An Introduction to The Catcher in the Rye

An Introduction toAn Introduction toThe Catcher in the The Catcher in the

RyeRye

J.D. SalingerJ.D. Salinger

((1919-20101919-2010)) Born to the family of a prosperous Manhattan Born to the family of a prosperous Manhattan

food dealerfood dealer Educated in New York City except for the last two Educated in New York City except for the last two

years of high school. years of high school. • These final years were spent at Valley Forge Military These final years were spent at Valley Forge Military

Academy in Pennsylvania. Academy in Pennsylvania. Model for Pencey PrepModel for Pencey Prep

Studied from time to time at New York Studied from time to time at New York University, Ursinus College, and Columbia University, Ursinus College, and Columbia University, concentrating on writing courses. University, concentrating on writing courses. During this time, Salinger published several short During this time, Salinger published several short

stories in popular magazines.stories in popular magazines.

Drafted in 1942 and Drafted in 1942 and trained in England; trained in England; Salinger participated Salinger participated in the D-Day in the D-Day invasion. invasion.

Continued to write Continued to write during this period during this period and more stories and more stories appeared in print. appeared in print.

The success of his The success of his one novel, one novel, The The Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye (1951), brought him (1951), brought him unwanted attention. unwanted attention.

However, whenever However, whenever he was trapped, he he was trapped, he offered conflicting offered conflicting information and information and often totally false often totally false biographical data.biographical data.

1955: Married an Englishwoman, Claire 1955: Married an Englishwoman, Claire Douglas. Douglas. Lived in Cornish, New Hampshire, in a Lived in Cornish, New Hampshire, in a

fenced-off, isolated farmhouse with their fenced-off, isolated farmhouse with their two children. Salinger used a nearby two children. Salinger used a nearby concrete bunker as his writing office. concrete bunker as his writing office.

Although the marriage ended in divorce Although the marriage ended in divorce in 1967, Salinger remained in Cornish in 1967, Salinger remained in Cornish until his death in 2010. until his death in 2010.

The PhilosopherThe Philosopher

In Salinger’s work, contemporary society is In Salinger’s work, contemporary society is flooded by hypocrisy, injustice, and a lack of flooded by hypocrisy, injustice, and a lack of love. love. In this world of artificiality and indifference, In this world of artificiality and indifference,

Salinger’s sensitive characters invariably suffer. Salinger’s sensitive characters invariably suffer. One of the few saving graces in Salinger’s One of the few saving graces in Salinger’s

corrupt world is the purity of childhood. corrupt world is the purity of childhood. short livedshort lived Since childhood innocence is corrupted by Since childhood innocence is corrupted by

passage into adulthood, Salinger offers little hope passage into adulthood, Salinger offers little hope for a meaningful existence.for a meaningful existence.

However, the changes of However, the changes of growing up can be dealt growing up can be dealt with if the character with if the character develops an all-develops an all-encompassing love. encompassing love.

For example, in a For example, in a climactic climactic momentmoment in in The Catcher in The Catcher in the Ryethe Rye, Holden is , Holden is transformed as he transformed as he watches Phoebe on a watches Phoebe on a carousel. carousel.

Through love, he is at last Through love, he is at last able to accept the able to accept the inevitability of change and inevitability of change and forgive the wrongdoing of forgive the wrongdoing of others. others.

Some readers object that Some readers object that Salinger’s message is based Salinger’s message is based on negative, backward-on negative, backward-looking attitudes. looking attitudes. For example, Holden’s ideals For example, Holden’s ideals

are defined by his disgust with are defined by his disgust with evil, rather than his reverence evil, rather than his reverence for good. for good.

REALISTIC:REALISTIC: use of languageuse of language use of social criticism where it is dueuse of social criticism where it is due its presentation of real problems its presentation of real problems

which adolescents face in the which adolescents face in the process of achieving maturityprocess of achieving maturity

ROMANTIC:ROMANTIC: the innocence of childhoodthe innocence of childhood its quest for truthits quest for truth idealizing the pastidealizing the past its emphasis on individual discovery its emphasis on individual discovery

and growthand growth

The NovelThe Novel

Salinger utilizes a frame story Salinger utilizes a frame story structure. structure. Outside frame = Holden talking to a = Holden talking to a

psychoanalystpsychoanalyst Inside story = Holden’s own narrative, with = Holden’s own narrative, with

flashbacks of the events, the “madman flashbacks of the events, the “madman stuff” that has led to his arrival at a rest stuff” that has led to his arrival at a rest home in Californiahome in California

Narrative = first person, Narrative = first person, autobiographical, and episodicautobiographical, and episodic PicaresquePicaresque – chronicle presenting the life – chronicle presenting the life

story of an anti-hero making his way more story of an anti-hero making his way more through his wits than industrythrough his wits than industry

Psychological in that the events narrated are accompanied by Holden’s thoughts.

It is also a quest narrative in which Holden seeks to discover truth, values, and, ultimately, himself and his place in the world.

Until 2006, Until 2006, The Catcher in The Catcher in the Ryethe Rye was one of the was one of the most frequently banned most frequently banned books. books.

Young readers see in Young readers see in Holden Caulfield a Holden Caulfield a little bit of what they little bit of what they are, while older are, while older readers see in Holden readers see in Holden a bit of what they once a bit of what they once were. were. Ultimately, Holden is Ultimately, Holden is

everyone at some point everyone at some point in his or her life. in his or her life.

