Dear AP students:
We will always take a look at the author of
the book we are reading to see if we can gain any additional insight. The
interests of the author, and the era in which he/she grew up or wrote the book
sometimes gives us clues regarding the major themes of the book.
In this case, the author J.D.Salinger is one
of the most interesting of writers---paradoxically, because he publicly
revealed so little of himself. He was a recluse for most of his
adult life. He avoided at all costs any publicity. Most famous authors
love publicity--it helps to sell books. They all secretly want
to appear on Oprah and bare their writing souls. That's not the case with
Salinger. In doing so, his absence from the limelight ended up helping
him sell more copies of Catcher in the Rye. It added great mystique to
the book's reputation.
You can go ahead and find biographies of Salinger
on the web, but just let me point out some things to consider.
--He grew up in Manhattan. After high school
his father sent him to Poland and Germany to learn a how make sausages, but he
left when Hitler started invading countries. He went to college part time
afterwards--he took writing classes at Columbia University, and hung out in NYC night clubs with a couple famous women.
--He served in the US Army during World War II. He
was deeply traumatized by the war--we will later read a book by Kurt
Vonnegut--he too was traumatized by the war.
--Though he wrote about a rebellious teen in 1951 who
inspired other teens in the 50's, 60's and 70's, Salinger himself was actually
a teen in the 1930's--a completely different era.
--His second wife was a college student when he
married her (he was in his 30's). His first wife was a German who he met in Germany immediately after the war.
---After divorcing his second wife, he had a year
long affair with a college freshman named Joyce Maynard (he was in his 50's at
the time). She went on to become a famous newspaper columnist.
--He moved up to New Hampshire sometime in the mid
50's and became a recluse who avoided the public.
--He wrote short stories for the New
Yorker--the top magazine in the country.
--He eventually stopped submitting his
writing for publication.
--According to many people, he became
very eccentric in his behavior.
--Rumor has it he had 15 unpublished
manuscripts in his house when he died. Perhaps his heirs will allow them
to be published.
--By refusing to submit his writing for publication, you could say he was a
symbol of rebellion...he could have made millions from at least one book.
Perhaps he didn't want to become a phony. Or you could say he lost his nerve
and was merely afraid that whatever he write could never live up to the
reputation he got after writing Catcher in the Rye.
Salinger writing Catcher in the Rye, a story that focusses on innocence, is a type of reflection of Salinger himself. He writes about innocence and the fear of impending adulthood, while he himself had lost innocence in a way that most people thankfully never will. He took part in major battles of WW2 and was one of the first to liberate a concentration camp. For him to focus so strongly on the innocence of a sixteen year old boy who doesn't want to grow up is a contrast to his own experiences. Salinger wrote of innocence in a way that was relatable to all readers. Salinger cherished innocence because his was lost so brutally in war.
ReplyDeleteContinuing with the reflection of Salinger in the novel, the lack of a movie is explained in the first chapter, when Holden exclaims, "If there's one thing I hate, it's the movies". Salinger avoids images in the novel, because he uses language in a way that a movie could never capture. The passive tone and method of speaking is unique to the novel, in a way that would be impossible to use in images. Even the book covers are relatively imageless (though I have one of the exceptions), a testament to Salinger's distaste of an image-driven world.
Hello, I was wondering how exactly I submit the eight entries that are needed over the summer break as well as the double entry journals
ReplyDeleteYou submit the eight entries the same exact way you commented on this post.
DeleteCool, thank you so much
DeleteJD Salinger has created a mysterious image about himself that continues to live on today. This image has resulted in many readers being intrigued by his motivations and philosophies. Because there are no biographies that are going to tell us everything about him, the reader must find clues and make assumptions through his pieces of writing. It is obvious that Holden Caulfield is not a teenage version of Salinger because they grew up in different time periods. But this does not mean that we can't learn anything about Salinger himself through Holden. As we know, Holden is a non-conformist. He does not like to do what everyone else is doing. I believe Salinger is the same way. As mentioned earlier, Salinger did not want anything to do with fame and fortune like most writers would have. Instead, he avoided the limelight and that resulted in even more people buying his book. Additionally, authors that make critically-acclaimed books get approached by the movie industry. If we know anything about Holden, it is that he despises the movies and Hollywood. By Salinger not wanting his book to be portrayed on the big screen, he is showing us how he shares some of the same aspects as Holden. Mentioned earlier by one of my peers, Catcher in the Rye focuses on innocence and the fear of conforming to society in adulthood. I agree with my peer that Salinger could have made this a central theme in his book because of his participation in World War II. Salinger was severely traumatized by the war and could have felt like he lost the the innocent memories of his childhood. We can find clues that Salinger gives us through his writing by thoroughly analyzing to find out what he was really like.
ReplyDelete-Justin Bleisch
I think that Salinger's creation of Holden is a surrogate for his own possible thoughts. As mentioned above, Salinger did go through his teenage years about 20 years earlier than Holden did. But it may be possible that Holden is the carefree version of Salinger. He made Holden do and say what Salinger himself could not in his age, or even at the time. according to Mr. Rodriguez's information about Salinger's past, he had an affair with a much younger woman. This to me sounds a bit like a careless move, only done for his own benefit. Holden reflects this idea by doing things through the book only to pleasure himself, such as inviting over the prostitute or dancing with the blonde girls.
ReplyDeleteGenerally, it seems that Salinger put all the small pieces of his life into the making of Holden Caulfield. The character portrays Salinger's isolation from the public, "phony" world, as well as criticizes society for it's ways, reflecting the author's trauma from WWII. He is most likely attempting to reveal his true character through Caulfield, possibly because he was not able to do it in real life.
-Negin Mohtashemian
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteEven though Salinger lived in a completely different era than Holden Caulfield, I truly believe Salinger wrote a reflection of himself through a rich and empowering journey of young Holden Caulfield. Perhaps I am wrong because Holden has done many cynical things and maybe Salinger was not that kind of person. But if we reflect back we realize Holden feels a bit lonely and keeps many of his cynical thoughts to himself. Salinger was a reclusive person to the public; a man wanting to be alone. So these two people were both isolated in different ways. Salinger hung out in NYC nightclubs and hung out with famous women while Holden went to nightclubs attempting to hang out with anyone, but mostly women. Salinger had 15 manuscripts kept in his house and never published them. On top of that, he had an affair with a college student and his behavior seemed eccentric by what others said. He was a rebellion just like Holden Caulfield, but their characteristics contrasted each other in some aspects. I know it seems crazy analyzing these points, but by this point I truly think that Salinger was writing a reflection about how he might have been if he was a teenager living in the 1950s.
ReplyDelete-Brandon Sanchez
Salinger in a way could have been writing about himself through the first part of his life however. I don't disagree with my peers, however when Mr. Rodriguez mentioned how Salinger was sent by his own father to Germnay to make sausages, hence be educated, like Holden was really pressured by his own father (without any interaction with his father) to stay in school.
ReplyDeleteSalinger and Holden also share in common the concept of being lonesome. Salinger, after he divorced his second wife, moved to New Hampshire to avoid the limelight. Holden too, mentions in many instances how lonely he felt and how he missed some of the people he was surrounded by, such as Ackley and Stradlater.
Lastly, Salinger seemed have had quit a few relationships that were not so long-lasting, as he had to wives and a relationship with Joyce Maynard, a popular newspaper columnist. We can relate this to Holden's case Ch. 13: "Most girls are dumb and all, after you neck them for a while, you can really watch them lose their brains."
-Jose (Tony) Delgado
As a writer, I draw all inspiration from my own life. It is evident that Salinger and Holden do have similarities in their behavior. Perhaps Salinger wrote this book in order to draw attention to mental illness, similar to how Vonnegut wrote The Children’s Crusade to draw attention to the psychological and devastating aftermath of war.
ReplyDeleteHis relationship with women seemed like a very complicated one, similar to Holden. It wasn’t picture-perfect, both were very risky and possibly impulsive. Both tended to alienate themselves.
I think that shying away from the best-selling author limelight was very humble of Salinger and he stayed true to his morals. A person very affected by mental illness won’t be the type of person to bask in fame and glory. It seems very likely that a person who has mental issues would eventually take part in eccentric behavior. I don’t think Salinger was afraid of being a phony or not living up to Catcher, I think that maybe he no longer felt the need to share his thoughts with the world anymore. Maybe it was the mental illness. Maybe it was a sign of rebellion to refuse his works for publication and movie-rights... But I also think he wanted Catcher to remain as it is, how it should be- up to one’s own individual interpretation. None of the fame or extraneous publicity. He wanted it to remain innocent and not over-done.
Perhaps he never anticipated that his book would gain so much popularity. Had he known, would he have published it?
-Abegail Caraulia
I believe that JD Salinger wrote this book basing Caulfield off of his own experiences. Caulfield's alienation could possibly be drawn from Salinger's isolation and avoidance of publicity. Salinger places the novel's setting in Manhattan most likely because of the fact that he grew up there and is able to include aspects of Manhattan that he experienced when growing up there. Additionally, as mentioned by my peers, Mr. Lopez includes the fact that Salinger was forced to study abroad by his father. This is similar to the way Caulfield is forced to attend school by his father. Although there is not much interaction between them, it is evident that Caulfield's father is pushing for him to get a good education. Finally, Salinger's relationship with women was apparently not so great considering he divorced 2 of his wives. Therefore, Caulfield's harsh criticism of women could possibly stem from Salinger's bad experience with them. Overall I believe Salinger wrote this book based on his own experiences throughout his life making it more detailed and personal.
