Catcher in the Ryeby JD Salinger

English III—Novel Study

J.D. Salinger was born Jan. J.D. Salinger was born Jan. 1, 1919 to wealthy 1, 1919 to wealthy parentsparents

He was raised in He was raised in Manhattan, New York.Manhattan, New York.

He got in trouble as a youth and was He got in trouble as a youth and was sent to Valley Forge Military sent to Valley Forge Military Academy in PennsylvaniaAcademy in Pennsylvania

Later, he attended college but Later, he attended college but earned no degree.earned no degree.

Between 1940-1953 he published some 30 Between 1940-1953 he published some 30 short stories in a variety of magazines.short stories in a variety of magazines.

In 1941, Salinger sent The New Yorker a story called "Slight Rebellion Off Madison.”

The story was about a troubled teenager named Holden Caulfield.. The New Yorker bought it and planned to run it in their Christmas issue.

Dec. 7, 1941 – The Japanese Attacked Pearl Harbor

Salinger's story was put on hold. It was considered too trivial in a time of war.

World War II

Salinger was drafted and took part in the D-Day invasion of Normandy.

He also fought in the Battle of the Bulge, where between 50 and 200 soldiers in his division were killed or wounded every day.

Post-War At the end of the

war, Salinger checked into an Army general hospital in Nuremberg, suffering from a nervous breakdown. He spent several months recuperating.

Holden’s Journey

After Salinger's release from the hospital, the first Holden Caulfield story called "I'm Crazy” was published in Collier's in December of 1945.

One year later, The New Yorker finally published "Slight Rebellion Off Madison.”

Catcher in the Rye was published July 17, 1951.

Success!

Within two Within two months of months of publication, publication, The The Catcher in the Rye Catcher in the Rye had been had been reprinted eight reprinted eight times and spent times and spent 30 weeks on the 30 weeks on the New York Times New York Times Bestseller list.Bestseller list.

The Two Sides of The Catcher in the Rye

One 1979 study of censorship noted that The Catcher in the Rye "had the dubious distinction of being at once the most frequently censored book across the nation and the second-most frequently taught novel in public high schools [after John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men]” (Whitfield 82).

Whitfield, Stephen J. "Cherished and Cursed: Toward a Cultural History of The Catcher in the Rye." (Dec 1997). The New England Quarterly. 567–600.

The Two Sides …

The book remains widely read and sells about 250,000 copies per year.

Meanwhile…

Salinger withdrew Salinger withdrew into isolation. He into isolation. He never published a never published a new work after new work after 1965 and granted 1965 and granted no interviews no interviews after 1980. He after 1980. He died on Jan. 27, died on Jan. 27, 2010.2010.

Character: Holden Character: Holden CaulfieldCaulfield 11stst person – unreliable narrator person – unreliable narrator He is 17, the son of wealthy parents He is 17, the son of wealthy parents

from Manhattan, NYC.from Manhattan, NYC. Unique language and voice – He is Unique language and voice – He is

humorous and contradictory, an humorous and contradictory, an admitted liaradmitted liar

He goes through different emotions:He goes through different emotions:PessimismPessimism IdealismIdealism

DepressionDepression ExcitementExcitement

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye——ThemesThemes Growing up and its pains – Growing up and its pains –

adolescent alienationadolescent alienation Loneliness - relationships, Loneliness - relationships,

intimacy, sexualityintimacy, sexuality Corruption of innocenceCorruption of innocence PhoninessPhoniness Nostalgia for childhood / the past.Nostalgia for childhood / the past. Conflict: Holden is in between Conflict: Holden is in between

rejecting and accepting the adult rejecting and accepting the adult world.world.