Catcher in the Rye Review- Gabrielle Woolner

Catcher in the Rye is such an interesting read because, although it isn't everyone's cup of tea- 'I found myself really hating life as I read it...I thought it was tedious'- Judy's Notes- it holds the ability to spark debates and create controversy. It's brutally truthful portrayal of adolescence in the form of Holden's rebellious, insolent personality is both intriguing and fascinating as the reader is drawn into Holden's mind. Holden was born into the world not just powerfully fascinated by beauty but, almost, desperately impaled upon it.

A lot of teenagers may be able to relate to the many of the themes, such as identity, journey, coming-of-age and independence, which run throughout the book. In some ways it is an inspiring read because within Holden's confusion and inability to conform to society we find the message that we should always remain true to ourselves and optimistic. Salinger draws on his own experiences of adolescence, and we see in Holden his reclusive, out-of-place nature. Also in the resemblance of Holden's inability to stay at the same school, even 'Pencey Prep' is said to be modeled upon the all-male boarding school Salinger attended from which he eventually graduated named 'Valley Forge Military School'.

Salinger uses Holden's questioning of the Human Condition to create similar searching in the reader. Holden struggles with the Human Condition and this evokes empathy in the reader for him. The fact that we are only able to see his point of view also draws us close to him as a character, all our focus is on him and his way of thinking. There are many voices in this novel, children, adults, underlying morals but Holden’s is by far the most influential of them all. He struggles with the world around him and finds consolation in passing judgment on it. He constantly uses ‘phony’ to describe people who he perceives to be insincere and superficial; when actually it’s the way he dismisses these people into stereotypical, uncomplicated brackets that is very ‘phony’. Because of this it’s also quite hard for the reader to fully explore each character as every description is tainted with Holden’s pessimism and prejudice. He overpowers everyone else. The reader can see this flaw in Holden and it makes them conscious to look for a more complex perception instead of simply passing judgment, enquiring about the nature of our own lives and conduct.

Salinger has created ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ in such a way that it is impossible to fit it into any of Christopher Booker’s Seven Plots. There is no real event in the novel, and the book does not really lead us to any large revelation or epiphany, it is, if anything, a failed quest. Perhaps this is Salinger’s point though, those seven plots don’t exist in a real life journey and he has created a novel that is entirely based around the protagonist’s struggle with reality and identity in society.