ReplyDelete-Angel Cortez
I agree with Angel, looking at all the aspects I believe that JD Salinger did in fact write this book about events that he went through. Holden was not a very big public figure he was kind of an outsider just like the author Salinger was, Holden was forced to go to these huge prestigious schools and Salinger was forced to go to Germany for school by his father. The relationships that Salinger had with women explains why Holden didn't have he greatest luck with women as well. After reviewing all these things I strongly believe Holden is Salinger when he was young. The events in his life may not be the same but it seems very close.
DeleteAlthough Salinger was a teenager in a completely different time period, I believe that Holden's character is still a reflection of himself. For example, perhaps Holden's unsociable personality was inspired by Salinger's own desire to be unknown to the public. It is also evident throughout the novel that Holden has a rebellious personality, which could parallel to Salinger's rebellion of not submitting all of his manuscripts for publication. I also believe that the fact that both Salinger and Holden have spent time in a mental institution shows the reader that there is some sort of connection between the two people. Although many of Holden's characteristics are based off of Salinger as an adult, perhaps Salinger made the choice as an author to portray Holden as a teenager because adolescence is the time period in which people are "finding themselves" and he believed that his experiences could be used to inspire and empower teenagers as they attempt to find themselves on their journey to adulthood.
ReplyDeleteI concur with Megan's notion that Salinger wished to be unknowed to the public. As i was reading, a passage in Chapter 11 caught my attention. It was referring to Ernie, the piano player, who was a terrific player. However, Holden disapproved of him because he played so well that he "sounded like the kind of guy that wont talk to you unless youre a big shot". It seems that Salinger, like Holden, did not want to become such a "big-shot" that he would soon, like Ernie, only care about associating with well-known individuals. This fear of becoming a phony then perhaps influenced him and kept him from publishing further works and growing in wealth and fame. As my peer mentioned, he would have rather remained unknown to the public and the fact that he his mental health suffered may have resulted in his need for stability. This stability was perhaps brought to him by sharing his views whether to empower or to rebel, but without so much publicity and attention.
DeleteI also agree that JD Salinger may have translated his reservations when it comes to being in the spotlight. In addition to the scene where he was watching Ernie's performance at the club, there was a scene a little before where he was sitting in the Lavender Room. He was dancing with the blonde woman from the table next to him when he told the readers, "I didn't try any trick stuff while we danced--I hate a guy that does a lot of show-off tricky stuff on the dance floor" (Chapter 10). Holden's strong opinions about people who are very showy can be a direct translation of how Salinger does not want to be in the limelight, even for his successful book. To keep himself from becoming a "phony," Salinger kept away from public eyes and acted a little rebellious in his own manner.
Delete-Sophia Dugan
I agree with my peers previous posts that J.D. Salinger was a non-conformist or a rebel, just as Holden Caulfield is. I believe the fact that he avoided publicity at all costs is a form of rebellion but also relates to him not wanting to become a "phony", a term that is repeatedly used in the novel. By not wanting all eyes on him, I agree with Abegail that it displayed his sense of humbleness. To answer her question if Salinger would still have published "The Catcher in the Rye" knowing it would have as much success and popularity as it has now, I believe he would have. This story is to an extent, a reflection of who he is and Salinger would have known it was too special to not share with millions of readers around the world.
ReplyDeleteAs for why I believe that this story is a reflection of Salinger is because of the similarities that he and Holden have. With the information on Salinger's love life that Mr. Rodriguez has presented, we can assume that his relationships with women have not always gone smoothly. This can relate to why Holden has not exactly found a steady girlfriend and instead of speaking about love, he often speaks about just "necking" girls. In addition, one of the reoccurring themes of the books is innocence. We know that Salinger fought in the Army during the second World War and saw things that left him severely traumatized. This may be the reason that he made Holden someone who wants to hold on to his innocence, and not have it taken away as his was.
-Atheana Lopez
I agree with the previous posts, I believe that Salinger was showing off his rebellious and reclusive side through the character Holden Caulfield. The fact that Holden likes to be alone and avoid others is a reflection of how an older and more jaded Salinger felt, one who has been scarred by a World War, a man who has lost faith in others.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this story is a glimpse at what J.D. Salinger wanted his youth to be like, he wanted to have innocence, he wanted to be normal. The character Holden Caulfield is a glimpse at what might have been J.D. Salinger had he not been in the Army during the second World War.
-Morgan Buell
Drawing from my own experience as a writer, I can definitely say that I draw from my own personality when I make a character. Even if that character isn't exactly like me, I can us myself to help develop it. Salinger probably used his rebelliousness and isolation to make Holden. Being in a war can easily make someone lose faith in humanity after seeing so much death and destruction. Not just Holden, but his experiences growing up in Manhattan and his time abroad probably helped with the setting of the book. Despite growing up in a different decade, I've heard people say that teenagers were always similar though before they didn't stand out as much as now.
ReplyDeleteSuffering from mental illness after the war, it makes sense that Salinger wouldn't want so much fame and publicity. He probably would rather stay away from the public. He just wasn't interested in all the fame that his book could've brought.
~Sofia Alduenda
Prior to beginning my initial reading of The Catcher in the Rye, I did some brief research on the author, Jerome David Salinger. I found that many people believe in the idea that Salinger is reminiscing about his own life, in The Catcher in the Rye, as many of my peers have theorized. I must agree with them, despite the small twists on Salinger’s actual life story. I believe he modelled Holden after himself, but made small changes in his encounters to make it more interesting to read, but maybe also it is how Salinger wished he had lived his life as Holden lives his own. Salinger puts his own personal essence into his own character, and makes for quite a tale.
ReplyDeleteI find it very ironic how Salinger and Holden Caulfield can both be identified as odd and peculiar characters. It follows the theory that Salinger modeled Holden after himself. Salinger was noted for not fitting the average “author” stereotype and became very unusual in his later years. Caulfield, initially, I find to be somewhat “odd-looking”. He is an older teen, but has grey hairs, and appears older beyond his years. Beyond that, he is very odd in the way he judges people and things. I am curious to know if the other characters are modelled after people in J.D. Salinger’s own life. Was this a trend back when Salinger was a writer? Did Salinger extend this practice to other works, possibly the short stories he wrote?
-Tanner Claudio
As many of my peers have stated, there is a clear indication that several of the qualities characterizing Holden Caulfield reflect those of author J.D. Salinger. Due to the time period in which he grew up in addition to the traumatic experiences endured during his combat tours in Wold War II's European theater, especially his landing at D-Day on June 6, 1944, I believe that the main character of Salinger's acclaimed novel is meant to also depict the man he wishes he could have been. Born in 1919, it can be inferred that Salinger spent his childhood and adolescence in the 1920s and 30s, a time of gangsters, indulgence, and treachery. As the son of a very wealthy importer of meat and cheese, it is very likely that he was given no choice as to his career path, but rather was expected to follow in his father's footsteps. While both of the aforementioned themes are incorporated in Salinger's work through Holden's consumption of alcohol and cigarettes, and acute awareness of his parent's high expectations, I believe that the war was Salinger's true escape from his issues with his father and that which was expected of him. Unfortunately the effects of World War II left Salinger unable to grow, as the protagonist of "The Catcher in the Rye" is, without any major consequence, and it is for this reason that I believe no significant event takes place that leaves the main character beyond the point of no return. I think that the author wrote the character of Holden Caulfied with the intention of expressing all of the feelings he never truly revealed due to his strict upbringing and traumatic wartime experience and meant for the protagonist to be the person he believed he could have been had things been different.
ReplyDelete-Quentin Cruz-Boyer
In my past experiences with books I have found that authors do not simply create a character out of thin air, they weave in pieces of their life and personality into a great vibrant tapestry that takes form into the person who they desire to be or who they already are. That is why authors mostly write their protagonists in their own gender because they can understand themselves better and not get grief over inaccurate interpretations.I agree with your opinion that Salinger was under the pressure of his parents high expectations like Holden and find interesting your statement that Holden is who Salinger wishes to be. I feel that I have to agree with you on that point, Holden is the epitome of Salinger's yearning to break out of the social chains and do what he wants. Like Holden was sent to a military school, although he did graduate from it unlike Holden. I find Salinger's military history before, after and how he describes it in his book intriguing. On one of the last pages of chapter 18 in the book Salinger describes how he felt about the war through Holden's memory of D.B.,
Delete"My brother D.B. was in the Army for four goddam years. He was in the war, too—he landed on D-Day and all—but I really think he hated the Army worse than the war. I was practically a child at the time, but I remember when he used to come home on furlough and all, all he did was lie on his bed, practically. He hardly ever even came in the living room. Later, when he went overseas and was in the war and all, he didn't get wounded or anything and he didn't have to shoot anybody. All he had to do was drive some cowboy general around all day in a command car. He once told Allie and I that if he'd had to shoot anybody, he wouldn't've known which direction to shoot in. He said the Army was practically as full of bastards as the Nazis were. I remember Allie once asked him wasn't it sort of good that he was in the war because he was a writer and it gave him a lot to write about and all." (chapter 18, page 155) D.B.'s experience is similar to Salinger's and as I see it, this was a very important scene in the book where Salinger's emotions really bled into the book more so then in any other part. To me the fact that Salinger was a teen in the 1930's and chose to write about a teenager in the 1950's doesn't make much of a difference because the story was more about how he felt at the moment, and that feeling manifested itself in the form of a teenager. So what I am trying to say is that Salinger felt like a troubled teen during and after the war allowing him to write a story about a distraught teen in the 1950's.
