The Catcher in the Rye Blog 5

The Catcher in the Rye represents much of what occurred in the lives of teenagers in post-war America.  The behaviors and social issues apparent throughout the novel are very similar to what actually occurred in the 1950s.  “The Catcher in the Rye ended up as an emblem of counterculture in the 1950s and 60s – a symbol of alienation and isolation for the disillusioned and restless post-war generation. Salinger's own isolation from society only amplifies the mystery and allure of this important book.” (Shmoop 1).  Many of the less glorious things occurring in this novel were commonplace in the fifties.  Drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes were two things done by people of almost any age.  This was an era of moral decline and social inequality.  Salinger reflects much of his own childhood in this book, and it is apparent that he was almost as rebellious as Holden.  “Salinger’s writing seemed to tap into the emotions of readers in an unprecedented way. As countercultural revolt began to grow during the 1950s and 1960s, The Catcher in the Rye was frequently read as a tale of an individual’s alienation within a heartless world. Holden seemed to stand for young people everywhere, who felt themselves beset on all sides by pressures to grow up and live their lives according to the rules, to disengage from meaningful human connection, and to restrict their own personalities and conform to a bland cultural norm. Many readers saw Holden Caulfield as a symbol of pure, unfettered individuality in the face of cultural oppression.” (Sparknotes 1).  This book holds some very important themes and symbols.  The basis for many of them is Holden’s self-alienation. The themes and symbols included the falseness of the world, the pains of growing up, along with the red hunting hat, the ducks in the lagoon, and the mummies in the museum.   These literary items are what made the book so affective.  They gave Holden a more personal feel in which the reader could relate to. 

"The Catcher in the Rye." Shmoop. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Aug. 2012. http://www.shmoop.com/catcher-in-the-rye/.

 

"The Catcher in the Rye." SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 13 Aug. 2012. http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/catcher/context.html.

 

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown and, 1991. Print.