Literary Analysis Essay On The Catcher In The Rye

The Catcher in the Rye, a 1951 novel by J.D. Salinger, is highly regarded as a “classic” by many, however it could never stand the test of time. The novel takes the reader through the life of Holden Caulfield, a privileged, self righteous, angsty teen who takes what they have for granted. The Catcher in the Rye showcases a young man, journeying through teen angst, irresponsibility, and avoids dealing with his emotions as he tries to resist maturity. What makes The Catcher in the Rye far too highly regarded is because all it amounts to be is the documentation of a young man making poor life choices while doing fairly mundane activities. What makes Holden such a poor character is that he the real phony all along. In chapter 22, Holden describes that all adults are phonies, but none of them can see their own phoniness, unknowingly undermining his entire character. In contrast to Holden’s distaste of the concept of adulthood, he idolized childhood, believing that childhood is a time of honesty, innocence, and curiosity. By believing this, he self justifies his own childish behavior. He fears for the future, so he attempts to avoid the inevitable.

Those who hold this novel dearly to them generally enjoy it because it was seen as a book that teens and young adults could relate to because of the themes of teenage rebellion that its readers desired in their own lives. However most people see themselves in many fictional or even nonfictional characters, this is what makes us like characters. Others find Holden’s views of the world interesting. Glamorizing Holden's worldviews is essentially romanticizing his mental illness. It was clear throughout the novel that Holden suffers from mental illness. Romanticizing Holden’s worldviews only further alienates Holden’s