CITR CITR & John Lennon& John Lennon December 8, 1980: Mark David Chapman killed December 8, 1980: Mark David Chapman killed

musician John Lennon outside his Manhattan musician John Lennon outside his Manhattan apartment building, apartment building, the Dakotathe Dakota. .

Chapman was carrying a copy of Chapman was carrying a copy of CITRCITR with him at with him at the time of the murder and even sat down and read the time of the murder and even sat down and read a few pages following the shooting, while waiting a few pages following the shooting, while waiting for the police to arrive. for the police to arrive.

He was obsessed with the book and Holden He was obsessed with the book and Holden Caulfield and believed that the book expressed Caulfield and believed that the book expressed who he was. He thought of himself as a catcher in who he was. He thought of himself as a catcher in the rye and thought he needed to kill John Lennon, the rye and thought he needed to kill John Lennon, whom he saw as a “phony”.whom he saw as a “phony”.

Part of his statement following the murder is as follows:

“Then this morning I went to the bookstore and bought The Catcher in the Rye. I’m sure the large part of me is Holden Caulfield, who is the main person in the book. The small part of me must be the Devil.”

Lennon and His Wife, Yoko Ono, 1980

Mark David Chapman

Lennon was a member of the band, the Beatles.

Values & Themes in Values & Themes in CITRCITR

The need for inner direction and commitment to actionThe need for inner direction and commitment to action A sensitive awareness of life’s compensations:A sensitive awareness of life’s compensations:

a necessary balance of sympathy and rejection, joy and a necessary balance of sympathy and rejection, joy and sorrowsorrow

The recognition of superficial standards of behavior; the The recognition of superficial standards of behavior; the challenge of seeking positive change in one’s moral challenge of seeking positive change in one’s moral environmentenvironment

The ability to feel compassion and to expect justice for allThe ability to feel compassion and to expect justice for all

The therapeutic worth of honesty in communication with The therapeutic worth of honesty in communication with others; the treatment of every person as an individualothers; the treatment of every person as an individual

The learning of universal love and empathy in one’s The learning of universal love and empathy in one’s individual struggle against hypocrisy and worldly corruptionindividual struggle against hypocrisy and worldly corruption

Dominant Symbols & Motifs Dominant Symbols & Motifs in in CITRCITR

The carouselThe carousel The red hunting capThe red hunting cap Allie’s catcher’s mittAllie’s catcher’s mitt The ducks in Central Park pondThe ducks in Central Park pond The Museum of Natural HistoryThe Museum of Natural History Pencey Prep a/k/a Valley ForgePencey Prep a/k/a Valley Forge Color imageryColor imagery: red, yellow, and white: red, yellow, and white The “old” clothes motifThe “old” clothes motif

What’s in a Name?What’s in a Name?

Holden CaulfieldHolden Caulfield Holden – hold onHolden – hold on

• What does Holden want to hold on to?What does Holden want to hold on to?• Caul – one of the membranes that protects a Caul – one of the membranes that protects a

developing fetusdeveloping fetus What does Holden want to protect?What does Holden want to protect?

• FieldField A field of ____? A field of ____?

AckleyAckley Sounds like acne, which Ackley has a lot ofSounds like acne, which Ackley has a lot of A sound made in disgustA sound made in disgust

• Besides acne, what else disgusts Holden about Ackley?Besides acne, what else disgusts Holden about Ackley?

StradlaterStradlater Straddle - to walk, stand, or sit with the legs wide Straddle - to walk, stand, or sit with the legs wide

apart; stand or sit astrideapart; stand or sit astride Later – at some time in the futureLater – at some time in the future Put the two together. Where is Stradlater going in Put the two together. Where is Stradlater going in

the scene in which he and Holden fight?the scene in which he and Holden fight?

James Castle James Castle Castle – a fortress for protectionCastle – a fortress for protection What is James’ protecting? How?What is James’ protecting? How? His initials are JC. Get it? His initials are JC. Get it?

Carl LuceCarl Luce Luce – light; used to refer to intelligenceLuce – light; used to refer to intelligence How does this apply to Carl?How does this apply to Carl?

Sally HayesSally Hayes Haze – a fogHaze – a fog How does Sally’s last name apply to her character How does Sally’s last name apply to her character

(as Holden sees her)?(as Holden sees her)?

Phoebe (Fee-be)Phoebe (Fee-be) A species of bird known for flicking its A species of bird known for flicking its

tail and hopping abouttail and hopping about How does this apply to Phoebe?How does this apply to Phoebe?

Old English for “shining”Old English for “shining” How does this apply to Phoebe?How does this apply to Phoebe?

In mythology, Phoebe was a titan who In mythology, Phoebe was a titan who became associated with Artemis, the became associated with Artemis, the goddess of the moon.goddess of the moon. How does this apply to Phoebe?How does this apply to Phoebe?

Sources:Sources:

Perfection Learning Corporation Perfection Learning Corporation Curriculum Unit: Curriculum Unit: The Catcher in the RyeThe Catcher in the Rye. .

Center for Learning Curriculum Unit: Center for Learning Curriculum Unit: The The Catcher in the Rye. Catcher in the Rye.

Contemporary Classics Curriculum Unit: Contemporary Classics Curriculum Unit: The Catcher in the RyeThe Catcher in the Rye..

Dr. Cornel Bonca: “He Just Wants to Make Dr. Cornel Bonca: “He Just Wants to Make Us Happy: Salinger’s Holden Caulfield at Us Happy: Salinger’s Holden Caulfield at 50.”50.”