (pg 173). Holden has a desire to make sure young children keep their innocents into adulthood. This may be because of his brother, Allie. I believe that Holden may admire Allie more then Phoebe. Allie, Holden’s brother, died very young and therefor will never loose his innocence. This could be why Holden has such expectations for society. He wants everyone to be innocent, like Allie and for the time being, like Phoebe. 

1. Did Holden's judgmental personality effect the way you as a reader might perceive a character? Do you trust his judgements?

I do believe that Holden's judgmental personality effects the way, I, as a reader perceive a character, but more at the start of the book. I didn't expect Holden to have a such a judgmental personality and believed what he was saying. Although by the end of the book, I had grown accustom to his personality. Throughout the novel he is constantly pointing out the wickedness, phoniness, and boring personalities in the people around him and as the book progressed, I realized that all of his judgements may have not be accurate. I would constantly question whether or not the way Holden would perceive someone, would be the way an average person would perceive them. For example, in chapter 3 Holden says, "He was at least a pretty friendly guy, Stradlater. It was partly a phony kind of friendly..." (pg 26) Can we really trust Holden's judgement here? Is Stradlater's friendliness really phony or is that just the way Holden perceives it? In chapter 10, Holden goes to a bar and is again judging people as soon as he steps into the bar. He says, " At the table right next to me, there were these girls around thirty or so. The whole three of them were pretty ugly...(pg 69) I believe that if Holden had not constantly been so overly judgemental in the book I may not have questioned is judgement. Although, as it was a reoccurring theme, I do not trust the way he describes people's looks or personality.

5.How would the novel be different if it were set in modern day?

I believe that the novel Catcher in the Rye would be immensely different if it were set in modern day because there are many aspects about the setting of this novel that specifically describes it as being set in the 1940s. If Catcher in the Rye was set in modern day there would be many details about the novel that would change. For example; the setting of being in the post World War II would no longer be substantial to the novel, and the author would most likely have to base the setting off another world disaster that has happened during more recent times, such as the Boston bombings or maybe even the 9,11 terrorist attack, but even that may be too far along in the past.  Another example of how the novel may change if it were set in modern day would be the social conditions. In the novel Catcher in the Rye, Holden gets away with a lot of drinking and smoking as a sixteen year old kid, but if the novel were set in modern time, there would be no way that Holden would be able to walk the streets of New York City and be let into bars to drink. With the legal drinking age of 21 in America, Holden wouldn't have been able to buy his own alcohol or cigarettes. So along with those examples, there are many more to explain why Catcher in the Rye would be extremely different in it were set in modern day.

8. Why does Holden deicide to stay at Mr.Antolini's home?

I believe that Holden decided to stay at Mr.Antolini's home because he see's similarities between himself and his teacher. Holden's first meeting with Mr.Antolini was when he went to Elkton Hills, where Mr.Antolini was his teacher in English. Although Mr.Antolini is young, his health isn't perfect, he ruins it with smoking and heavy drinking, just as Holden does. 'He was about the best teacher I ever had, Mr.Antolini. He was a pretty young guy, not much older than my brother D.B, and you could kid around with him without losing respect for him.' This was how Holden describes Mr.Antolini before the night when he sleeps over at the Antolini's. Although Holden felt comfortable enough to stay the night at Mr.Antolini's house, he had a change in mind through out the night. In the middle of the night Holden wakes up finding Mr.Antolini patting him on the head. Holden finds this very awkward and rather strange so he quickly comes up with an excuse to leave the house in the middle of the night. Suddenly, Holden starts to think that Mr.Antolini is a pervert. I think that Holden has a hard time dealing with the fact that Mr.Antolini behaved so strange, he's confused and doesn't really know what to believe. Whether or not Mr.Antolini was a pervert, this act had an impact on their relationship, and Holden felt betrayed once again.
   

