Королёв 42ПП.The Catcher in the Rye

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The Catcher in the Rye

My opinion about this novel

I really liked the book. I've always like when protagonists are kids or teenagers, it gives you a very different perspective on events. I enjoyed the rebellious theme, I think "The Catcher in the Rye" is one of the first books that talks about really adult themes from the point of view of a teenager. Holden Caufield is a great protagonist, I think he represents the teen spirit of that era(reminded me of the film "400 blows"), and because he has a lot of flaws and, maybe, unlikable traits, but we still sypathise him. Maybe, I could call him an anti-hero. The ending was a bit sad but hopeful, looks like the rebellious teens are over, I don't know is it a good thing or a bad thing, but I know that the Holden is definitely going forward.

Characters

Sally Hayes

A girl that Holden has been on several dates with in the past. Holden thinks Sally is a phony and annoying but impulsively, he still asks Sally to run away with him, but she refuses.

Sunny

A teenage prostitute. Holden tells Sunny that he doesn't want to have sex with her, he just wants to talk. Sunny is irritated and leaves but returns later with her pimp who punches Holden and robs him.

Mr. Antolini

Holden's favorite teacher from previous school, he is now an English instructor at New York University. His behavior at his apartment disturbs Holden.

Jane Gallagher

She is a childhood friend of Holden for whom he had romantic feelings for. Holden frequently thinks about Jane and throughout the book tempted to call her but couldn't bring himself to do it.

Phoebe Caufield

Holden's 10-year-old sister, she really wants to help Holden and she is his most trusted link to family.

Allie Caufield

Holden's younger brother that died from leukimia. Allie has a mystic presence in the novel. Holden thinks of him often and speaks to him when he has dark moments in his life.

Holden Caufield

The protagonist and narrator of the novel. He is the rebellious teenager distrusts the adult world, but also lonely and wants to find someone to connect to, reaching out to many different people as he travels through New York.

Plot Summary

Holden Caufield is this 16 year-old kid who gets expelled from school, right before Christmas vacation. He is not a good student and has a lot of problems in school. He leaves school early and goes to New York City. So then he’s in NYC, and spends time with a bunch of different people like prostitute named Sunny, girl named Sally Hayes and old schoolfriend Carl Luce. Holden gets drunk and goes to Central Park, before going home to see Phoebe. Phoebe works out that Holden is home because he’s been expelled from school, and Holden tells Phoebe about his dream of being "the catcher in the rye". Holden goes to visit former english teacher of his, Mr Antolini. Antolini is worried about Holden and wants Holden to focus and make something of himself. Holden leaves, passing the rest of the night at Grand Central Station. The next day, he decides to leave society and go and live in a log cabin. Phoebe wants to go with him, but Holden refuses to let her. He takes her to the zoo and buys her a ride on the carousel and the two share a happy moment. The novel ends with Holden admits that he is going to start at a new school in September.

Jerome David Salinger

The novel is at a junction of modernism and post-modernism. Salinger uses techniques like: stream of consciousness, irony concerning social conventions, inner monologue, fragmentation, paradox, and the unreliable narrator.

Since the publication of "The Catcher in the Rye", he has consistently avoided contact with the public, obstructing attempts by those wishing to pry into his personal life. In 1987 he successfully blocked the publication of an unauthorized biography by Ian Hamilton.

Major critical and popular recognition came with the publication of The Catcher in the Rye.

Attended a number of colleges (including Columbia) but didn’t graduate from any of these colleges.

Born in 1919, died in 2010 in the age of 91