Literary Analysis of "the Catcher in the Rye"

Shaan

Mr. Senkowski

Honors English 10

10-4-06

“The Catcher in the Rye”: A Literary Analysis

“The Catcher in the Rye” is one of the most artistic pieces ever written by J.D. Salinger throughout his time as an author. The only thing greater then the outstanding morals are the fact that they appeal to both young and old audiences. The morals of the novel, characterized by the main character, Holden, show not only Holden’s view on life, but quite possibly, Salinger’s view himself. The theme of the story does more than just be the subject of the novel but helps connect Holden to the reader because it is presented in third person limited. But Salinger kept the reader active with constant personal conflicts within Holden, and because of this, may have had the reader become slightly annoyed yet interested not so much in the book but with Holden himself.

Holden, throughout the novel, is conflicting with his two personalities, his childhood which he has had his entire life and learned to live, and being the thing he clings to the most, and his adulthood the thing he has sought the most for the freedom it provides. And because of this, Holden’s characteristics conflict with not only himself but everyone around him which is why in one moment he can be a little kid and be playful, and the next be a adult full of stress and hate. And because of this, the connection between the hidden morals and the characteristics of Holden become clear to the capable reader. Because Holden’s true views and intentions and Salinger’s morals are masked in such a clandestine behavior that you really have to look to see the story behind the story. Something about his discontent, and his vivid yet simple way of expressing it, makes him resonate with a power that readers who come from backgrounds completely different from his be able the relate to it. It is tempting to inhabit his point of view and revel in his cantankerousness rather than try to deduce what is wrong with him. The obvious signs that Holden is a troubled and unreliable narrator for the story are manifold: he fails out of four schools; he manifests complete apathy toward his future; he is hospitalized, and visited by a psychoanalyst (psychologist), for an unspecified complaint; and he is unable to connect with other people.