-Vianney Sandoval
Although JD Salinger may have been a teenager in a different era, I feel as though Holden Caulfield is a representation of how Salinger would’ve been, had he grown up in the 50s as a teenager. Having been in the war, I think his experiences in it made him want to become rebellious, which inspired the rebellious character, Holden Caulfield. Like Holden, Salinger was depressed, although he expressed through his writing and characters, much like Holden did while writing about Allie’s baseball mitt. It was therapeutic for him. Salinger also experienced what it felt like to be alienated—the theme of the book—after not being able to fit in at a new school. I also feel as though Salinger didn’t want to become the protagonist’s brother, DB. Both of them were authors who were influenced by WWII, although Salinger didn’t want to feel “prostituted” by going into Hollywood business, which is why he refrained from publicity.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIn agreement with the majority of my peers, there are many similarities between Holden Caufield and our author, J.D. Salinger. It is apparent throughout the book that Holden is the epitome of a rebellious and non-conformed teenage male during the 50's. Our author, Salinger, shares this character trait in that he himself was also rebellious and strayed away from social norms. Although I am not a writer, I feel as if it is easiest to gain inspiration for writing from your own life and personal experiences, which Salinger most likely did. Essentially, I am not saying that Salinger and Holden are one and the same, however, I certainly see Salinger's life experiences that are similar to Holden's. Salinger's desire to stayed isolated and private from the public is a trait similar to Holden's in that Holden felt alienated and singled out from the public as well. Holden's difficulty with women is probably a representation of Salinger's difficulty as well, evident from his two divorces. Holden's defiance of his parents is similar to Salinger's after he left Poland. All in all, it is evident that Salinger and Holden Caufield share many of the same experiences and traits.
ReplyDelete-Catalina Isip
As posts above said, I agree that JD Salinger wrote the novel based on himself and experiences he went through. There are many similarities between both of them, such as Holden going to Pencey Prep and similarly JD Salinger attending Valley Forge Military Academy. Also, Holden's parents are from New York as well as JD Salinger's parents. It seems that Holden Caulfield's childhood is very similar to JD Salinger's.
ReplyDeleteAlso like others said, JD Salinger seemed to have bad relationships with women due to his two divorces and similarly Holden had trouble connecting with a young girl, in this case Jane Gallagher. Holden had also a liking to younger women just like Salinger did.
I think that due to Salinger's trauma from the war, he made the character of Holden be alienated from others. He may have wanted the character to reflect him in such ways.
As many have stated, authors draw inspiration from their own experiences. For example, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky ends with the protagonist going to a prison in Siberia, much like Dostoyevsky experienced decades before writing this novel. Additionally, Jean-Paul Sartre commented that when his novel, Nausea, was initially rejected, "I took this hard: I had put all myself into a book I worked on for many years; it was myself that had been rejected." Also, as someone who enjoys creating art, I also often use my thoughts and feelings as inspiration for pieces.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, along with the similarities between Holden's journey and the author's life, it is clear that events like participation in war and going to a prep school deeply influenced the writing of The Catcher in the Rye. I find that there are many things I can only express visually, though art. Similarly, the bleak, cynical point of view held by Holden may have been experienced by J.D. Salinger at one point in his life. The Catcher in the Rye may have been Salinger expressing his thoughts the only way he knew how.
I also agree with those who have commented on how Salinger felt about his novel becoming a movie. However, I would also like to explore the idea of how Holden would feel that the novel has been taught in many schools. Since Holden views education as an institution for teaching children and adolescents how to become phonies, maybe that would illuminate some of the phoniness that lies within him. After all, we've already established that Holden judges people before getting to know them, and holds on to those assumptions.
I agree with the previous responses in the sense that Catcher in the Rye could possibly somewhat reflects what J.D. Salinger might have gone through or experienced. And life experiences are definitely great inspirations for writing because it is unique or could also relate to others which both makes a story interesting. I feel like Salinger wrote this book because that was his way of feeling understood from what he might've been through during his teenage years in the era that he was brought up in with all the horrors of the war, and putting the story in another character's perspective. It isn't the exact same, however it does correspond to Salinger's life. Conforming to society was difficult for Holden and mostly because he did not want to same as Salinger when did not want any attention from the public. Knowing that he was a recluse throughout his adult years could be evident as to how he is very similar to his character, Holden.
ReplyDelete-Maya Ruane
J.D Salinger is very different from the common authors because as Mr.Rodriguez mentioned, his life was very disparate from the others writers. Who would of thought an individual such as Salinger who took partial college classes, who ended up traumatized after serving World War II would end up being such a talented and well influenced author. In my opinion i think that Salinger tried to identify himself through the book ''The Catcher in the Rye'' in view of the fact that he might have been a rebellious teenager back in 1930 just like Holden was described. Salinger has a certain disability to find respect towards others and in relation to the book where he shows no respect towards women it clearly shows how Holden somewhat reflects Salinger himself.
ReplyDelete-Ayline Ruelas
After obtaining knowledge about J.D Salinger and his personal history it reveals quite a similarity between himself and Holden Caulfield. For one, The Catcher in the Rye takes place in Manhattan, New York this can signify that Salinger put his own personal experience into recreating the setting for Holden. It is noted that Salinger served in World War II and came back immensely traumatized therefore suffering form mental illness, just like Holden and perhaps Salinger did not like many of the people in the US Army also criticizing their actions just like Holden did with the rest of the students at Pencey. As provided by Mr. Rodriguez it states that Salinger's behavior became eccentric and slowly became very reclusive in all personal aspects and towards the end of the novel, on page 198, Holden wanted to get a job out West and "didn't care what kind of job it was, though. Just so people didn't know me and I didn't know anybody". Holden wanted a new life, a life away from the one he was so accustomed and maybe Salinger longed for the same thing therefore turning away. It is evident that Salinger's personal experiencs had n immense influence in The Catcher in the Rye and, if it were not for this great influence the novel would not be as unique.
ReplyDelete-Mariana Velasco
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt is clear and evidenced by my peers comments that Holden Caulfield and J.D. Salinger are alike in some ways. I personally believe that the author created Holden's character the way he did in order to clearly represent himself as well. During the 50's, Holden was known as an alienated teenager that was different from other teens. In addition, our author himself was divergent as well (he revealed so little of himself unlike other authors). After analyzing background information from J.D. Salinger and past comments, I realized that he struggled with women as Holden Caulfield did. Salinger had been through divorces and seemed to always go for younger women. Throughout Catcher in the Rye, Holden always wanted to be left alone and away from people. According to additional insight on our author, he moved away and wanted to avoid the public just like Holden. As Tanner Claudio stated, it is evident that Holden does not meet the "regular teenager" stereotype as our author is not identified as the "typical author" image. In conclusion, J.D. Salinger made Holden Caulfield the way he is presented to significantly show how he probably might have been as a teenager in the 1950's.
ReplyDelete-Camryn Ferrer
Upon completion of The Catcher in the Rye, I have discovered many uncanny similarities between J.D. Salinger and his unique protagonist, Holden Caulfield. To start, the public knows very little of Salinger, who avoids almost all publicity. Similar to how Holden alienated himself from the football game to avoid social encounters. In addition, Salinger has had his fair share of trouble with women, two ex-wives. Again, strangely similar to Holden who has trouble understanding the female persona and who is mystified of sex. Salinger even moved to New Hampshire in an act of alienation from the public. Holden alike plotted his own life in an abandoned cabin away from civilization. In one light it is as though Salinger has created Holden to try and fictionalize his own beliefs and rebellious acts. In another light, I have to agree with Tanner Claudio in that Salinger may have modeled Holden after himself. The era in which Salinger wrote the novel as well as the many similarities between Salinger and Holden work to support this theory.
ReplyDeleteAlthough J.D. Salinger was a teen two decades before he wrote about Holden Caulfield, I believe Salinger shares similar personality traits with his main character. Both are secluded and isolated from the world around them. For instance, Salinger did not open himself up to the public like most writers do. Instead, he steered clear from publicity and remained a mysterious author. Like Salinger, Holden alienates himself from almost everyone around him. Other people, therefore, don't really get to know Holden because he keeps many things to himself. Like many of my peers have stated, I share the same hypothesis that Salinger may have created Holden to convey his personal thoughts and beliefs, given the number of similarities between the two. Let's also not forget about the setting in which the book was written. Since Salinger grew up in Manhattan, he probably knows a lot about the marvelous city and is most likely why he chose to set the story there. By getting to know J.D. Salinger better, it was useful because we were able to gain additional insight and make a connection between the protagonist of the novel, and the author.
