Have you ever felt frustrated with the people around you? Did you feel irritated with those neighbors, who would try to advise you on every thing? As a teenager, did you often feel that you would want to be left alone? Did you hate the most successful guy in school, yes the one who was handsome, intelligent and had everything in life?
Welcome to the world of Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of The Catcher in the Rye. Holden is also the narrator of the novel, and he tells his story set in the late 50’s. The time period is the end of the fall term of the school and Christmas. Holden however has been expelled from Pency, an elite prep school in Pennsylvania. Matter of fact that has been his 4th school. In order to avoid the wrath of his parents, he checks into a seedy hotel in New York City, and explores the city on his own. He tries to seduce a woman of high repute, flirt with 3 women elder to him and even has a failed encounter with a prostitute. He tries to date his girl at Pency, Sally Hayes, but finds out that she is not of his type. He tries in vain to meet his childhood crush Jane Gallagher. And he finally makes it to his home, to meet the only person whom he loves truly on earth, his kid sister Phoebe. And that’s where the title of the novel, comes into picture, with him telling, that he wanted to be a catcher in the Rye, some one who catches little children as they fall off a cliff. And he informs his sister, he is leaving home for good. What happens next, is best to be read in the novel.
The Catcher in the Rye is a tale of teenage angst. It deals with that phase of life, where you are neither big nor small. The period of confusion, where we really don’t what to do, and what we are. Holden tries to protect himself, by alienating himself from the world, something I am sure, most of his would have done at some time or other. At another level, Catcher deals with pains of growing up. Teenage can be quite painful, at least mine was. Maybe that’s why I guess, I found myself empathizing with the character. Instead of facing the reality of adulthood, Holden tries to fight it, by calling it phony and fake.
On first level, Holden seems like a loser to most of us. Yes we will all boast, that we have faced life successfully and all that. But sincerely tell me, have we not faced a phase in life, where we were confused in our teen years, we hated adults, we hated the people around us. I am sure most of us would have withdrawn into a shell at some time or other, unable to face the reality. The fact is that there is a Holden Caulfield in all of us, confused, insecure and unsure of life. Yet we deny this, and when some one expresses that feeling, we call him or her a loser. Its this hypocrisy which the novel attacks through the character of Holden Caulfield.
Though the theme of teenage angst is dark, J.D.Salinger, keeps our interest alive throughout, by maintaining a witty tone. Its more of a satire against the exisiting social mores.
The part where Holden meets a mother of his classmate on train, and he lies about him, saying that he is one of the best guys, though in reality he hates him and thinks he is a bastard should draw chuckles.Again when you hear him railing about phony successful people, or when his teacher points out his blunders in his History paper, one is sure to be reminded of one’s teenage years.
Holden Caulfield: The protagonist, a lanky teen who is confused and hates the world around him. He comes from a rich family, but hates the phony elite world around him. One of his brothers DB is a script writer in Hollywood, his another brother Allie had died of leukemia, and his best friend happens to be his sister Phoebe. Holden hates the adult world, and its hypocrises, yet he exhibits the same behaviour. He is not a psychotic character, he is a normal confused teen like most of us. All of us would have shared his thoughts at some time or other. Or maybe it’s because I am a bit of a rebel myself, I could empathize with him more. Holden is neither a hero nor a villain, he is just an ordinary guy, like you and me, and that’s what makes him so endearing.
Phoebe Caulfield: Phoebe is in sharp contrast to her brother. She is mature much beyond her age. She feels her brother has a simplistic black and white view of the world. She understands that one has to grow up at some time or other in life. She sees Holden as a deep, insecure man who needs love and support.
Ackley: Holden’s next door neighbour at Pencey with whom he shares a love hate relationship. Holden feels he is a pimply loser with no hygiene at all, yet he is the only person to whom he confides.
Stradlater: Holden’s roommate, handsome, most popular guy, he is the one whom Holden loves to hate. And he is equally jealous of his sexual conquests.
Jane Gallagher: His childhood friend on whom he has a huge crush. She never actually appears in the novel, and is more a part of Holden’s thoughts.
Sally Hayes: His girlfriend, with whom he has been going steady. Though she is attractive and well read, Holden thinks she is stupid.
All in all, a very entertaining read, and humourous enough inspite of it’s theme. Yet at the same time, offers a wonderful depth in the issues it handles. Catcher is one of the few novels, which can you can enjoy as well as can make you think.