Catcher In The Rye

A.J.D. Salinger – 1919 – 2010 A.Grew up in New York city; went to public schools and then to McBurney private school, where he showed a talent for acting but had trouble fitting in A.Drafted to WWII 1. Fought on D-Day 2. Was among first soldiers to enter a concentration camp 3. Talked to prisoners of war B.Emotionally scarred by time in war; hospitalized for possible PTSD D. Wrote numerous short stories, became famous for Catcher in the Rye (his only novel) E.Became a Buddhist and escaped fame, not writing another book after 1960 “I'm sick of not having the courage to be an absolute nobody.”

John LennonMark David Chapman “Dear Holden Caulfield, From Holden Caulfield, This is my statement” Reportedly, before shooting Lennon, Chapman visited NY and tried to re-enact scenes from the novel. After shooting him, he sat near the scene of the crime and read the book until police arrested him.

A.Salinger reflects on the pain of growing up by presenting a protagonist disillusioned by the adult world. 1. All adults are “ phonies.” 2. Phoebe’s innocence is Holden’s inspiration. B.Holden longs to be a “catcher in the rye,” protecting children from doom

“I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody’s around – nobody big, I mean – except me. And I’m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. 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. That’s all I’d do all day. I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it’s crazy, but that’s the only thing I’d really like to be.” (225). Ironically, inexperienced/good- hearted Holden gets this idea from a poem called “Comin’ Thro The Rye,” which includes sexual innuendo that only the more experienced/corrupted would understand. Listen To This!

A.“Catcher in the Rye” = desire to protect innocence B.“Secret Goldfish” and the ducks in Central Park = fear of growing old C.Wounds = emotional scars D.Red Hat = individuality And Numerous Others

A.Phoebe What does Phoebe represent for Holden? B.Allie What effect does Allie’s fate have on Holden? C.Mr. Antolini In one of the novel’s most controversial scenes, what does Mr. Antolini come to symbolize for Holden?

A.Holden is a modernist hero: 1. Life events feel disconnected and overpowering, lead him to partial breakdown… 2. He fights back anyways. 3. Like the Romantics, fiercely individualistic and rejects society—but seeks his own answers to questions of identity and purpose (not God’s, or Nature’s, etc.) 4. Like the Romantics, wishes to be natural and not conventional/artificial—but is interested in psychology (not religion, spirituality, or a sense of communion with the natural world) B.Language is simple and direct, but also full of meaning C.Ending is ambiguous; reader is left with unanswered questions about Holden. For example: If being a good person means being a good model for others, then doesn’t Holden learn that being a good person requires society? If Holden is in society and chooses to continue to be in society, then isn’t it inevitable that he will fall victim to some of its pitfalls, including the pitfall of being hypocritical? How do the two questions above combine to create a contradiction? Can you resolve the into a paradox instead?

Both individualists Both desire to be natural Both are first person narrators who sometimes address the reader Both use conversational language Both have strong “voices,” opinions, and personalities Both are growing morally and wrestling with complex dilemmas, esp. regarding their allegiances to other people Both must make a choice about whether or not to escape society by going “west”

Holden is sometimes overwhelmingly hopeful, at other times darkly pessimistic. He wavers between irrational love and unrelenting abhorrence. He doesn’t want to grow up and resents adults as “phonies” who don’t understand him. What Does It Mean? He is just like most modern American teenagers !