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.

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.