In Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield is a symbol of the younger generation who rejects America’s culture of conformity unlike his parents. The older generation of parents tried to defeat the spread of communism by conforming while the teenagers felt a disconnect to society. Caulfield uses the word “phoniness” to display his affection towards conformity. Caulfield would love to experience a human connection similar to his but does not find such thing. The youth during this time experienced dissatisfaction and emptiness. Traditional roles were reaffirmed. Men went back to work in the factories while women went back to their domestic territory. Inventions such as the radio, television and automobiles were popular fads. After the
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America’s economy was better than any other countries after the war. Anti-communism played a key role in the 1950s. Americas were frightened over the spread of communism into the United States. The Cold War was a tense hysteria between the Soviet Union and the United States. Many investigations occurred to see if Americans and government officials were giving secrets to the enemy. Joseph McCarthy, a Republic senator was the head lead of these investigations. Many Americans, Hollywood stars and directors and government officials were accused of being communists. Some investigations were publicly televised which led to fear.
In addition to this, a ‘baby boom’ took place between 1946 and 1964. Soldiers who returned from the war came home to their wives and had multiple children. With new families, the new standard of living was to grow up, complete high school and college, have a successful career, get married, have children and die. This time period was very conservative due to the gender roles. The roles between men and women were not clearly defined. Many women had worked in the factories while their husbands where off to war. When the men returned home, women went home to the domestic way of
America’s economy was better than any other countries after the war. Anti-communism played a key role in the 1950s. Americas were frightened over the spread of communism into the United States. The Cold War was a tense hysteria between the Soviet Union and the United States. Many investigations occurred to see if Americans and government officials were giving secrets to the enemy. Joseph McCarthy, a Republic senator was the head lead of these investigations. Many Americans, Hollywood stars and directors and government officials were accused of being communists. Some investigations were publicly televised which led to fear.
In addition to this, a ‘baby boom’ took place between 1946 and 1964. Soldiers who returned from the war came home to their wives and had multiple children. With new families, the new standard of living was to grow up, complete high school and college, have a successful career, get married, have children and die. This time period was very conservative due to the gender roles. The roles between men and women were not clearly defined. Many women had worked in the factories while their husbands where off to war. When the men returned home, women went home to the domestic way of