An Introduction to The Catcher in the Rye Advanced Composition & Novel Mrs. Snipes.

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

RyeRye

Advanced Composition & Advanced Composition & Novel Novel

Mrs. SnipesMrs. Snipes

J.D. SalingerJ.D. Salinger

Alienation from society Alienation from society is a major theme of is a major theme of Jerome David Jerome David Salinger’s work and no Salinger’s work and no less a force in his own less a force in his own life. He seems life. He seems determined to retreat determined to retreat from society and has from society and has succeeded in obscuring succeeded in obscuring most of his private life.most of his private life.

Born January 1, 1919 to the family of a Born January 1, 1919 to the family of a prosperous Manhattan food dealer, Salinger had prosperous Manhattan food dealer, Salinger had one older sister. He was educated in New York one older sister. He was educated in New York City except for the last two years of high school. City except for the last two years of high school. These final years were spent at Valley Forge These final years were spent at Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania. Military Academy in Pennsylvania.

Information about his first six years after Information about his first six years after graduation is vague. Salinger may have visited graduation is vague. Salinger may have visited Europe and is known to have studied Europe and is known to have studied sporadically at New York University, Ursinus sporadically at New York University, Ursinus College, and Columbia University, concentrating College, and Columbia University, concentrating on writing courses. During this time, Salinger on writing courses. During this time, Salinger published several short stories in popular published several short stories in popular magazines.magazines.

Drafted in 1942 and Drafted in 1942 and trained in England, trained in England, Salinger participated in Salinger participated in the D-Day invasion. He the D-Day invasion. He continued to write during continued to write during this period and more this period and more stories appeared in print. stories appeared in print. There was also an There was also an alleged marriage to a alleged marriage to a Frenchwoman, which Frenchwoman, which supposedly ended in supposedly ended in divorce in 1947.divorce in 1947.

Salinger moved to rural Salinger moved to rural New Hampshire and lived New Hampshire and lived as a recluse. He only saw as a recluse. He only saw local youngsters, whose local youngsters, whose company he enjoyed. company he enjoyed. Although the success of Although the success of his one novel, his one novel, The The Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye (1951), brought him (1951), brought him unwanted attention, he unwanted attention, he kept the public eye at bay kept the public eye at bay by refusing all visitors. by refusing all visitors. However, whenever he However, whenever he was trapped, he offered was trapped, he offered conflicting information conflicting information and often totally false and often totally false biographical data.biographical data.

In 1955, Salinger wed an Englishwoman, In 1955, Salinger wed an Englishwoman, Claire Douglas. The Salingers lived in Claire Douglas. The Salingers lived in Cornish, New Hampshire, in a fenced-off, Cornish, New Hampshire, in a fenced-off, isolated farmhouse with their two children. isolated farmhouse with their two children. Salinger used a nearby concrete bunker Salinger used a nearby concrete bunker as his writing office. Although the marriage as his writing office. Although the marriage ended in divorce in 1967, Salinger ended in divorce in 1967, Salinger remained in Cornish. He continued to remained in Cornish. He continued to refuse all contact with society, refuse all contact with society, communicating with the world only through communicating with the world only through his published works. He passed away on his published works. He passed away on January 27, 2010. January 27, 2010.

The Philosopher:The Philosopher:

In Salinger’s work, contemporary society is In Salinger’s work, contemporary society is permeated by hypocrisy, injustice, and a lack of permeated by hypocrisy, injustice, and a lack of love. In this world of artificiality and indifference, love. 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. Yet this corrupt world is the purity of childhood. Yet this beautiful, desirable, pristine innocence is short beautiful, desirable, pristine innocence is short lived. And since childhood innocence is lived. And since childhood innocence is corrupted by passage into adulthood, Salinger corrupted by passage into adulthood, Salinger offers little hope for a meaningful existence.offers little hope for a meaningful existence.

Yet even the changes of Yet even the changes of maturation can be dealt maturation can be dealt with if the character with if the character develops an all-develops an all-encompassing love. In a encompassing love. In a climactic moment in climactic moment in The The Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye, , Holden is transformed as Holden is transformed as he watches Phoebe on a he watches Phoebe on a carousel. Through love, carousel. Through love, he is at last able to he is at last able to accept the inevitability of accept the inevitability of change and forgive the change and forgive the wrongdoing of others. wrongdoing of others.

