The Catcher In The Rye

The Catcher in the Rye, was written by J.D. Salinger and published in 1951. The novel is set around the 1950s and is narrated by a young man named Holden Caulfield, who while telling the story, makes it clear that he is undergoing treatment in a mental hospital or sanatorium. The novel details two days in the life of the 16-year-old after he’s been expelled from school and touches on the emotions, instability and confusion that he’s experiencing with the ‘’phoniness’’ of the adult world.

This novel has become a fundamental part of western curriculum as its themes of angst, alienation, and critique on superficiality in society is an important read for adolescents perhaps experiencing similar emotions. The novel also deals with complex issues of innocence, identity, belonging, loss, connection, sex, and depression.