J.D. Salinger’sJ.D. Salinger’sThe Catcher in the RyeThe Catcher in the Rye

An IntroductionAn Introduction

The Catcher in the RyeThe Catcher in the Rye

““Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye playing some game in this big field of rye and all…What I have to do, I have to catch and all…What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff…everybody if they start to go over the cliff…That’s all I do all day. I’d just be the That’s all I do all day. I’d just be the catcher in the rye…I know it’s crazy, but catcher in the rye…I know it’s crazy, but that’s the only thing I’d really like to be.”that’s the only thing I’d really like to be.”

- Holden Caulfield- Holden Caulfield

Holden CaulfieldHolden Caulfield

This troubled teenager This troubled teenager from New York is the from New York is the creation of J. D. creation of J. D. Salinger.Salinger.

Readers first met Readers first met Holden in stories Holden in stories published in published in The New The New YorkerYorker in the 1940s: in the 1940s:– ““I’m Crazy”I’m Crazy”– ““Slight Rebellion Off Slight Rebellion Off

Madison”Madison”

““I’m Crazy”I’m Crazy”

Is Holden crazy? That’s for us to decide.Is Holden crazy? That’s for us to decide. Ever since its publication, the novel has stirred Ever since its publication, the novel has stirred

debate over Holden’s psychological condition.debate over Holden’s psychological condition. One literary critic argues, “If originally published One literary critic argues, “If originally published

today, the novel would probably create little today, the novel would probably create little publicity or garner only average book sales.”publicity or garner only average book sales.”

In the Post-Modern era, maybe this is all stuff In the Post-Modern era, maybe this is all stuff we’ve seen before.we’ve seen before.

But we’ll see that not everyone feels this way.But we’ll see that not everyone feels this way.

Top Five Most Banned BooksTop Five Most Banned Books

Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men ForeverForever Our Bodies, OurselvesOur Bodies, Ourselves The Catcher in the RyeThe Catcher in the Rye Go Ask AliceGo Ask Alice

Source: National Council of Teachers of EnglishSource: National Council of Teachers of English

J. D. SalingerJ. D. Salinger

““All of my best friends All of my best friends are children. It’s are children. It’s almost unbearable for almost unbearable for me to realize that my me to realize that my book will be kept on a book will be kept on a shelf out of their shelf out of their reach.”reach.”

- J. D. Salinger, 1955- J. D. Salinger, 1955

Who is this Salinger anyways?Who is this Salinger anyways?

Born in 1919 and raised in New York.Born in 1919 and raised in New York. In 1933, flunked out of a private high school, just In 1933, flunked out of a private high school, just

like Holden does in like Holden does in CatcherCatcher.. In 1942, drafted to serve in WWII; fought in D-In 1942, drafted to serve in WWII; fought in D-

Day and Battle of the Bulge, just like Holden’s Day and Battle of the Bulge, just like Holden’s brother does in brother does in CatcherCatcher..

A famous author, but not very prolific; A famous author, but not very prolific; Catcher Catcher is is his only true novel.his only true novel.

Has lived as a recluse for decades; Has lived as a recluse for decades; Catcher Catcher explores Salinger’s feelings of alienation.explores Salinger’s feelings of alienation.

Have I heard this name before?Have I heard this name before?

You may have.You may have. In the movie In the movie Field of Field of

DreamsDreams, Kevin , Kevin Costner’s character Costner’s character kidnaps an author.kidnaps an author.

Though the name was Though the name was changed for the movie, changed for the movie, in the book, that in the book, that author is J.D. Salinger.author is J.D. Salinger.

Has Has Catcher Catcher made the news?made the news?

A number of times…A number of times… We’ve already seen that it has been banned more We’ve already seen that it has been banned more

than almost any other book in the country.than almost any other book in the country. Catcher Catcher was rejected by was rejected by several several publishers – one publishers – one

that stated “I can’t decide whether Holden is that stated “I can’t decide whether Holden is crazy.”crazy.”

Unfortunately, you may know Unfortunately, you may know Catcher Catcher as the book as the book Mark David Chapman brought with him when he Mark David Chapman brought with him when he assassinated John Lennon of the Beatles.assassinated John Lennon of the Beatles.

Our Guiding QuestionOur Guiding Questionss

Is this piece timeless? Are its themes Is this piece timeless? Are its themes universal? Does it work as well in 2007 as universal? Does it work as well in 2007 as it did in 1951?it did in 1951?

Is Holden “crazy,” as Salinger’s original Is Holden “crazy,” as Salinger’s original title states? Why would he choose title states? Why would he choose The The Catcher in the Rye Catcher in the Rye as a title instead of one as a title instead of one as blunt as “I’m Crazy”?as blunt as “I’m Crazy”?