Some readers object that Some readers object that Salinger’s message is Salinger’s message is based on negative, based on negative, reactionary attitudes. For reactionary attitudes. For example, Holden’s ideals example, Holden’s ideals are defined by his disgust are defined by his disgust with evil, rather than his with evil, rather than his reverence for good. Yet, reverence for good. Yet, when faced with such when faced with such overwhelming corruption overwhelming corruption and such varied reasons and such varied reasons for despair, even cautious for despair, even cautious optimism and the chance optimism and the chance for salvation is cheering. for salvation is cheering.

The Technician:The Technician:

Salinger is a writer, first and last. He adamantly Salinger is a writer, first and last. He adamantly rejects the role of a public figure. He also rejects rejects the role of a public figure. He also rejects the position of teacher, refusing to talk about his the position of teacher, refusing to talk about his writing or instruct others on his methods. writing or instruct others on his methods.

Although Salinger has retreated from the world, Although Salinger has retreated from the world, his work offers great immediacy and reality. This his work offers great immediacy and reality. This is partly due to his stylistic gift for recreating is partly due to his stylistic gift for recreating idiomatic expression. In addition, his ability to idiomatic expression. In addition, his ability to capture the motivations and desires of the soul capture the motivations and desires of the soul show that he has an intuitive grasp of the human show that he has an intuitive grasp of the human character. character.

Salinger works like a Salinger works like a sculptor, obsessing sculptor, obsessing himself with a single himself with a single character or theme character or theme and reshaping it in a and reshaping it in a number of ways. He number of ways. He continues to approach continues to approach the character or the character or theme from various theme from various angles until the final angles until the final forms emerge. forms emerge. Holden Caulfield Holden Caulfield evolved in this evolved in this manner.manner.

At present, At present, Catcher Catcher is Salinger’s only novel. He is Salinger’s only novel. He considers himself a short story writer. He has considers himself a short story writer. He has written one collection entitled written one collection entitled Nine Stories Nine Stories (1953) and three novelettes—(1953) and three novelettes—Franny and ZooeyFranny and Zooey, , Seymour: An IntroductionSeymour: An Introduction, and , and Raise High the Raise High the Roofbeam, CarpentersRoofbeam, Carpenters—issued as a single work —issued as a single work in 1963. He also published approximately twenty in 1963. He also published approximately twenty other magazine stories.other magazine stories.

Although his output seems meager, Salinger’s Although his output seems meager, Salinger’s widespread popular and critical acclaim make widespread popular and critical acclaim make every effort seem more valuable. every effort seem more valuable.

The fact that The fact that The Catcher in the Rye The Catcher in the Rye continues continues to sell over a quarter of a million copies annually to sell over a quarter of a million copies annually in the U.S. alone testifies to Salinger’s in the U.S. alone testifies to Salinger’s continuing popularity.continuing popularity.

The novel offers realism The novel offers realism in its use of language, its in its use of language, its use of social criticism use of social criticism where it is due, and its where it is due, and its presentation of real presentation of real problems which problems which adolescents face in the adolescents face in the process of achieving process of achieving maturity. The book also maturity. The book also offers romanticism in its offers romanticism in its view of the innocence of view of the innocence of childhood, its quest for childhood, its quest for truth, idealizing the past, truth, idealizing the past, and its emphasis on and its emphasis on individual discovery and individual discovery and growth. growth.

Salinger borrows traditional structures for telling Salinger borrows traditional structures for telling Holden’s story. As in Chaucer’s Holden’s story. As in Chaucer’s Canterbury Canterbury Tales Tales or Welles’ or Welles’ Time MachineTime Machine, he utilizes a , he utilizes a frame story structure. The outside frame is frame story structure. The outside frame is Holden’s talking to a psychoanalyst: the inside Holden’s talking to a psychoanalyst: the inside story is Holden’s own narrative, with flashbacks story is Holden’s own narrative, with flashbacks of the events, the “madman stuff” that has led to of the events, the “madman stuff” that has led to his arrival at a rest home in California. his arrival at a rest home in California.

