The Catcher in The Rye is one of the most taught books in North America. Although, it has always been heavily critiqued, it still holds a special place in the hearts of many students. Ever since has been published in 1951, it is debated if The Catcher in The Rye deserves such standing as a common novel to be taught to high school students. In my opinion, this timeless piece by J.D Salinger deserves to be recognized and taught across the continent.
First, the story is told using a writing perspective named “stream of conciseness writing” or “interior monologue.” J.D Salinger utilized this style of writing to its fullest, thus bringing the main character's voice, Holden Caulfield, to life. Due to such vivid imagery, Salinger connects to many …show more content…
It gives us an insightful contrast between the post-war era and today. Through D.B Caulfield, the wearies of war seeps through to Holden, only to enable his cynical view of the world: “He once told Allie and I that if he'd had to shoot anybody, he wouldn't've known which direction to shoot in” (155). D.B even described the army as “full of bastards as the Nazis were” (155). As the second child in the family, Holden instinctively looked up to D.B, his older brother, gaining his pessimism. And he was not short of things to complain about. As the world sprung back from the war, movies, music, and art were becoming exponentially popular. Patriotism and capitalism were also pushed forward by the government to demonize the Soviet Union. With all that comes a sense of façade, especially in the rising middle class: "Grand. There's a word I really hate. It's a phony. I could puke every time I hear it” (12). Holden especially dislikes the word “grand” since it is so overused by the public; which he also happens to resent. The Catcher in The Rye is not only a book about Holden, but also the impact of war and what came thereafter, portrayed through him and
First, the story is told using a writing perspective named “stream of conciseness writing” or “interior monologue.” J.D Salinger utilized this style of writing to its fullest, thus bringing the main character's voice, Holden Caulfield, to life. Due to such vivid imagery, Salinger connects to many …show more content…
It gives us an insightful contrast between the post-war era and today. Through D.B Caulfield, the wearies of war seeps through to Holden, only to enable his cynical view of the world: “He once told Allie and I that if he'd had to shoot anybody, he wouldn't've known which direction to shoot in” (155). D.B even described the army as “full of bastards as the Nazis were” (155). As the second child in the family, Holden instinctively looked up to D.B, his older brother, gaining his pessimism. And he was not short of things to complain about. As the world sprung back from the war, movies, music, and art were becoming exponentially popular. Patriotism and capitalism were also pushed forward by the government to demonize the Soviet Union. With all that comes a sense of façade, especially in the rising middle class: "Grand. There's a word I really hate. It's a phony. I could puke every time I hear it” (12). Holden especially dislikes the word “grand” since it is so overused by the public; which he also happens to resent. The Catcher in The Rye is not only a book about Holden, but also the impact of war and what came thereafter, portrayed through him and