The Catcher In The Rye
The Era--Late ’40s and early ’50s Post World War II Post World War II Birth of “Consumerism” --mass marketing/advertising Birth of “Consumerism” --mass marketing/advertising Age of “Conformity” --rise of suburbia Age of “Conformity” --rise of suburbia Growth of “Counter-culture” (Beatniks, Hippies, etc) Growth of “Counter-culture” (Beatniks, Hippies, etc)
Author—J.D. Salinger Born in NYC in 1919 Born in NYC in 1919 Born wealthy—went to various “prep schools” Born wealthy—went to various “prep schools” Columbia University; creative writing; never graduated Columbia University; creative writing; never graduated Social recluse; felt alienated from society Social recluse; felt alienated from society Just recently died Just recently died
The Novel— The Catcher in the Rye Salinger’s only novel of prominence Salinger’s only novel of prominence Heavily censored, both then and now Heavily censored, both then and now Point-of-view—1 st person Point-of-view—1 st person Protagonist—Holden Caulfield Protagonist—Holden Caulfield Style—Colloquial Tone—Cynical Style—Colloquial Tone—Cynical Setting—Christmas break, Pennsylvania, NYC Setting—Christmas break, Pennsylvania, NYC Conflict—Internal Conflict—Internal
Main Themes Coming-of-age—intimacy, sexuality, responsibility, loneliness, the “adult” world Coming-of-age—intimacy, sexuality, responsibility, loneliness, the “adult” world Alienation—phoniness, individual vs. society Alienation—phoniness, individual vs. society Transcendentalism—how do these ideas fit with modern life/society? Transcendentalism—how do these ideas fit with modern life/society?
Conformity & Censorship Society determines how the individual believes, behaves, speaks Society determines how the individual believes, behaves, speaks Society sets the limits on what should be learned/what is valuable Society sets the limits on what should be learned/what is valuable Some books, films, music, etc. are considered evil/corrupt/harmful/sinful, etc by one group Some books, films, music, etc. are considered evil/corrupt/harmful/sinful, etc by one group
nonconformity/subculture Pre 60’s Pre 60’s Beatniks Beatniks Counter-culture Counter-culture On The Road On The Road 60’s 60’s “Hippies” “Hippies” Free love Free love Feminism Feminism
The birth of the American Teenager Teen: a source of anger, irritation, or anxiety Teen: a source of anger, irritation, or anxiety Teenage: a piece of wood long enough for making a high fence Teenage: a piece of wood long enough for making a high fence Teenager: 1941 Popular Science article Teenager: 1941 Popular Science article “The mark of adulthood in America is the right to indulge in bad habits” “The mark of adulthood in America is the right to indulge in bad habits” United Streaming search for teenagers: AIDS, ecstasy, domestic violence, Holocaust, acquaintance rape United Streaming search for teenagers: AIDS, ecstasy, domestic violence, Holocaust, acquaintance rape
POV: Point of View From a teenager’s perspective From a teenager’s perspective Teens today and yesterday (continuity and change) Teens today and yesterday (continuity and change) Normal or abnormal? Normal or abnormal?
Emotional and Spiritual Health “To him who is broken, the world will appear as jagged and broken; to him who is whole, the world will appear as whole.” “To him who is broken, the world will appear as jagged and broken; to him who is whole, the world will appear as whole.”