In this obituary, Guttridge presents a recount of Salinger’s life and educational background. Salinger attended Pennsylvania’s Valley Forge Military Academy, where he wrote for the school’s literary magazines and acted in its plays. After an abortive stint at Ursinus University, Salinger took a short story writing class at Columbia before being drafted into World War II. Salinger struggled through mental health issues upon his return from combat, using Hinduism and Zen Buddhism’s emphasis on the “abandonment of the ego” to help himself (Guttridge). Salinger engaged with many women, including several considerably younger than him, counting three wives throughout his life. Within a few years of publishing The Catcher in the Rye, “the bible for
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He contends that these stories captured the abundant “post-war optimism” and “cavalier belief in technology” of the day along with its “undercurrent of despair” regarding “declining moral standards” and a turbulent geopolitical climate (Smith). Seven of the nine stories feature children, who are portrayed as morally superior to their parents and the adult world. In particular, an edgy young boy named Seymour Glass, a brilliant boy named Teddy, a man staying in a mental ward, and a young girl who creates an “endearing imaginary world” feature prominently (Smith). Nine Stories was critically and commercially successful and spoke to the same disillusioned American youth as The Catcher in the Rye did. Traits of each of the four aforementioned characters can be found in The Catcher in the Rye: Seymour Glass’ uncouth behavior and the mental ward form some of Holden’s experiences, while Teddy resembles Allie almost as strongly as Phoebe represents the girl who creates a fantasy world. Furthermore, the moral superiority and innocence of children is a theme carried throughout Salinger’s works that motivates Holden to be “the catcher in the rye” for the world’s children (Salinger 191). In fact, Salinger’s propensity to reuse characters is clear; another story of his entitled “A Slight Rebellion off Madison” previewed Holden Caulfield himself. By describing Salinger’s other writings, Smith provides a literary and cultural context into which one can place The Catcher in the Rye. In particular, the striking similarity of themes and characters between Salinger’s works show how strongly they indicate Salinger’s worldview and
He contends that these stories captured the abundant “post-war optimism” and “cavalier belief in technology” of the day along with its “undercurrent of despair” regarding “declining moral standards” and a turbulent geopolitical climate (Smith). Seven of the nine stories feature children, who are portrayed as morally superior to their parents and the adult world. In particular, an edgy young boy named Seymour Glass, a brilliant boy named Teddy, a man staying in a mental ward, and a young girl who creates an “endearing imaginary world” feature prominently (Smith). Nine Stories was critically and commercially successful and spoke to the same disillusioned American youth as The Catcher in the Rye did. Traits of each of the four aforementioned characters can be found in The Catcher in the Rye: Seymour Glass’ uncouth behavior and the mental ward form some of Holden’s experiences, while Teddy resembles Allie almost as strongly as Phoebe represents the girl who creates a fantasy world. Furthermore, the moral superiority and innocence of children is a theme carried throughout Salinger’s works that motivates Holden to be “the catcher in the rye” for the world’s children (Salinger 191). In fact, Salinger’s propensity to reuse characters is clear; another story of his entitled “A Slight Rebellion off Madison” previewed Holden Caulfield himself. By describing Salinger’s other writings, Smith provides a literary and cultural context into which one can place The Catcher in the Rye. In particular, the striking similarity of themes and characters between Salinger’s works show how strongly they indicate Salinger’s worldview and