ReplyDelete-Shalin Nirmal
Becoming familiar with background information about the author, J.D Salinger I have noticed various similarities between Holden, the protagonist and the author himself. When I started reading the book, I realized that the book was written in first person; having Holden tell about his life I had predicted that possibly the author had written the book based off of his life experiences in some way. I also made this assumption because J.D. Salinger dedicated the book to his mother and that made me question why would he dedicate this book to his mother? I predicted that possibly because he relates Holden’s life similar to his own and what he experienced as a teenager. This allows Salinger to express his thoughts as a teenager and to reflect.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading what my peers said I realize that my prediction was for the most part correct in the fact that J.D Salinger and Holden obtain various similarities. Some similarities that I found just as my peers did is how the theme of alienation in the book relates to the authors life in attempt to avoid publicity. The other similarity that I agree with my peers on is that Salinger moved to a different state in attempt to withdraw attention and publicity this relates a lot to Holden when he states he moves frequently and cannot stay in one school.
-Nubia Alvarez
Like my fellow peers I do believe Salinger and Holden share common characteristics. I believe that Salinger portrays himself through Holden in a way that Salinger never actually portrayed himself to the public. Similar to Holden, Salinger in his time also struggled with women he had a totally of three wives and soon after he had a year long affair with a college freshman named Joyce Maynard. Holden too also found it difficult to understand women although he had been sexually attracted to most of them he mainly saw them as bunch of phonies except for Jane Gallagher. Like Holden, Salinger didn't care too much for the public and decided to move up to New Hampshire in the mid 50's to avoid the public eye. I find this interesting too because Holden criticized most of the public by calling them phonies and was always trying to see a way out and escape, perhaps Salinger also saw the public as being a bunch of phonies as well. Although we don't know to much about Salinger he obviously had a bit of a rebellious side based on the little information we know about him, adding too that the time that he wrote the novel is in a complete different era than that of which Holden lived in. Based on my overall reading of Catcher In the Rye I feel as if Salinger presented himself through Holden through some real life experiences that he had during his era.
ReplyDelete- Kiyana Tejero
I too believe that Holden is a mere reflection of Salinger who hold striking resemblances. From experience, I know it is easier to explain myself through writing, and I have always found it to be that way. Salinger being someone who seemed to hide himself from the public, it would make perfect sense to me for Salinger to explain his personal feelings and thoughts through a fictional character, Holden. In addition to this, if the reader did not know much about Salinger's past, they would probably not be able to really catch on to the fact that Salinger is explaining himself through a character and I think that's what he wanted. He wanted people to know how he really felt with out having to tell people himself straight forward. So if they caught on, then great, but if they didn't at least they would hopefully enjoy the book. Back to Holden representing Salinger, they both shared the struggle and confusion they had for their desire for women. They also despised the phony world they lived in. And lastly their desire to escape the phony world.
ReplyDelete-Mariah Brown
After reading the comments provided by my peers, and gathering more information about the life of Salinger, I can agree that he drew inspiration for Holden from his own life experiences. When I write, I use my personal experience and my perspective to illustrate encounters and scenarios both fictionally and non-fictionally. Feeling the emotions and living through unique events gives you such an advantage, that you can use to depict in writing. In Salinger's case, his unsteady relationships with women, and the trauma he experienced enabled him to write about Holden.
ReplyDeleteI can also see that Salinger might have provided a story of what life would be like for him if he grew up as a teenager during the 50's. To me this reveals that teenagers usually act with the same rebellious and cynical attitude, if they encounter obstacles. In addition, I agree with Atheana that the word "phony," which is constantly used by Holden throughout the book, has to do with the fact that Salinger does not like all of the publicity or attention. Holden's hate for his brothers succes in Hollywood can also be reflective of Salinger's distaste for publicity and fame.
-Cassandra Hernandez
Although I am not a writer myself, as I read Sofia Alduenda to be, I was also able to recognize that it is a given that author's choose to write about a character inspired by their own selves. It is clear that it was not a coincidence that the different settings of the Catcher in the Rye were basically where Salinger grew up. In addition, Holden's spontaneous nature can be seen in Salinger himself. In the course of his life, Salinger had three love relationships, one of which he married immediately after the war had ended; then, he became involved with college students. Similar to Holden, I believe that Salinger's reason of quickly moving from relationship to relationship had to do with sexual lust and spontaneous nature. Clearly, during war, Salinger was not able to fulfill his sexual needs, and was in desperate need of some action as soon as the war ended. Then, back home, his preferences for women got younger as he got older; also, not a coincidence. Finally, after messing with several women, he left all of them to live as a recluse, which increases his spontaneity.
ReplyDeleteThen, Holden's rebellious nature can be seen in Salinger as well. After the success of the Catcher in the Rye, he continued to produce short stories, but suddenly stopped, and did not give the press permission to release any of the other works he had produced. This depicts a rebellious nature because the public knew of his capability to write strong pieces, but chose to leave and tease them to suffer on the idea that there are still unpublished works existent.
As for the era in which he wrote Holden Caulfield to life, I believe is reflective of Salinger wanting to relive the past of his young self. It is common for adults, as they grow older, to have an urge to try the 'new, hip trends,' that are existent in that era. I believe that by writing this novel, it was Salinger's way to experiment with the new, commonly excepted, rebellious teenage image.
-Jennifer Ma
I believe Salinger wrote Holden as sort of a representation of himself. Salinger refusing publicity i clearly seen in Holden's character. As discussed in previous posts, Holden tends to remain isolated from people. As seen in the beginning of the novel when he is sitting away from all the crowd. Another connection can be seen is Holden being in the mental institute just as Salinger was, though for separate reasons. After reading my peers post I have never realized that Holden's innocense can link to Salinger being losing his while in war and found that idea agreeable. I also can agree with my peers that Salinger's interactions women may have influenced Holden's interactions with them in the novel. Another clear connection can be the setting of Manhattan as that is where Salinger grew up. Finally Holden constantly being sent to a boarding school may be influenced by how Salinger's father sent him away to Germany and Poland.
ReplyDeleteThere are debatable similarities that can be theorized that Holden represents a younger version of Salinger except put in a different time period and tweaked situations. For example, when Salinger was sent to Poland meanwhile Holden was sent to boarding school for men to become a beneficial factor for their families. Also, Holden without notice, alienates himself from everyone he encounters that can be compared to Salinger's hiding of himself from the public after The Catcher In the Rye's release. In a sense, I believe that Salinger is trying to portray himself as Holden to give his readers and the public a better idea of who Salinger is and what kind of person he is around other people and himself. Maybe this is his way of coming out to the public without even having to physically come out himself.
ReplyDeleteThe main protagonist plays a crucial role to the story of the book and it takes time, effort, and dedication to create such a character to impact people's everyday lives and perspectives of life. Which is why Holden Caulfield comes off as a relatable protagonist to its readers because of his solemn way of thinking and actions.
Maybe he stopped writing and publishing just because he believed he finished what an author should accomplish within their lifetime. The ability to create a character that embodies the author themselves and create such an impact on people lives.
I personally think that the inspiration behind this book was the experiences he had throughout this life. Holden in the book could represent Salinger as a traumatized human being and how he lives his life being an individual outside of the society because of his behavior. In the novel, Holden exemplifies this by portraying himself as 'different' from other people, and this becomes apparent to the reader. Due to the psychological effects of World War II, Salinger's experiences became apparent in this novel. Another similarity I find between the novel and Salinger's life is also the fact that he moved to Poland while Holden went to a boarding school. This was also mentioned in many of my peer's responses but I also found this to be very interesting. I feel as if Salinger is writing about himself when he writes the story of Holden, the main difference being that Salinger is an old and experienced person, meanwhile Holden is an impulsive and irrational teenager.
ReplyDelete-Rejiryc Perez
I certainly agree with my peers above that J.D. Salinger certainly acted rebellious in the same way that Holden did in his misadventures in New York City. Although Salinger grew up in a very different teenage culture of the 30s compared to the teenage culture of the latter 20th century, the sentiments expressed in The Catcher in the Rye transcend generations. Teens in whatever era seem to all share similar characteristic traits found in Salinger's Holden, teenage angst and rebellion. We teens tend to believe that whatever we believe to think is true, and that adult advice or insight tends to flow in and out of our heads. These instances Holden faces regularly in The Cather in the Rye, especially during Mr. Antolini's "interrogation" of Holden. Teens of any generation try to forge paths for themselves on their own, with no remorse for the consequences they may face ahead of them.
ReplyDeleteA point which Salinger stresses on in the novel is coming of age and the loss of innocence. Just as Holden in the novel questions coming of age, especially during times when he would think about running away from his current life, running away out West, working in a gas station as "one of those deaf-mutes" (Salinger 257), Salinger as well may take inspiration from his teen years himself, fantasizing running away without a trace due to certain things not going his way. All in all Salinger fully embodies the sense of the teenage rebellious spirit and the hardships of the transition from child to adulthood.
