Comparing The Catcher In The Rye, By J. D. Salinger

Both novels are told as reflections by the main characters of their past. They both also show a distaste for injustice, growing up, the destruction of innocence, and alienation. Holden tells us this through his fantasy of being the catcher in the rye, while Scout portrays this through her evident distaste towards everyone’s desires for her to become more of a lady. Both Lee’s and Salinger’s main characters also significantly mature from the beginning of their respective books to the end, and are then able to see things not just from their own point of view. Both Scout and Holden are in the young adult stage of life, transitioning between childhood and adulthood, and seem to mature towards the end of their stories because of their siblings; Holden’s sister and Scout’s brother. Scout does so after she witnesses her brother get injured and saved by none other than Boo Radley, when she and Jem are walking home from a school event one night. Holden does so when he sees his sister Phoebe follow in his footsteps by wanting to run away from all her problems like he was so close to doing. In both situations, the characters reflect on what has led up to this incident

Some people argue that the similarities outweigh the differences and others vice versa. While there is no definite answer, it is believed that, if one looks hard enough, every similarity comes with a difference and every difference comes with a similarity. For example, while both The Catcher in the Rye and To Kill a Mockingbird explore the themes of loss of innocence and the deep bond between siblings, To Kill a Mockingbird is more concerned with racism while The Catcher in the Rye focuses on the prejudices of class. In the end though, what really matters is that both novels are insightful, classic pieces of literature and great high school independent reading