Since this narrative is in first person, Since this narrative is in first person, autobiographical and episodic, it is picaresque. autobiographical and episodic, it is picaresque.

It is psychological in that the events narrated are It is psychological in that the events narrated are accompanied be Holden’s thoughts. It is also a accompanied be Holden’s thoughts. It is also a quest narrative in which Holden seeks to quest narrative in which Holden seeks to discover truth, values, and, ultimately, himself discover truth, values, and, ultimately, himself and his place in the world.and his place in the world.

““Salinger labored on the novel for 10 years, but the Salinger labored on the novel for 10 years, but the intimacy of Holden’s voice feels effortless. Part of this intimacy of Holden’s voice feels effortless. Part of this comes from Salinger’s extraordinary ear for speech. comes from Salinger’s extraordinary ear for speech. Which you also get in, for instance, his great Glass Which you also get in, for instance, his great Glass family stories. But it’s not just technique operating here. family stories. But it’s not just technique operating here. It’s an inhabitation of character so complete that it It’s an inhabitation of character so complete that it amounts to soul ventriloquism—full blown…I don’t think amounts to soul ventriloquism—full blown…I don’t think there’s a single other book in American literature in there’s a single other book in American literature in which the narrator so badly needs the reader to which the narrator so badly needs the reader to understand him and cure his solitude, and there’s no understand him and cure his solitude, and there’s no American book in which the novelist creates the illusion American book in which the novelist creates the illusion of solidarity between his character and the reader more of solidarity between his character and the reader more successfully. In fact, the illusion is so strong that it successfully. In fact, the illusion is so strong that it doesn’t feel like illusion at all: Salinger dreamed Holden doesn’t feel like illusion at all: Salinger dreamed Holden Caulfield right into our lives, and 50 years later, he still Caulfield right into our lives, and 50 years later, he still feels right here, red hat on, striding the American blast, feels right here, red hat on, striding the American blast, needing us more than ever.” –Cornel Boncaneeding us more than ever.” –Cornel Bonca

Picaresque Novel:Picaresque Novel:

The picaresque is a chronicle, usually autobiographical, The picaresque is a chronicle, usually autobiographical, presenting the life story of a rascal of low degree presenting the life story of a rascal of low degree engaged in menial tasks and making his living more engaged in menial tasks and making his living more through his wits than industry. It tends to be episodic and through his wits than industry. It tends to be episodic and structureless. The picaro, or central figure, through structureless. The picaro, or central figure, through various pranks and predicaments and by his association various pranks and predicaments and by his association with people of varying degree, affords the author an with people of varying degree, affords the author an opportunity for satire of the social classes. Romantic in opportunity for satire of the social classes. Romantic in the sense of being an adventure story, the picaresque the sense of being an adventure story, the picaresque novel nevertheless is strongly marked by realism in petty novel nevertheless is strongly marked by realism in petty detail and by uninhibited expression. detail and by uninhibited expression.

Cervantes’ Cervantes’ Don Quixote Don Quixote is one of the best-known is one of the best-known examples of this genre.examples of this genre.

Consider: how is Consider: how is Salinger’s Salinger’s The The Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye a a perfect example of a perfect example of a picaresque novel? As picaresque novel? As you read, be looking you read, be looking for evidence and for evidence and examples. examples.

Also consider, what is Also consider, what is Salinger’s message to Salinger’s message to his audience and how his audience and how is Holden a vehicle to is Holden a vehicle to convey this convey this message? message?

Much of the power of Much of the power of Salinger’s novel arises Salinger’s novel arises from the honesty and from the honesty and convincingness of his convincingness of his main character. Holden’s main character. Holden’s narrative voice lures narrative voice lures readers to become readers to become actively involved with his actively involved with his actions and attitudes. actions and attitudes. Through a skillful use of Through a skillful use of vernacular and truthful vernacular and truthful observations, Salinger observations, Salinger makes us believe in and makes us believe in and ache for Holden. He ache for Holden. He becomes on the one becomes on the one hand, a unique character hand, a unique character and on the other, a and on the other, a universal Everyman.universal Everyman.