I think to begin with, Salinger's eccentric behavior is the main explanation as to why Holden Caulfield is so eccentric as a character. Obviously Holden and Salinger are completely the same as they live in different eras, however, I think ,through Holden, Salinger is attempting to show universally how teens feel. Similarly, as we read, Salinger did serve in the US army during WW2, which was a war with unprecedented violence. This traumatizing experience took his innocence away which is why I think the loss of innocence is such an important theme in Catcher in the Rye. Similarly, we notice how Holden also isolates himself from people. Throughout the story, Holden is usually seen alone, and even when he is talking to someone, it lasts only for a couple of minutes. I think Salinger is trying to show his own thoughts as a teen through Holden. Holden is kind of a universal symbol of teenage angst and Salinger tries to show that era and culture doesn't change how anxious teens are. One thing I'd like to mention is that all of Holden's wives were very young. I think this shows that he inherently took an interest in teens.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteKnowing who the author is of a particular book can go one of two ways for me. It can help increase the background knowledge of why the author wrote the book or it detracts and makes the book less appealing. In this case knowing these facts about the author puts into perspective of why his main character is so pessimistic and has the thought pattern that he does. Most people disliked the main characters pessimistic side and therefore couldn't connect to him. Knowledge of the experiences that the author faced lets the reader know that his character was influenced by something the author felt personally about. Salinger's experiences in World War two lead him to lose faith in people and as such, his character Houlden Caulfield has a lack of faith in people and a generally dismal look at life.
War can change a lot about a person. Soldiers who went to war often come back changed and with a different outlook on life. By knowing these facts it brings a different dimension to what Salinger is trying to convey through his story of teenage rebellion. I think that by getting to know some facts about JD Salinger made The Catcher and the Rye more thought provoking than it was before.
-Anayah Carpio
I believe that the author, J. D. Salinger, wrote this novel as a reflection of himself in Holden. Salinger's eccentric personality reflects in Holden, who also has a sort of odd and rebellious character. Right from the beginning of the novel, Salinger draws in the reader's attention by setting a "rebellious" tone. Not only is Holden refusing to tell readers about his background (like most novels would) but he also alludes to David Copperfield, a novel written by Charles Dickens. He alludes to his novel to mock Dickens sentimental writing style, stating he would not write a story like David Copperfield. While David Copperfield may have told his story from childhood to adulthood, Holden chose to eschew those details because he felt it was unnecessary and not needed. Salinger may have written this novel based on personal experiences. When they were both young boys, they attended prep schools and lived in New York. The novel may also allow Salinger to express his personal feelings toward many different aspects.
ReplyDeleteAfter further researching Salinger, I find it interesting that he chose to lead a private life, when most people would love to bask in the popularity to make their name more known. It would make sense that the more exposure an author gives his books, the more popular it would get. However, Salinger instead chose to live away from all the fame, which in turn made his novel even more popular due to many people being drawn into the idea of a mysterious author. Like the beginning of the novel where we know little about Holden's life, we also know little about the author's life after he decided to live away from the publicity and the limelight.
-Meagan Phillips
Salinger personality and experiences defiantly play a significant role in the novel. Shaping his narrators character, and opinions, defiantly reflects into who the author was as a person. Salinger experience of being sent away from his family to learn, as well as being a teen in New York, gives real personal incite to the novel. Such a believable work of fiction, Salinger is able to truly know what a young boy like Holden would experience. however it places his narrator in the 50's while he was a teen in the 30's, this time difference does offer a generation gap for out author , adding to the depth of the novel. Its almost ironic that Salinger writ a novel about a young man that so closely resembles him. In the way that he was tortured by war,Holden is toured by the lose o this brother. As well as Salinger never published several of his manuscripts, Holden didn't put his whole effort into school, perhaps both refused to be phonies, to fit in and be like everyone else. However his erratic behavior occurred after he wrote Catcher in The Rye, the character Holden would be described as an erratic, confused teenager struggling to fit and and stand out among peers as well as in New York city. Holden's isolation and feeling alone would also represent the authors attitude, as essentially he died alone.
ReplyDelete-Janelle Stradford
Like my peers said before, Salinger basically created a reflection of himself inside Holden Caulfield. Both of them lived in New York, they had multiple female love interests, and they both went against the social norms of their time. Holden felt depressed throughout the novel, even hallucinating at one point. It was mentioned that Salinger suffered trauma from the war, possibly leading to PTSD, symptoms including depression and hallucinations. After Holden’s adventure in the streets of New York City, he eventually ended up in a mental hospital writing letters. Likewise, Salinger became anti-social and had 15 manuscripts that were not published. I don’t think it was coincidence Caulfield’s and Salinger’s lives are synonymous. The movie has yet to be produced because—like mackenzie stated—Salinger probably despised movies, as evidenced by Holden telling us he hated the cinemas. Movies based on novels are merely summaries of the plot, some of the best and most important scenes in the book are cut out of the final rendition. I think this is why Salinger wouldn’t sell the movie rights, because it really would ruin/alter Holden’s story.
ReplyDelete-Ahren Aguinaldo
I agree with the responses my peers above have to say about the similarities between J.D Salinger and Holden Caulfield. It is evident that the author writes this novel and creates the character, Holden as a reflection of himself and his life. Just like how Mr. Rodriguez mentions, "By refusing to submit his writing for publication, you could say he was a symbol of rebellion", this draws a similar behavior with Holden. Holden is known to be rebellious since he does not make the wisest decisions for a 16 year old. He smokes cigarettes on his free time along with drinking booze. He is a troubled teenager who fails multiple schools and manifests lack of interests in his future. Correct me if I wrong, but I believe Salinger created a character like Holden to reflect how he may of been during his teenage years in the 50's.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that Salinger used Holden as a way to reveal about his own thoughts and feelings. I believe he is living vicariously through Holden in the 50's. He's writing everything he wish he could be doing if he was still a teenager.
ReplyDeleteHis deep fascination with young children, especially young women was reflected in Holden. And this is evidenced by the fact that even though Salinger is growing old he still had an affair a college freshman. He not only remains infatuated with very young women, but he acts on it. Through Holden, he shows his infatuation with the innocence of Jane Gallagher. He tries to comfort her when she starts crying because of her stepdad and wants to protect from Stradlater "giving her the time". The concept of being "the catcher in the rye" is Salinger trying to protect the innocence of children.
J.D. Salinger is a very interesting type of author. The character he gives Holden contains a very cynical point of view about life. I think that in order to write so deeply about someone, you would have to feel some of those same perspectives. Holden may be a reflection of himself and his journey through life. Salinger not being in the limelight while his book was published really connects the readers with the author and allows them to bond. If Salinger was present and taking the accolades for this book, the readers would be able to tell that there is no connection between his writing and himself. Both Holden and Salinger avoid the crowds, grew up in New York, and attended various clubs in seek of women. Another correlation would be that Salinger did not publish his other works, when in fact it could have made him even more famous and rich. Holden in fact, did not like Hollywood and the fame and movies that came with it. Salinger did not allow a movie to be produced, based off his book. These are clear pairs of evidence that prove the author and the protagonist contain similar views and that Salinger wrote merely about himself.
ReplyDeleteIn agreement with previous responses, it can be inferred that J.D Salinger created a character based off of his own life experiences. From rebelliousness to traumatizing experiences from his past, Holden Caulfield is a made as a character reflecting his own life. Holden as a character displays many similarities with the author, and possibly enacts what the author could not do, say, or act out in his own life. Similar to Holden, for instance, the author struggled with his relationships as proven by his divorces, as Holden also fails to connect strongly with another person romantically, frequently finding countless of flaws within them. J.D. Salinger is also said to have flunked out of two schools before attending Columbia University- Holden's character had flunked four prep schools. This evidently brings out the rebellious characteristic, as well as a character that stands out/is made to be of difference in contrast with others. Writing this story in the same setting as he grew in and adding the mystifying quality as he hides his presence in publicity and lived in seclusion furthermore confirms this idea. J.D Salinger as an author most likely used this character as an outlet for his expression, as a way to put out to the world the same experiences he had experienced, and even more in depth- the same feelings he had felt during this time.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what most of my peers have mentioned. We can deduce that the character Holden Caulfield was molded to be similar in certain aspects to the life of Jerome David Salinger. There are many similarities between the main character of the book "Catcher in the Rye" Holden Caulfield and the author of the book J.D. Salinger and we can possibly say that these similarities were done on purpose. Salinger appears to have made Holden perform actions that Salinger himself could not do when he has a teen like Caulfield.
ReplyDeleteThe character Caulfield portraits Salinger's isolation when he gets kicked out of Pencey, he gets to live alone for some days Salinger as stated in the biography was a lonely men that "avoided the public".
On Salinger's biography it is stated that he "hung out in NYC night clubs with a couple of famous women" similarly in the book Caulfield hangs out with a prostitute.
When J.D. Salinger wrote “The Catcher in the Rye” I believe Holden Caulfield was based off of Salinger’s own life. For example, Holden is seen to be immature and does not want want to lose his innocence; I feel that Salinger wrote him that way because he lost his innocence when he entered World War II. Throughout the book, it is noticeable that there could be something psychologically wrong with Caulfield as he told his story. This could be in relation to when Salinger suffered from traumatic events due to the intensity of the war. Salinger could have also had bad relationships with woman, which could explain why Holden would become awkward when he came into contact with women. Throughout the novel, Holden is seen as a rebellious and care free teenager, and I feel that Salinger was the same way when he was younger. Last, but not least, the setting of the story is set in Manhattan. I feel that Salinger based the story in Manhattan because he was very familiar with the area and believed that the character he created should experience the same events that he did growing up. Salinger wrote this novel to express how he use to be as a teenager and how he wish he kept his innocence before he got older.
