The
Catcher in the Rye
is an American classic, cult favourite novel written by J. D. Salinger. It was first
published in 1951. The book is about a sixteen year old boy narrating his four
day adventures in New York City.
Through
his protagonist, Salinger seems to critique post-war American society that is sodden
with hypocrisy and ‘phony’ attitudes of the people. The novel also brings about
the trauma and the horrors of post- World War situations, where relationships
seem to have toppled over the materialistic world. The book is targeted for
adults and the youth. However the book was banned for its explicit vulgar and
abusive language.
The
book is set in 1949 New York City where the protagonist Holden Caulfield, a
seventeen year old youth looks back at his sixteen year old self and narrates
his adventures. He leaves his school in Pennsylvania and goes underground in
New York City for three days. Here he meets several people in
train, café, meets his old girl-friend, his professor and most importantly his
sister Phoebe who acts as a catalyst in the novel both the times he meets her.
The
novel begins with Holden’s declaration as ‘terrific liar’ and his journey that
leads him to the asylum. The novel is a bildungsroman, a coming-of-age novel.
What makes the novel a cult favourite is its true depiction of language of a
sixteen year old and making his voice an authentic voice. The book has moved
and touched several of its readers. The book is recommended to be read by both
the adults as well as youth, to have a glance over a materialistic west society
which is now a world-wide scenario. It also depicts how a strained relation
with parents hinders child’s progress and affects him emotionally.
The
book provides an accurate image of society and holds true to its setting. The
author utilized stream-of-consciousness technique that is used by most of
modern writers to portray Holden’s psychological sate of being. He uses imagery
and themes to enhance the aesthetic quality of the novel. The novel also
includes various tropes to intensify and relate author’s message. The book can be very relative in
today’s world where children in their adolescence are trapped in the cycle of
life.
The challenges
faced by the novel begins with Holden's frequent use of vulgar language, sexual references, undermining of
family values and moral codes, Holden's being a poor role model, a
rebellion, and promotes drinking, smoking, lying, and promiscuity.
The book ends
with Holden in an asylum recounting his events in New York City, where he says
“Don't ever tell anybody anything. If
you do, you start missing everybody.”
Salinger grew up
in New York City and wrote short stories. His breakthrough came in 1948 with
the publication in The New Yorker of 'A Perfect Day for Bananafish'. ‘The
Catcher in the Rye’ was his first and only novel, published in 1951. It remains
one of the most translated, taught and reprinted texts, and has sold some 65
million copies. His other works include short stories and novellas: ‘Franny and
Zooey’; ‘For Esme with Love and Squalor’; and ‘Raise High the Roof Beam’,
‘Carpenters/ Seymour – an Introduction’.