7. Is Holden comfortable in his own home?

Throughout the novel it seems as if Holden is not comfortable in his own home because he felt the need to sneak into his own house. Although he may have snuck into his house regarding his early arrival, it still shows that he does not like his own house. You could identify that Holden was uncomfortable and frightened while walking around his house because he said things such as; “certainly knew [he] was at home”, but he “had to be very careful not to bump into anything and make a racket”. Also, “[he] even held my breath, for God’s sake” when he passes through his parents’ room. It could be possible that Holden does not feel comfortable in his own home because he does not have an understanding relationship with his parents he may feel emotionally distant, especially from his mother. The loss of her younger son has locked Mrs. Caulfield in a state of nervous exhaustion that is characterized by constant headaches and anxiety which causes her to lose sleep and chain smoke. Another reason why Holden might not talk to his parents is because of his poor school work. He doesn't try in school so he has gotten expelled from a lot of schools because of his poor effort and that could potentially stress his parents out leading to frustration towards Holden.

6. Why is the significance of the museum?

In the novel The Catcher in the Rye the author describes Holden as someone who just doesn't want to grow up. "Certain things,” he says, “you ought to be able to stick…in one of those big glass cases and just leave them alone" (16.25). In this quote Holden is making a connection between the Indian Room at the museum where the displays always stay the same but the children who are always visiting on field trips are changing. In the novel Holden seems to be very straightforward when it comes to talking about the connection with the children changing, but there’s also a time that he is less straightforward. In the novel Holden says that, while the displays stay the same, a person is different every time he comes back to visit. It’s not always age that changes, it's the changes you go through in order to become an adult. So I think he's talking more about the changes in qualities of youth and innocence than he is about the physical aspect, for example; hearing parents fight, or seeing a gasoline puddle. These are all examples of awareness, of mental growth, not so much of physical ageing.

4. Would the novel be different if it were set in another place?

In my opinion, although the setting of The Catcher in the Rye has a New England feel to it, there wouldn't be many significant changes to the novel even if the story changed setting. Other than languages and scenery, the novel would still have the same atmosphere and the same feel to it even if it were set in another place, due to the time aspect of the setting. In the novel Holden is reaching his final days at Pencey Prep School in Agerstown, Pennsylvania. Although there are a few aspects of Pencey that specify this prep school to be only set in the area of New England, such as the fact that Pencey is specifically for boys, if you research closely on other prep schools during that time period you would discover that this was the case for all prep schools almost anywhere during the time of the late 1940s. The reason most prep schools were similar in different parts of the world is because the general goal of all prep schools in at the time was inherently the same: to groom boys and girls into sophisticated young men and women ready to live in the post-war prosperity of their country.

3. How much time passes throughout the novel?

Throughout the novel Catcher in the Rye, I don't think much time had passed during Holden's adventure, even with the amount of experiences he went through. Holden's adventures take place in December, starting on "the Saturday of the football game with Saxon Hall" (2). So it's early-to-mid December, I know that because Holden mentions throughout the novel many times that it is "close to Christmas". I don't know the exact date, but that's approximately the time period that his adventures on his own in New York City occur. At the end of the book the time is not specifically noted. Although, we do know however, that Holden refers to going to another school "next fall" (213), so I assume that the time that he is in a convalescent hospital (or perhaps a psychiatric ward, as Holden mentions a "psychoanalyst", Ibid) during the following spring or summer. It's possible an entire year has past, but the tone that Holden employs does not imply that that amount of time has elapsed. These are events which have happened in the recent past: within the past few months. So through the time that Holden had his adventures in New York City, not much time had passed, but near the end of the novel Holden starts to explain what is happening in his life, and it seems as though a lot of time has passed since the end of his adventures.

2. What did you learn about the novels time period?

Throughout the novel Catcher in the Rye, I learned about a lot of new history facts that took place before and during the novel that really interested me. Once I was finished reading the Catcher in the Rye, which was based in New York, 1940s, I took the time to research and discover the background behind the exquisite novel. I learned things such as World War II was over, and the boys had finally come home, but not to a glorious life like what they expected. When they returned home, Financially, life had improved significantly for the average worker since the Great Depression of the 1930s, but inflation presented new problems. The political scene generally moved toward conservatism near the end of the 1940s and into the 1950s which was the time period of the novel, but there were noteworthy exceptions. The atomic bomb, which many had considered a blessing when it quickly ended the war with Japan, was increasingly seen as a curse. Culturally, the United States was both conservative and liberal but leaning increasingly to the right. So as you can see, I learned a lot of new historical facts throughout this novel and it not only educated me more, it got me more interested and researching more American historical events.