ReplyDelete-Ayauna Cunningham
I agree with Ayauna in a way except for the fact that Salinger wrote Holden based off his own life, instead I feel as if Salinger wrote Holden based off what he wanted his life to be like. Like Ayauna stated Holden was immature and did not want to lose his innocence and throughout the book he holds onto that innocence as it is a recurrent theme but Salinger lost his innocence at a young age. Salinger wrote Holden to keep his innocence unlike his own life maybe due to the fact that he too wanted to keep his.
DeleteAs many have previously mentioned, there obviously is a connection between Holden and our author. In this blog post you mentioned how Salinger wrote about a Teenager in the 50's despite the fact that he himself was a teenager in the 30's. Noting this, it is possible that the author put in his own personality, opinions ,and experiences as a teen into Holden and his background.
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned in the previous blog posts, Salinger was not a big fan of Hollywood, and this can be seen in the novel when Holden describes his older brother. On top of this, Salinger's almost rebellious nature that was mentioned, may have been the inspiration for Holden. Agreeing with a previous comment, perhaps he actually did write this novel on the idea of what would happen if his teen self lived in the 1950's. More so, I believe that he possibly wrote this story with the setting of the 50's not being a priority (maybe an afterthought?) and focused mainly on inspiration from himself.
-Eric Solorio
After gaining insight on J.D. Salinger’s life, I noticed a numerous amount of similarities between Salinger and Holden which, in turn, would have assisted me in understanding Holden’s character. One aspect I noticed was that both Holden and Salinger dismissed great privileges. Holden, although expelled from Pencey Prep, still had a couple days at Pencey before being sent home. During those days, he could have taken advantage of Pencey’s prerogatives (i.e. the food, nice dorms, etc.), but instead he chose to escape the school’s vicinity and distance himself from others, even his friends. Salinger, likewise, gained a large amount of popularity after The Catcher in the Rye and therefore had the privilege of acquiring die-hard fans that promoted him as an author. Learning that Salinger avoided the limelight made me realize that maybe Salinger characterized Holden in his own persona. Another detail that lead me to believe this was that Salinger was born and raised in Manhattan, the primary setting in the book. Much like Holden, Salinger embraced Manhattan’s culture—the nightclubs most often—and attended a prestigious Ivy League school located in the city. Also, it is known that Salinger underwent a couple of divorces with younger, college women. I think that his experiences with women brilliantly reflects Holden’s cynicism toward the female gender, like Sally and the two girls he met at the hotel club. Finally, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) played a crucial role in Salinger’s life; Salinger participated in World War II, and suffered from mild-sounding “battle fatigue” which was the root of PTSD. Although extremely different causations, Holden similarly suffered from PTSD due to his past experiences with his younger brother dying of leukemia, his classmate committing suicide, and his best childhood friend constantly being abused. All these similarities, although subtle, have illustrated a clear relationship between the author and his character.
ReplyDeleteAlthough many similarities between Holden and Salinger were obvious, I do not think that Salinger refusing to submit his writing for publication symbolized rebellion. I think that The Catcher in the Rye was a book he wrote primarily for himself, almost like a diary. With Holden modeling certain aspects of Salinger’s mentality, I believe that Salinger used both his experiences and passion for writing to create the book, and it was up to the readers to realize the connection between author and character.
8.
I agree with Julia that Salinger's refusal to publish his other works was not a symbol of rebellion. Rather, I think he was just being humble. Or just like the ending of the novel, he wants to leave fans begging for more. I believe this furthers Salinger's mysterious personality which is similar to Holden's. I agree with other students that The Catcher in the Rye may have acted similar to a diary for Salinger. He was able to tie his experiences to Holden and really develop his character.
DeleteI believe that Holden is a pure reflection of J.D. Salinger with some minor adjustments. Holden is basically a more innocent version of Salinger. According to the information provided by Mr. Rodriguez, it is quite evident that Salinger lost all of the innocence he could have ever wished to keep. He had an affair with a woman named Joyce and hung out in NYC nightclubs. Although Holden may seem a little rebellious at times, he really isn’t all that rebellious. For example, when he had a prostitute in his room, he just wanted to talk to her instead of have sex with her. I believe that this was Salinger’s way of his disobedient personality shining through Holden, but then Holden’s personality counterattacking Salinger’s. I believe that Salinger may have been a bit unhappy with his life so he wrote this novel in order to create a character in which he always wished he was.
ReplyDeleteGoing off of what Julia said, I see similarities in Salinger and Holden as well. For instance, they are both privileged with education and they have both been lonely at times. Knowing who Salinger is now and knowing about his past, I can completely see the resemblance between him and Holden.
-Caroline Beel
Throughout the novel it is clear that the concept of innocence plays an important role in the ideals of both Salinger and Holden. It is clear that Holden is somewhat obsessed with preserving the innocence of the world, he wants to save others from losing it, he wishes to be a catcher in rye. He hopes that through keeping things as they are, individual's innocence can be spared. He forces him self to see things as they were and not what they have changed to be. This is evidenced by his idea of Jane and how he remembers her as his checkers partner rather than an interest of Stradlater and how he enjoys how everything in the museum remains how they are.
ReplyDeleteThis same longing for a preserved innocence is noticeable in Salinger's life as well. He has already witnessed the cruelty of the phony adult world through his participation in World War Two, thus suggesting that he already lost his innocence. It may be possible that his actions following the war represent his attempts to regain that innocence. Actions such as dating and marrying younger or maybe innocent women or choosing to be isolated later in his career as if to shield himself from what may rob him of what little innocence he has left.
After doing more research, I realized that JD Salinger and Holden Caulfield do share some similarities. When he was younger, Salinger was sent off to a private school (Valley Forge Military School) and had a neighbor who always came into his room, almost identical to Holden’s situation with Ackley. And we all know that Holden is born into a wealthy family from New York, but Salinger was also part of the upper-class that frequented Manhattan as well. Maybe Salinger translated his childhood into Holden because it was an attempt to channel his own inner thoughts about the rich that he was always surrounded by (at prep school and at home). Other than his childhood, Holden’s infatuation with innocence was probably derived from Salinger’s personal preference as well. Salinger was deeply traumatized by the war and was probably exposed to the most gruesome experiences; I think that was when his desire for innocence started. From Mr.Rodriguez’s notes, we learn that his 2nd wife was a college student when he was in his thirties and about 20 years later, at the age of 50, he had a lengthy affair with another college student. He was looking for that innocence that Holden also sees in memories of Jane and in his little sister, Phoebe. We also learned that Salinger ended up moving up north to live a secluded and private life. This want to move away from the bustling city to live alone was also translated into Holden. He repeatedly reveals to Sally and Phoebe that wants to “drive up to Massachusetts and Vermont” (132) and “get a job on a ranch of something” (165). On the topic of not publicly publishing anymore of his writings, I agree that he thought he would become a “phony,” someone who used previous successes to exploit his name again and again in other sub-par work to earn more money.
ReplyDelete-Renee Navarro
DeleteAfter learning more about Salinger and all of the experiences he has gone through, I concluded that he used his writing to escape his past and open a new world for himself. As my peers have pointed out, we can see how Salinger can connect to his character being shaped throughout the novel. Holden shows his similarities with Salinger in how both of them have chosen to isolate themselves. Holden does so in not having any deep ties with anyone outside of his family, no specific best friends or significant other whom he can relate to. While Salinger chooses to shield himself from society after his exposure to war. It can be inferred that Holden was developed and meant to be the side of Salinger that wishes he was never exposed to the adult world. In writing this novel, it seemed as if Salinger knew about the negative possibilities of becoming an adult and made Holden to reflect his feelings towards being an adult himself.
ReplyDelete-Kyle Maravillas
DeleteAfter learning more about Salinger and all of the experiences he has gone through, I concluded that he used his writing to escape his past and open a new world for himself. As my peers have pointed out, we can see how Salinger can connect to his character being shaped throughout the novel. Holden shows his similarities with Salinger in how both of them have chosen to isolate themselves. Holden does so in not having any deep ties with anyone outside of his family, no specific best friends or significant other whom he can relate to. While Salinger chooses to shield himself from society after his exposure to war. It can be inferred that Holden was developed and meant to be the side of Salinger that wishes he was never exposed to the adult world. In writing this novel, it seemed as if Salinger knew about the negative possibilities of becoming an adult and made Holden to reflect his feelings towards being an adult himself.
ReplyDeleteI believe Salinger's life influenced Holden's hold on innocence, as Zared mentioned. Having been traumatized by his experiences in World War II, Salinger must have craved the days before the war. He misses the carefree nature of his teenage years, and wants them back. Millions were lost in WWII, men and boys alike sent off to die at the hands of each other. Salinger must resent having been sent off to fight, while some of his other "phony" middle-class peers stayed home. Being rich could have help some of the "draft dodgers".
ReplyDeleteWorld War II held atrocities for every person involved, and I believe Holden shares qualities with that of a soldier. He describes cowardice as being "yellow", which I have only heard of from military men or Southerners. Holden also faces rapid mood swings, which may be linked to P.T.S.D. Both Salinger and Caulfield try to avoid the difficulties of reality, by focusing on how good they must have had it in the past. I am confident Salinger had a Jane of his own.
