J.D Salinger
The Catcher in the Rye
Is a 1951 novel by J. D. Salinger.Originally published for adults, it has since become popular with adolescent readers for its themes of teenage confusion, angst, alienation,and rebellion The Catcher in the Rye
Is a 1951 novel by J. D. Salinger.Originally published for adults, it has since become popular with adolescent readers for its themes of teenage confusion, angst, alienation,and rebellion The Catcher in the Rye
GEOGRAPHICALThe Catcher in The Rye is set in New York 'In New York, boy, money really talks-I'm not kidding' . It is also set in Agerstown,Pennsylvania- which seems like a complete contrast to New York, Holden attends Pency Prep School here, it seems alot posher and richer. From my own knowledge I know Salinger was born in New York and also went to school in Pennsylvania this could be a reason he chose these places as he could relate to them.
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SOCIO-ECONOMICAfter WW2, the number of females employment increased by 18% as they kept their careers after men returned from War. The overall standard of living during the fifties steadily rose, most people invested in new cars and houses for a better living for their children. The American population was shifting from the country to bigger city's Most people moved from the Northeast and Midwestern sections of the country to the West and South.
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HISTORICALThe late 1940s in America was dominated by WW2 which was a dark horrible time, America was suffering from the Great Depression and family's were unable to afford food or clothes, their was a great deal of poverty. War production pulled America out of the Great Depression and Women were needed to replace young men who had gone off to war.
After the men returned from war, the GI Bill allowed more men than ever to receive college education. Although the Great Depression ended, people were still suffering the lost of loved ones, single-parents had increased this had affected family's severely. There was still the extremely poor and extremely rich, those who were rich were able to have good educations. |
LITERARY
Catcher in the Rye was published in 1951- this was a Modern American literary period, it falls under the Post Modernism this began in the 1940s, when Catcher in the Rye was published people were shocked as it contained sex which was seen as taboo at the time.Over time this book changed peoples views on life and become more open-minded and accept new behavior this could contribute to the forming mind-set of the 1960s. It is a picaresque novel and Holden is a reflection of Salinger's life, it is reflected in the settings and themes.
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The Catcher In the Rye
Chapters 1-5
In the first chapter we are introduced buy a young male boy called Holden Caulfield. He goes to a school at 'Pency Prep' and has a brother living out in Hollywood The way Holden talks about his brother is as if he is now neglected 'Now he's out in Hollywood, D.B, being a prostitute'. Holden is shown to be a young boy who isn't to fond of school and has problems getting along with his teachers and fellow students, we as the reader can tell this by Holden being shown to not have any enthusiasm toward the big game being played at his school against Saxon Hall, this shows how eager he is to leave school and enjoy his Christmas vacation. He also mentions he is not attending the game as he was going to say goodbye to his History teacher 'old Spencer' , we learn the real reason Holden is leaving Pency Prep is because he is flunking four out of five subjects therefore showing why he didn't like school as much as the other students. He starts to run towards old Spencer's house however get's out of breathe, we as a reader then learn holden is a heavy smoker.
In the second chapter we are introduced to 'old Spencer', we are expected Old Spencer to be strict, and in some way not as close as he seems to be with Holden, However Holden is greeted warmly which suggest perhaps this was the only lesson he did not 'fluke' therefore having a good relationship with Old Spencer. ''I'd like to put some sense into that head of yours, boy. I'm trying to help you. I'm trying to help you' this shows Old Spencer cares about Holden, however once his teacher started speaking about his school life, Holden becomes determined to leave therefore coming up with an excuses to go back to his dorm.
In chapter 3 we learn that Holden is fortunate and wealthy as he lives in the Ossenburger hall- named after a wealth Pency graduate who made his fortune through a funeral home business. We also learn that Holden is a Junior at Pency. We start to learn more about Holden's character, for example his likes and dislikes. He has a interest in literature books- one of his favorite authors is his brother D.B, he sits in his room reading 'Out Of Africa. He also has a class mate called 'Ackley' who he described as pimply and peculiar, who never went anywhere and was a Senior at Pency 'He was also sort of a nasty guy. I wasn't too crazy about him, to tell you the truth' Holden shows he does not enjoy the company of Ackley, we know he does not like Ackley as he purposely calls him by this name because he does not like it. he also gives the impression that Ackley is extremely unhygienic and not liked by other Pency students; 'I never even once saw him brush his teeth'
Holden then gives up reading and subtly hints to Ackley to leave the room. However Ackley starts to cut his fingernails even though Holden persistently asks him not too, he finally leaves the room when Holden's roommate Stradlater walks in.
Chapter 4 shows Holdens friend Strandlater as a ladies man, whilst getting ready for his date Holden is intrigued by stradlaters previous date as Stradlater tells him it's 'Jean Gallagher' This name had a impact on Holden 'Boy, I nearly dropped dead when he said that' he starts telling Stradlater how he knows Jean - she used to live near him two summers ago, and played Checkers together- however Stradlater seems completely uninterested. Holden then contemplates whether he should go down and say Hello to her -Stradlater says 'Why the hell dont'cha instead of keep saying it?' but he then decides he is not in the mood, this shows Holden perhaps is shy when it comes to girls and maybe hasn't has his first date, unlike his friend stradlater who has been on plenty.
