The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
When asked to read a banned book, I thought I should look to one of the most controversial books assigned to young adults in high school classrooms. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger was never assigned in my own high school English classes. Therefore, I thought I should find out what everyone has been talking about. I had heard people complain about it, arguing that Holden is just an angst-y teenager who is angry at the world. At first, I agreed with them. Then, I quickly began to realize that Holden had experienced very traumatic events leading up to his telling of the story. He had good reason to feel so pessimistic about the world around him!
Holden tells his story from an institution where he is being treated for mental illness. He describes his time at Pencey Preparatory Academy, where he witnessed a classmate commit suicide. He talks about the death of his brother, Allie. The traumatic events Holden once experienced are not always described in detail but rather are hinted at. Salinger (1951) suggests Holden has been a victim of previous sexual assaults or harassments: “I know more damn perverts, at schools and all, than anybody you ever met, and they’re always being perverty when I’m around,” (192). He believes perverts are attracted to him specifically. This makes me think that assaults or harassment have occurred more than once in his life. His reasoning concerning the perverts makes him wonder if there is something about him specifically that is leading to such behaviors being performed around him. Salinger is writing about an issue that was rarely discussed in the 50s, especially the sexual harassment of young men and boys.
Holden experiences PTSD surrounding sudden deaths. He does not seem to have recovered from seeing the boy James Castle dead on the sidewalk in his turtleneck. Seeing such a terrible death occur to someone his own age must have been traumatic to Holden. It also made him angry at the people around him, the people who bullied Castle until he jumped out the window. Understanding what happened to James Castle allows readers to better understand why Holden suffers from mental illness.
This book is still so popular among readers now because bullying and mental illness is at the forefront of our social problems. These were only some of the traumatic events that helped me understand Holden a bit more. His brother, Allie’s, death also explained why Holden would be so depressed. I am interested in the link between Holden and the author. Salinger himself had been institutionalized and fought in the war. Could Holden have been a manifestation of the confusing thoughts and ideas of the author? This might be a good question for a book discussion.
While this book is difficult to understand at times, it is a crucial book to read. I do believe it is important to consider the context of what Holden is saying. I fear for the people who might idolize Holden. He is a suffering young man who is afraid of the world around him. A lesson or book talk about The Catcher in the Rye must also include a discussion of his apparent struggle with mental health issues.
Reference
Salinger, J. D. (1951). The Catcher in the Rye. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.