1. Explain why you believe the setting is important to the story.

I believe that the setting in The Catcher in the Rye is extremely important and symbolic for many reasons. Most of the book takes place in 1940s post-war New York City, where Holden goes "to rest" in a hotel before returning home, and ends up wandering the streets mid town for three days. I think the fact that it was set in New York City is important because it was based around the time of World War II, this is important because New York City is one of the more populated and known cities in America. There are also many references that the author makes that he would not have been able to do if it were set in another area of the United-States. For example in Manhattan Holden encounters the post-war scene, with New Yorkers and the unquestionable centre of finance and trade (many of the great European cities were in ruins). At night, the city's music clubs and bars are packed with people: New Yorkers, visitors, college kids, and returned soldiers and sailors all having a good time and celebrating. By day, Holden takes us to some of city's most famous landmarks such as Grand Central Station, the largest train station in the world, Broadway, Rockefeller Centre and many more. New York city is such a historic landmark for the United-States and the atmosphere that the city gives you is non-replaceable and for that, I think the authors choice of setting the novel in New York City was brilliant.

About the author

Jerome David Salinger, author of "The Catcher in the Rye." was born in New York on January 1st 1919, son of Sol Salinger and Miriam Salinger. Salinger attended Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pennsylvania after previously failing at the McBurney School in New York. Salinger then studied at Ursinus College and New York University. Salinger published his first story at the age of 21 with the help of good friend Whit Burnett. Just when Salinger's career as a writer started, World War II broke out and he had to serve in the army. During Salinger's time in the army, he began to create his novel, "The Catcher in the Rye." After the war, Salinger was involved with 4 different women, 3 of which he married, and one of which he had 2 children with. In 1951, Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye" was published and was very popular. He was showered with praise as well as criticisms about his book. The book has sold over 120 million copies and is considered a classic in English Literature.

Great Gatsby vs. The Catcher in the Rye

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, Gatsby, the mysterious yet extremely wealthy neighbour of Nick Carraway, is unhealthily obsessed with the past. similarly, Holden Caulfield, the protagonist in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, cannot move forward in his life because he is equally as caught up in what used to be. In The Great Gatsby, Gatsby is obsessed with the idea that Daisy “never loved Tom—“ Gatsby has spent the last eight years gaining wealth, building a beautiful house, living minutes away from Daisy—all to make up for the time that he was too far away and too poor to be with Daisy. When he reunites with Daisy, Gatsby foolishly believes they can instantly go back to the time when they were young and in love. When Daisy is talking about Tom, Gatsby tells her “That’s all over now. It doesn’t matter anymore. Just tell him the truth—that you never loved him—and it’s all wiped out forever”. When Tom tells Gatsby “There are things between Daisy and me, that you will never know, things that neither of us can forget”. Tom’s words destroy Gatsby’s wishful dreams. Gatsby’s obsession with Daisy is identical to Holden’s desire to keep his first love, Jane Gallagher kept in the past. Just like Gatsby wants to “wipe it all away” Holden confesses that, “Certain things should stay the way they are. You ought to be able to stick them in one of those big glass cases and just leave them alone” Holden is afraid of the effects of the real world on the things he loves—Gatsby is trying to “wipe away” the negatives effects of reality on Daisy and go back to where they were, to the “glass case” that Holden longs for. Holden Caulfield and Jay Gatsby are just two of many “Boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past”

The Catcher in the Rye Trailer 

Synopsis

J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield recounts the days following his expulsion from Pencey Prep, a private school. After a fight with his roommate, Stradlater, Holden leaves school two days early to explore New York before returning home, interacting with teachers, prostitutes, nuns, an old girlfriend, and his sister along the way. J.D. Salinger's classic The Catcher in the Rye illustrates a teenager's dramatic struggle against death and growing up.

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/c/the-catcher-in-the-rye/the-catcher-in-the-rye-at-a-glance