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.

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.

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.

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.

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”