“A writer's feelings of anonymity-obscurity are the second most valuable property on loan to him.” Paradoxes Famous vs. Anonymous Popular vs. Authentic 2:03 – 1:58

Identity "If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth" (1). The affects of context on identity: religion, culture, time in history. Privilege vs. Outcast

Religion and breaking from tradition Paternal Grandfather: Simon Salinger, born in Lithuania, a Rabbi Father: Sol Salinger, Jewish, owned cheese and meat business (not kosher). Mother: Marie, born in Iowa, of Irish and German Descent, Catholic changed her name to Miriam Salinger became quite religious adhering to Vedanta Hinduism

Culture, education, affluence Park Avenue Attended Prep Schools, kicked out Sent to Military academy – began to write Writing class from Whit Burdett, Columbia “The Young Folks” published in Story Magazine Wanted to be published in The New Yorker

Time in History : World War II D-Day, carried 6 chapters of Catcher in the Rye Friendships “I dig my foxhole down to a cowardly depth, am scared stiff constantly and can’t remember being a civilian.” “No matter how long you live you can’t get the smell of burning flesh out of your nostrils.”

Catcher in the Rye Took 30 years to write, published 1951 Reprinted 8 times in the first two months of publication The most anti-establishment book of all time. Published/upsetting, so popular- he was counter popular Banned Book Make a movie, no Hollywood 60 million copies sold

Salinger Paradoxes Regretted writing Catcher in the Rye, his life wasn’t his own. Good BookNot Best Seller Writing personal and revealingWants privacy Write with fire between the wordsThere is stillness in not publishing Defined American CultureHated Materialism Do work as well as you canHave no thought of rewards Writer presents questionsDoesn’t have all the answers IdealisticAngry reclusive Detachment from familyDetachment from adulthood PerfectionismLack of compassion Lightness of BrillianceHeaviness/Darkness of pain