The Catcher in the Rye Relative to the 1950s Essay

The Catcher in the Rye Relative to the 1950s The Catcher in the Rye can be strongly considered as one of the greatest novels of all time and Holden Caufield distinguishes himself as one of the greatest and most diverse characters. His moral system and his sense of justice force him to detect horrifying flaws in the society in which he lives. However, this is not his principle difficulty. His principle difficulty is not that he is a rebel, or a coward, nor that he hates society, it is that he has had many experiences and he remembers everything. Salinger indicates this through Holdens confusion of time throughout the novel. Experiences at Whooten, Pency, and Elkton Hills combine and no levels of time separate them. This†¦show more content†¦I mean if theyre running and they dont look were theyre going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. Thats all I have to do all day. Id just be the Catcher in the Rye and all. I know its crazy, but thats the only thing Id really like to be. I know its crazy(Salinger 173). Holden exhibits the madness described before at often times throughout the book and in the end it ends up sending him to a sanitarium. He knows he has become mad and he even tells himself this many times in the book; but he never really believes it. One time in the book when he displays this madnes s is, Wadsworth 4. But Im crazy I swear to God I am. About halfway to the bathroom, I started pretending I had a bullet in my guts. Old Maurice had plugged me. Now I was on the way to the bathroom to get a good shot of bourbon. I pictured myself with my automatic in my pocket, and staggering a little bit. Id walk down a couple of floors-holding on to my guts, blood leaking all over the place. As soon as old Maurice opened the doors hed start screaming at me. But Id plug him anyway(Salinger 103-4). This explains the psychotically disturbing actions Holden takes in this novel. Holden becomes obsessed with death and dying, and several times in the book he wishes he was dead. Again, Holden cant stay away from the subject of the death of family members and the decay of the corpse. Even when he later goes to the Museum ofShow MoreRelatedAnalysis of A Catcher In the Ryes Holden Caulfield: Enemy of Himself1686 Words   |  7 PagesJerome David Salinger’s only novel, The Catcher in the Rye, is based on the life events shaping main character, Holden Caulfield, into the troubled teen that is telling the story in 1950. The theme of the story is one of emotional disconnection felt by the alienated teenagers of this time period. The quote, â€Å" I didn’t know anyone there that was splendid and clear thinking and all† (Salinger 4) sets the tone that Holden cannot find a connection with anyone around him and that he is on a lonely endeavorRead MoreA Socially Acceptable Form Of Schizophrenia1055 Words   |  5 Pagesstill be acceptable. J.D. 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