However, when using the book in the classrooms, the teacher needs to ensure that language content is discussed thoroughly because there are some words like corny, crumby or grippe, that most teenagers may not understand in the context that they are used in the book. A lot of teenagers and parents can relate to his reaction on “to hell with the world” attitude and “lack of connection to his parents.” That is realism on an emotional level that most students should be able to relate to when reading this book. Studying the main character Holden, and his age bracket (16). They had to censor the book, because of its hardcore nature and the kind of colorful language found in the book. As opposed in 1951 when the book was published. The students can learn a lot from this book about the theme of identity development. The book covers a lot of controversial topics such as sex, profanity, resilience against peers, peer pressure and substance abuse, search for identity and much more. His attitude and behaviors are perfect examples of an identity crisis that many teenagers have to overcome.Īfter reading this book, it was clear to me why some high schools teachers and parents in the 21 st would consider this a decent book for teenagers to read in the higher levels (15 to 18-year-old). Therefore, he turns to a lifestyle of misconducts by consuming alcohol, using drugs, having sex and rebelling against his parents by dropping out of many boarding schools and ignores all the career wishes that his parents had for him. He is silently crying for help because he believes that no adults seems to understand him.
As a result, he lashes out on everyone and refers to adults as “phonies” because is distrusts them.
#The catcher in the rye 1951 how to
He may not understand how to cope with the loss.
At the beginning of the book, it shows that he is grieving the death of his little brother. He seems to have everything bundled up on the inside, and then gets the chance to express himself to someone he either disrespect the person or criticizes them. Holden is a typical teenager with lots of unsolved resentment issues. However, before he sets foot into adulthood he had to face many trials and tribulations to reach that destination before transitioning into “Catcher in the Rye.” Meaning he had to save someone’s life, in order for him to come into the realization that he needs to grow up. Holden wants to be the “Catcher in the Rye”-someone who saves children from falling off a cliff, which can be understood as a metaphor for entering adulthood from the perspective of the book. Salinger's novel is a wake-up call to all teenagers and in a sense, is an inspiring read because it sends out the message that we should all remain hopeful and true to ourselves.“One of the biggest reasons I left Elkton Hills was because I was surrounded by phonies.” (Salinger J.
One thing that sets The Catcher in the Rye apart from other similar novels, I think, is the fairly frequent use of profanity - be warned! The heavy use of colloquialism is effective in making the reader relate to the characters better and make the characters seem realistic, but on the other hand, if you're under fourteen, I would certainly not recommend the novel to you! It isn't only the language used that makes The Catcher in the Rye unsuitable for younger readers, but also the themes discussed, centred around the idea of morality. What strikes me the most is the way Salinger creates the a brash atmosphere from the very beginning of the book with Holden being portrayed as insolent, lazy and quite frankly, completely clueless about his future.Īlmost all of the story is one long flashback of this three day period with occasional references to the present. His story starts at Pencey Prep, a prestigious boarding school filled with "phonies", as Holden likes to call them. The book begins with Holden directly addressing you, the reader, and he begins to retell the events over a three day period from last December. I find the main character, 17-year-old Holden Caulfield, absolutely intriguing and as I read the book, it was fascinating to get inside the head of the strange, rebellious protagonist. It is a modern classic of the coming of age genre. The Catcher in the Rye certainly wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, however I find it an exciting and compelling read, with a gallon of brutal reality poured in along with some humour, contrasting with moments of depression.ĭespite being written in 1951, I think many teenagers would be able to relate to the various themes present in the book. Let's just say that this book is certainly one open to a lot of controversy and debate, yet that is what makes it such an interesting read.