literary analysis: reader response

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Intro to College Lit.

Literary Analysis: Reader Response

11/1/09

Haley Burbridge

J.D. Salinger wrote “Catcher in the Rye” in the midst of a time when everyone wanted to fit in, be accepted, and fulfill “The American Dream.” The book was very controversial for many reasons, a big one being the main character, Holden Caufield. In the book, Caufield is a high schooler who is completely cynical in everything he does, and doesn’t have a care in the world about his future.

I liked Holden Caufield from the first page. The book starts by explaining that he accidentally messed up his fencing team’s chance of their meet, but he didn’t really seem to care. He didn’t even get close enough to the school’s football game to pay attention, because he simply didn’t feel like it. I totally understand where he’s coming from, and I can relate. To me, his mindset is similar to thinking that just because everyone does something and wants to be a certain way, doesn’t mean he has to be. No one was put on this earth to be like anyone else. I think everyone has their own individual purpose in this world, and there’s no need to clutter your life with unwanted things, just because everyone else is doing so. Maybe he doesn’t have goals of doing well in school or obtaining a high-paying job later in life, but everyone has some kind of aspiration. And if he doesn’t-so what? It’s his choice what he does with his life.

I understand why this book was so controversial when it came out. In America, the 1950s were prime time for nuclear families, the typical homemaker and working husband, and everyone trying to succeed in that way. This book contradicts all of those ideals, so of course many people disagreed with this book’s message.