In this respect, Holden In this respect, Holden serves as a character like serves as a character like Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Shakespeare’s Hamlet, who can be reinterpreted who can be reinterpreted each generation. The each generation. The comparison with Hamlet comparison with Hamlet is particularly apt since, is particularly apt since, like the Prince, Holden’s like the Prince, Holden’s major dilemma is trying to major dilemma is trying to cope with society’s cope with society’s corruption and deceit. In corruption and deceit. In both cases, the both cases, the characters do find peace, characters do find peace, but only within their own but only within their own souls. souls.

Read in this light, Read in this light, The The Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye becomes a coming-becomes a coming-of-age story. Like of-age story. Like Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn, , A A Separate PeaceSeparate Peace, , Lord Lord of the Fliesof the Flies, and , and The The Great GatsbyGreat Gatsby, , CatcherCatcher implies that a implies that a loss of innocence is loss of innocence is essential if a child is essential if a child is to become an adult. to become an adult. This process is This process is painful, but inevitable.painful, but inevitable.

Other critics have Other critics have categorized categorized CatcherCatcher as a picaresque novelas a picaresque novel—a book dealing with —a book dealing with the adventurers of a the adventurers of a wanderer. Still others wanderer. Still others see Holden as a see Holden as a Christ figure, lunatic—Christ figure, lunatic—even Peter Pan. The even Peter Pan. The diversity of views only diversity of views only increases the novel’s increases the novel’s literary merit.literary merit.

Criticism & Controversy:Criticism & Controversy: The Catcher in the Rye The Catcher in the Rye is not without its is not without its

detractors and critics. They attack the book’s detractors and critics. They attack the book’s use of colloquial slang, its cynical central use of colloquial slang, its cynical central character as an inappropriate role model, its use character as an inappropriate role model, its use of profanity and seedy scenes and its lack of of profanity and seedy scenes and its lack of didacticism.didacticism.

While these are points to consider, a thorough While these are points to consider, a thorough and objective analysis of the book as a whole and objective analysis of the book as a whole can lea to the conclusion that the book is a can lea to the conclusion that the book is a balance between realism and romanticism that is balance between realism and romanticism that is designed to encourage readers to form their own designed to encourage readers to form their own opinions in relation to, in juxtaposition with, opinions in relation to, in juxtaposition with, Holden’s opinions. Holden’s opinions.

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

It is in the sense that it teaches It is in the sense that it teaches without preaching that without preaching that Catcher Catcher is perhaps the best book in the is perhaps the best book in the 2020thth century to address the century to address the adolescent stage of human adolescent stage of human development and may explain development and may explain its enduring popularity and its enduring popularity and controversy.controversy.

Holden Caulfield is such a Holden Caulfield is such a composite sketch of an composite sketch of an American teenager that nearly American teenager that nearly all readers identify with or see all readers identify with or see some of their friends reflected in some of their friends reflected in different aspects of Holden’s different aspects of Holden’s character. character.

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

Ultimately, we all know Ultimately, we all know that in some way, that in some way, Holden is one of us. Holden is one of us.

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

outside his Dakota apartment building. outside his Dakota apartment building. He was carrying a copy of He was carrying a copy of The Catcher in the RyeThe Catcher in the Rye with him at the with him at the

time of the murder and even sat down and read a few pages time of the murder and even sat down and read a few pages following the shooting, while waiting for the police to arrive. following the shooting, while waiting for the police to arrive.

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

Part of his statement following the murder is as follows: Part of his statement following the murder is as follows: Then this morning I went to the bookstore and bought Then this morning I went to the bookstore and bought The Catcher The Catcher

in the Ryein the Rye. I’m sure the large part of me is Holden Caulfield, who is . 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.the main person in the book. The small part of me must be the Devil.

Creepy, huh? Creepy, huh?

Some Values & Themes in Some Values & Themes in CatcherCatcher::

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 A sensitive awareness of life’s compensations: a

necessary balance of sympathy and rejection, joy and 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 The ability to feel compassion and to expect justice for allall

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 individual struggle against hypocrisy and worldly corruptioncorruption

Dominant Symbols in Dominant Symbols in Catcher Catcher ::

The carouselThe carousel The red hunting capThe red hunting cap The catcher’s mittThe catcher’s mitt The ducks in Central Park pondThe ducks in Central Park pond The Museum of Natural HistoryThe Museum of Natural History Pencey PrepPencey Prep

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.”