The Catcher in the Rye reviewed

The Catcher in the Rye is the first novel by the American author Jerome David Salinger. It was serialized between 1945 and 1946, eventually being novelized in 1951 after it had already acquired a reputation as a must-read title for adolescents unsatisfied with the shallowness and superficiality of the post-world-war-II society.

An overview of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye

When J. D. Salinger penned his The Catcher in the Rye, his intended audience was adults. He never dreamed the novel would become a cultural phenomenon and somewhat of an icon among rebellious, angsty adolescents. The path the novel went after its publication is, however, not surprising in hindsight, as the story tackles themes that plague adolescents almost universally when they’re coming of age.

Although short, the novel manages to tackle themes of love, identity, growing up, sex, mental health, and just about everything else under the same as the narrative follows the exploits of Holden Caulfield, himself now a rebellion among the young dissatisfied by the phony status quo and, evidently, their talking head in the literary world.

A review of the main characters

The Catcher in the Rye became an English-language classic thanks to Salinger’s skill at writing believable, relatable characters.

Holden Caulfield

Holden Caulfield — the protagonist, the unreliable first-person narrator, the legend of American literature. In the novel, we accompany Holden during his Christmas break in Central Park and other parts of New York City. He’s been expelled from Pencey Prep School, an institution in Pennsylvania loosely based on Salinger’s own school, and he’s ready to open up in an honest yet cynical fashion about his experience in the Big Apple.

Phoebe Caulfield

Central to Holden’s life is his sister, Phoebe. She is both his beloved younger sister and a thorn in his side, as she doesn’t seem to want to follow him on his quest for innocence. Sharp for her age, Phoebe understands the necessity of growing up, and her insight into Holden’s mind implies his attitude might reveal more about himself than it does about others.

D.B. Caulfield

D.B. is Holden’s second sibling, more precisely, his older brother. D. B. is a screenwriter in Hollywood and a very talented one. Throughout the novel, Holden expresses deep feelings of regret and disappointment, as he believes his brother has sacrificed his talent for money, thus becoming the epitome of the phoniness of the adult world.

Allie Caulfield

Holden’s brother Allie Caulfield is dead. His presence is that of a specter haunting Holden on every page. The youngest of the Caulfield siblings, Allie died of leukemia when he was merely eleven years old, becoming somewhat of an idol for Holden, who puts him on a pedestal as the embodiment of innocence and artistic genius.

Mr. Antolini

Mr. Antolini is the only old man who manages to reach out to Holden, at least somewhat. His not-so-conventional behavior and warmer approach ensure Holden does not feel alienated, and his willingness to expose himself as just as vulnerable makes him a solid companion.

Sally Hayes

Sally is Holden’s old sweetheart and someone familiar with the life one can expect in a private high school. Nonetheless, Holden shows reserve and has little respect for Sally, spending time with her and dealing with her shallowness only because she is attractive.

Mr. Spencer

Mr. Spencer is a history teacher at Pencey. He’s the first adult we’re introduced to in the novel. Spencer is honest, direct, and critical of Holden’s grades. Although appearing only briefly, the character of Spencer is potent enough to propel Holden on his journey beyond Pencey and into New York.

Jane Gallagher

Gallagher is another female character. Holden meets her one summer in Maine, but she ends up going to a different school. However, his roommate, Ward Stradlater, ends up going on a date with her, much to Holden’s surprise.

The controversy of The Catcher in the Rye

Now a staple of pretty much every high school reading list, The Catcher in the Rye met with a lot of criticism and censorship upon its release. In 1960, an Oklahoma teacher was fired for assigning it in class, and the controversy spiraled, leading to the novel becoming one of the most censored books in United States libraries.

The reasons for condemnation were many, including apparent communist propaganda, sexual imagery, vulgarity, and non-traditional takes on morality, violence, and religion. Not all bans lasted long, and the defamatory book reviews that managed to get into print led to the novel falling into even more eager hands.

The more stubborn critics often failed to consider the actual message of the book, and the fact that Salinger hoped for an adult audience only added fuel to the fire. However, even the more long-lasting bans were eventually lifted, as the Streisand effect resulting from the initial attempts at suppression propelled the novel to a cult status.

The success of his work led to Salinger’s withdrawal from the public eye. In 1953, he moved to Cornish, New Hampshire, where he lived a relatively sociable life before withdrawing completely.

Salinger went on to write more stories, including Nine Stories, Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction, and Franny and Zooey. He is also known for his earlier work, such as A Perfect Day for Bananafish (which appeared first in The New Yorker magazine), and he appeared on the cover of The Time magazine.

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FAQ

What is the title of chapter one?

The first chapter in the novel is traditionally called If you really want to hear about it…

What is the difference between The Catcher in the Rye and The Great Gatsby?

The Catcher in the Rye and The Great Gatsby are both classics of American and English literature and some of the best books ever written. However, there are many differences between these two novels.

The former is a coming-of-age tale about angst, rebellion, and discontent with the adult world; the latter is a tale of new and old money of the extravagant Roaring Twenties.

Despite being products of different eras, both novels touch on similar themes of love and morality.