As I read over a few of my peers comments, I can infer that Salinger did write The Catcher in the Rye in order to create Holden as a representation of him. Salinger wanted to create Holden so he could freely express himself through a character in a book then to actually explain his own life publicly. Probably the reason Salinger didn't talk about himself much was because he wanted for readers to put more attention towards his own work and the messages he left in his books. I also think that maybe Salinger took the opportunity to talk about himself through his books, for example in Catcher in the Rye. Holden is a character that presents a rebellious teenager during a time of innocence being the 1950’s. Salinger, a teenager during the 30's, went through a complete different atmosphere of a teen in the 50's. When Salinger joined the US Army during World War II, he became traumatized by the overall events occurring. It can be said that he himself lost his innocence in the war, leaving him a scar for life. It lead Salinger to create Holden, a teen at a time of innocence as reminder that he once was innocent himself.
ReplyDeleteReading over Mr. Rodriguez information on Salinger, reveals that he was rebellious too like Holden. Salinger did not want the public’s attention, he believed that authors that did so were phonies themselves. Maybe by keeping his own life story out of the public brought him to the sense that he was rebellious in a way. Salinger has Holden become a rebellious teen that beliefs most people are phonies to represent his own ideas towards things and ideas towards people.
As mentioned by my peers, Salinger's life and experiences have greatly influenced the novel and its events, as well as Holden's character development. His experience with women often directs the course of Holden's life, seemingly so with Jane. Salinger's many experiences with affairs and nearly polygamy direct Holden's life as he moves about the course of the story. In addition, his rebellious attitude may have been influenced by Salinger's leaving Europe and returning home to American bars and all that they come with. However, Salinger's life wasn't completely wild and turbulent, in fact his position of fending for himself often demonstrated his tad of innocence, portrayed through Holden's experiences in New York. On a side note, I believe that the novel has a strong resemblance to Peter Pan, with a message that growing up is awful and takes away the innocent joy of childhood, perhaps a message instilled in the minds of many young adults that had participated in the war effort. Overall, Salinger's life is directly linked to Holden's, and the story is a canvas for Salinger to tell his story and warn others not to grow up like he did.
ReplyDeleteJ.D. Salinger wrote this novel as a representation of himself and the life he lived. Through out "The Catcher in the Rye" Holden's encounters and actions are similar to Salinger in many ways. Isolation, troubles with women, and rebellious attitudes. I believe he wrote the book and created Holden Caulfied in order to reflect his life and reveal messages the readers can interpret. I agree with Paulina that Salinger did not reveal too much of his personal life and did not focus on the publicity because everything he needed and wanted to say was in his books. His books did all the talking for him and he was content with it. He strived to be acknowledged for his amazing writing by the content of his books, and not by how much he publicized them. Holden was portrayed as a rebellious teenager and unique during the 50's, creating new social norms. He was not the typical teenager encountered centuries ago, just as how Salinger was not the typical author.
ReplyDeleteI agree that J.D Salinger took events from his own life to influence his writing in "The Catcher in the Rye". I could see how Holden's rebellious behavior could be connected to Salinger's war experience as a teenager. Maybe the traumatizing war influenced Salinger to promote change in the world during the 1950's which influenced him to create the character of Holden. And he referred to his teenage years during the war because that was the moment in his life where he had the freedom and courage to do anything. When comparing Holden and Salinger there are similar aspects. Holden in the novel did not have a great fatherly bond and similarly, I would not think that Salinger's father that sent his own son to learn how to make sausages, but would rather be a writer, would have a great relationship. Furthermore, maybe Holden's loneliness in the novel reflected Salinger's shyness to publicity.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Julia that Salinger's refusal to publish his other works was not a symbol of rebellion. In my opinion, he was probably just being humble. Or just like the ending of the novel, he wanted to leave fans begging for more. Although Holden and Salinger share many similarities, I believe that Salinger created Holden to serve as an outlet to share his personal experiences while at the same time creating a new story around the character. Knowing that Salinger was a teen in the 1930s, he was forced to grow up. He couldn't enjoy his innocence. The 1930s was the time of the Great Depression followed by WWII where he must have suffered from PTSD. I can imagine that his PTSD may have been the cause for him to divorce many times. His cause to marry such young women may have come from his desire to experience the innocence he did not receive. However, trying to regain innocence is not so easy when you're 50 years old.
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ReplyDeleteNubia brought up an important point that the book is dedicated to J.D. Salinger’s mother. As many of my peers mentioned, Salinger shares many similarities with Holden. After reading the facts provided by Mr. Rodriguez, I came up with the assumption that Holden represents Salinger. In the book, Holden’s strongest subject in school was writing and similarly, Salinger attended Columbia University to take writing classes. The most important similarity that multiple people have already noted, is their alike experiences with women. Throughout the book, we have noticed that Holden was unsuccessful with three girls. Just as Garrett mentioned, Holden has trouble with understanding females. You can assume that Salinger also has a difficult times with women as he went through two unsuccessful marriages. The past events that occurred in Holden’s life impact the way he acts, I think that Salinger also allowed the past events in his life affect how he acts now. According to the facts Mr. Rodriguez provided, Salinger has became more eccentric in his behavior possibly due to past traumatic or stressful events. I believe that Salinger could be retelling his story of growing up in a disguised manner because he shares various similarities with Holden that are almost identical.
-Mariza Zaratan
I agree with the previous responses in the sense that Holden Caulfield could be a reflection on J.D. Salinger, himself. Salinger and Caulfield hold similar commonalities. They both are recluses that seek both company and isolation at the same time. From Salinger having loved three women and Caulfield’s never ending talk of Jane, to Salinger becoming a recluse in the mid 50’s and Caulfield not wanting to be around “phonies”. This makes me wonder if Salinger was fixated on a women of his past just as Caulfield was. Was the book made to enhance Salinger’s own opinions on life? Did Salinger see the world as cynical as Caulfield? Growing up in the 1930s must have been extremely difficult as a kid, from the great depression to fighting in WWII. As Maia stated before, maybe he had lost his childhood innocence and was in search of finding it once again in someone else.
ReplyDeleteSome recurring themes throughout the book are depression, suicide, and death. Considering the author's, J.D. Salinger, traumatizing experiences during World War II, I have the impression that the audience is getting a glimpse of Salinger’s personal conflicts with life and his emotions through the fictional life of Holden. In other words, J.D. Salinger is Holden in many cases. In fact, J.D. Salinger said so himself in a 1953 interview that the “Catcher in the Rye” was "sort of" autobiographical, explaining, "My boyhood was very much the same as that of the boy in the book ... It was a great relief telling people about it.” Holden suffered trauma from the death of his brother Allie, while Salinger suffered from PTSD after serving in World War II.
ReplyDeleteMany passages in the book are authentic reflections of J.D. Salinger’s own life. It is said that Salinger liked to keep his life under the radar and away from the public and he revealed little about himself. It was as if he brought upon himself feelings of isolation that are much too familiar in Holden’s life. Salinger found himself in solitude much like how Holden wanted to live, mentioned in Chapter 25. Holden states, “I’d build me a little cabin somewhere with the dough I made and live there for the rest of my life.”
In many aspects, The book is a subtle reflection of J.D. Salinger’s life and is speculated to be an autobiography. Salinger and Holden are similar in that they both shared feelings of isolation and suffered traumatic experiences in their lives.
Many would say that say that Holdem Caulfield is representation of how J.D Salinger felt at the time. Noting that "The Catcher in the Rye" was published in the early 1950's, Salinger most likely wrote it after his time in World War II. Comparing him to other writers that were also part of World War II, one specific writer mentioned that when he came back, nothing was the same anymore. Everything had changed from the last time he was in the United States. This can be compared to the way that Salinger was feeling after he came back from the war. Since he was deeply traumatized from the war, that could gave inflected some sort of change in the way he thought about life to the point of having to be isolated, just like Holdem, causing him to divorce both of his wives. He can also be compared to each other in the sense that both avoided to be in public, Salinger completely avoiding it during the 50's and Holdem avoiding the football game early in the novel.
ReplyDelete-Jorge Tejeda
Perhaps Salinger's relationships with younger women could be reflected on Holden's fascination with youth. Holden has almost an obsession with his younger sister, and it could be the same case with Salinger, as he must have enjoyed having a relationship with a person who is symbolic of youth. It could also show some rebellion within Salinger as having a relationship with a much younger person is looked down upon.
ReplyDeleteAs for the relationship between Holden and Salinger, I believe that they both want to be seen as strong-willed and tough men, however they are actually afraid of the world. Throughout the novel, Holden talks as if he is superior to other characters, when in reality he fears them. Holden does not want to grow old as he does not want to turn into a "phoney". Salinger also may want to be seen as a rebellious author, as evidenced by not allowing a film to be created or not revealing much of himself, and also having relationships with younger women. However, he was traumatized by World War II, and perhaps Salinger's fears can be seen in his reluctancy to publish his manuscripts, his reclusion from the public eye, and or in the novel itself.