We learn in this chapter 5 Holden used to have a brother Allie who died of leukaemia , he was only two years younger than Holden, he tells us his brother was intelligent, kind, the most loved and innocent child with'very red hair'. The night he died Holden slept in his garage and smashed all his windows, this shows Holdens grieving towards his brother. He then finishes the composition and stays up staring outside his window.
In the second chapter we are introduced to 'old Spencer', we are expected Old Spencer to be strict, and in some way not as close as he seems to be with Holden, However Holden is greeted warmly which suggest perhaps this was the only lesson he did not 'fluke' therefore having a good relationship with Old Spencer. ''I'd like to put some sense into that head of yours, boy. I'm trying to help you. I'm trying to help you' this shows Old Spencer cares about Holden, however once his teacher started speaking about his school life, Holden becomes determined to leave therefore coming up with an excuses to go back to his dorm.
In chapter 3 we learn that Holden is fortunate and wealthy as he lives in the Ossenburger hall- named after a wealth Pency graduate who made his fortune through a funeral home business. We also learn that Holden is a Junior at Pency. We start to learn more about Holden's character, for example his likes and dislikes. He has a interest in literature books- one of his favorite authors is his brother D.B, he sits in his room reading 'Out Of Africa. He also has a class mate called 'Ackley' who he described as pimply and peculiar, who never went anywhere and was a Senior at Pency 'He was also sort of a nasty guy. I wasn't too crazy about him, to tell you the truth' Holden shows he does not enjoy the company of Ackley, we know he does not like Ackley as he purposely calls him by this name because he does not like it. he also gives the impression that Ackley is extremely unhygienic and not liked by other Pency students; 'I never even once saw him brush his teeth'
Holden then gives up reading and subtly hints to Ackley to leave the room. However Ackley starts to cut his fingernails even though Holden persistently asks him not too, he finally leaves the room when Holden's roommate Stradlater walks in.
Chapter 4 shows Holdens friend Strandlater as a ladies man, whilst getting ready for his date Holden is intrigued by stradlaters previous date as Stradlater tells him it's 'Jean Gallagher' This name had a impact on Holden 'Boy, I nearly dropped dead when he said that' he starts telling Stradlater how he knows Jean - she used to live near him two summers ago, and played Checkers together- however Stradlater seems completely uninterested. Holden then contemplates whether he should go down and say Hello to her -Stradlater says 'Why the hell dont'cha instead of keep saying it?' but he then decides he is not in the mood, this shows Holden perhaps is shy when it comes to girls and maybe hasn't has his first date, unlike his friend stradlater who has been on plenty.
We learn in this chapter 5 Holden used to have a brother Allie who died of leukaemia , he was only two years younger than Holden, he tells us his brother was intelligent, kind, the most loved and innocent child with'very red hair'. The night he died Holden slept in his garage and smashed all his windows, this shows Holdens grieving towards his brother. He then finishes the composition and stays up staring outside his window.
How does Salinger create a protagonist that we can empathize with?
The catcher in the Rye Holden is represented as a 'protagonist' we as the reader sympathize with his character after we find out he loses his brother Allie. He is represented as a protaginst by in my opinion is because of the way he treats his friend ackley 'I never once saw him brush his teeth' perhaps he is more upfront unlike Stradlater who doesn't say anything to Ackley, this shows Holden as being more of a 'protagonist' then Stradlater. Holden unlike the students at Pency Prep all visit the game going on against Saxon hall, showing the readers he has no interest of supporting his school or team members. The catcher in the rye is written in first person showing the importance of holden's character as he's talking to the readers, this allows the reader to relate to the character as the story gets more deeper the reader may start to feel sympathy for holden as we always route for the main character.
In chapter 5, we learn that Holden had a traumatic past. He decides to write about his brother Allie for Stradlater's English composition. The audience empathize's with Holden as we learn that is brother Allie died when they were little. Salinger uses a short sentence 'He's dead now' this creates a time for the reader to think about how Holden must be feeling. Holden describes Allie and says 'You'd have liked him' this is conversational and makes the reader feel Holden's pain and understand what a good brother Allie was. Salinger repeats the word 'red' as he describes Allie's hair, this suggests his red hair was a memorable feature for Holden and so the reader could picture his brother, the colour red could also connote love and warmth he had for his brother. Salinger shows how Holden feels about the death of his brother 'My hand still hurts me once in a while, when it rains and all, and I can't make a real fist anymore' this suggests Holden is still grieving over his brother, as his hand still hurts this could represent his heart still hurting, Salinger also says 'when it rains and all' this could suggest Holden misses his brother when he is feeling lonely, he also says 'I can't make a real fist anymore' this could suggest Holden could never feel complete again without his brother.
Holden's Hat
Holden’s hat represents communism, symbolizing him wearing the hat as being different to everyone else as hi is in the catcher in the rye it is written in first person representing the way he is feeling when 'speaking' to the audience, it makes the audience feel comfortable and in some way feel attached to Holden as we find out more about him. For example Holden’s red hat is worn every time he feels vulnerable therefore us as the audience realize how he must feel whenever he wears his hat, showing just like a communist holden is different from society, he's an outsider, has his own views and opinions