Salinger's decision to write about a teen in the 1950's despite growing up a teen in the 1930's puzzled me for a while. After thinking about it for some time however, i realised it was actually a rather logical decision. The Great Depression was in full swing during the 1930's and everyone was desperate, lonely, trying to find themselves and looking to be accepted or acknowledged to get out of their situation. Some reoccurring themes in this novel include: desperation, loneliness, self worth and acceptance. Had Holden been in the 1930's readers would have expexted this and he would not have stood out or have been significant in any real way. However, in the post-war era of the 50's people (although still anxious due do communism) were generally much happier and better off. Therefore Holden and his views are much more surprising and have a more profound effect on readers. Not only that, but also Salinger could reference the war, in which he fought, in the novel as well as communism and other post war topics that xould not have been addressed had the novel been set in the 1930's.
ReplyDelete-Liam Brewster
DeleteAs my peers have pointed out the parallels between Salinger and Holden are evident. In the later years of his life, J.D. Salinger became a recluse and lived in isolation. Holden didn't go to the same extents to be alone, but he did alienate himself from his peers. I think Salinger projected the isolation he experienced onto Holden which added to the construction of the modern teen.
ReplyDeleteI think Salinger set the story in the 1950's because it was a time after the war when the country was prosperous and maybe Salinger wished for Holden to grow up in a better time like a parent wishes for their children to have a better life then they are. I think Salinger so hated the war that he placed his character after the war so that Holden wouldn't have to face the traumatizing events that Salinger had to face.
As well as my peers I believe that J.D. Salinger personifies Holdem Caulfield. Salinger hid his religion since in his era mixed marriages were disdain, like Holden who felt that religion shouldn't determine anything or make anyone see you differently. Author and Holden share many experiences not only in religion but also schooling. Salinger was kicked out after flunking out of the McBurney School, since we are unaware the next school where Holden would be going to most likely a military school like the writer. Holden excelled in English equal to the author. In experiencing this Salinger was able to portray a realistic character that went through traumatic events. Salinger would stay out of the spot light to avoid people. Salinger in many ways was an older Holden reflecting on his like Holden constantly would.
ReplyDelete-Jasmine Rivas
As well as my peers I believe that J.D. Salinger personifies Holdem Caulfield. Salinger hid his religion since in his era mixed marriages were disdain, like Holden who felt that religion shouldn't determine anything or make anyone see you differently. Author and Holden share many experiences not only in religion but also schooling. Salinger was kicked out after flunking out of the McBurney School, since we are unaware the next school where Holden would be going to most likely a military school like the writer. Holden excelled in English equal to the author. In experiencing this Salinger was able to portray a realistic character that went through traumatic events. Salinger would stay out of the spot light to avoid people. Salinger in many ways was an older Holden reflecting on his like Holden constantly would.
ReplyDelete-Jasmine Rivas
Drawing from one’s own life experiences is quite common among authors, and I think that Salinger is no different. I believe that he was inspired to write The Catcher in the Rye because he needed an outlet for his built-up, deepest and most personal thoughts. I believe that Salinger used Holden as a fictional representation of himself – Holden’s thoughts are actually those of Salinger. The facts about Salinger’s history listed above by Mr. Rodriguez can be associated with many aspects of Holden’s behavior. For example, Salinger’s traumatizing experience from World War II might explain why he wrote about Holden’s desire to sit atop of one of the atom bombs. I think that Salinger drew this idea out from his own dark desires. I think that he wished he died in the war so that he wouldn’t have to suffer through the life-changing trauma. I believe that Salinger most likely suffered from post-traumatic-stress-disorder (PTSD), and may even have had depression (which would be another similarity between him and Holden). Additionally, Holden’s trouble with girls can be attributed to Salinger’s very complicated love life. Salinger married and divorced twice, not to mention his affair with a college freshman while he was in his 50s. Furthermore, the setting of The Catcher in the Rye is the most obvious parallel between the novel and Salinger’s history. The plot revolves Holden exploring Manhattan – which is Salinger’s hometown. It would not surprise me if the places mentioned in the story hold fond memories for Salinger. I agree with Brandon Sanchez’s comment about how Salinger may have been using Holden as a representation of what it would be like for him to be a teen in the 1950s rather than the 1930s. Lastly, Salinger’s isolation from society after moving to New Hampshire is also paralleled in Holden. Salinger most likely felt as though he did not fit in with his new neighbors, the same way that Holden felt about his peers at Pencey. However, Salinger sought to be alone, whereas Holden simply could not find a person with whom he could connect.
ReplyDelete-Noah Pasimio
J.D. Salinger, according to Mr. Rodriguez's information, appears to have gotten popular over the years due to his mysterious approach to the public. People tend to always want more out of something that interests them, for example when you hear a good song you want to learn more about the artist and what other songs he/she has made. By staying away from the limelight, Salinger ironically gets his audiences attention by not providing them with information. The connection Salinger may have with Holden may be a reflection of himself as a teenager. Salinger grew up in the 30's and Holden grew up in the 50's, two completely different era's where social norms differ and different atmospheres may have been created. Knowing that Salinger had affairs with younger women, we can mirror the same experience when Holden has a prostitute come over or when he dances with the blonde girls. In my point of view, Holden is somewhat of an alter ego that Salinger could never be because he couldn't do such careless things at such a young age. Maybe Salinger's PTSD can be connected to Holden's solitude and mental issues. Holden's criticism towards the world and society may be what Salinger really feels after his experiences in WW2. Salinger's character may be portrayed throughout Holden's narrations.
ReplyDeleteJ.D Salinger and Holden Caulfield seem to have many similarities including that they both avoid publicity and people. I think Salinger did this on purpose to give the reader an idea of what he wanted his life to be like if he was a teenager in the 50's. Salinger and Holden also have the similarity that they both dislike Hollywood as it can be seen throughout the novel and through the information given about Salinger. He did not want to let Hollywood make a movie because he feels as if they would change it and ruin it just to attract people and money. Which is the same way Holden feels about his brother, except he feels like Hollywood ruined him and that he only went for the money. Holden is who Salinger wanted to be if he had not gone to World War II and if he had been a teenager in the 50's. Salinger knew what it was to be an adult and I believe he made Holden not want to be one because he knows the responsibilities it comes with. Salinger purposely makes him and Holden similar in order for him to describe what he wanted his childhood to be like.
ReplyDelete-Dariana Nieves
I agree that J.D. Salinger and Holden have common similarities as if Salinger had made an altered autobiography in the form of the Catcher in the Rye. Since he lived in Manhattan he was able to give a detailed form of how a city may look the tall buildings, the people, the natural parks, and the bustling nights. His ability of writing about teenage years also shows that everyone has been or will be a teenager at some point in life and reflecting and writing about it shows a deeper connection between us and the book of how we remember our teenage years and a connection between the book and Salinger as his experiences may have impacted the actions of Holden. Salinger has also experiences many others have not had like going to war. It is interesting for people to find out experiences that they may not be able to do. It is also interesting that he has had trouble with women, he had two wives and another love affair with a college girl. It seems that if we connected Salinger and Holden it is true the Holden is probably not a misogynist nor does he praise women he just has trouble understanding them or finding the correct one for him. Lastly, his seclusions to me seem interesting because he separates himself from other authors and their ways of selling their books. It surrounds mystery around Salinger and the tactic does seem to have worked.
ReplyDeleteAfter considering the statements above about Salinger, there is more insight on Holden's journey in the Catcher in the Rye. Holden almost reflects the questionable life of J.D. Salinger by spending time in nightclubs, experiencing some effects of war, and having conflicting thoughts when making his decisions. Right in the beginning of the novel, Holden is holding back from going to the football game and even going to say hello to his friend Jane, reflecting the time when Salinger began avoiding the public. The background Salinger has could also contribute to what Holden could have done in the end of the novel where he leaves some ends untied. Salinger was becoming a famous writer with this novel and could have gone away from writing to avoid trying to top the Catcher in the Rye. In the end, Holden does not feel like telling his readers what he did exactly which is similar, in my opinion, to Salinger's refusal to write for publication before he passed. These similarities are fairly surprising as a reader. Some major themes in the novel also seem more apparent after understanding Salinger's background. A theme that could be identified is a constant struggle in finding one's purpose in life, like Salinger's own journey as a writer or Holden's journey as a teen in the 50s. What I have not concluded just yet is the meaning of the novel's title and its connection to our author Salinger. Why would Salinger choose a title referencing a song mentioned in the novel (Chapter 16)?
ReplyDelete-Leiana Lepule
JD Salinger creates Holden to reflect himself. They both share common characteristics throughout the novel. We learn that they both share similar experiences and both exclude themselves from people and the public. Such as Salinger not wanting to be a top author and to create this novel into a film. Since Salinger went to war at such a young age he created Holden as a fantasy of what he wished his life would've been at Holden's age in the 50's.
ReplyDelete-Alexia L. Estrella
As my many other peers have theorized I would have to definitely agree that Salinger connected some many major aspects of Holden to himself. In some way or the other I suspect that Salinger used Holden as an outlet to who he really was. By making Holden his own narrator we were also able to see his unique thinking patterns and how he perceives society; this perhaps relates to how Salinger understood the world he lived in at the time. The narrator and author both lived during the time of war, both were also very reclusive and didn't prefer human interaction, and they both lived in New York. I also imagine that he chose to write about Holden as a minor for a specific reason. It might be that Holden's happiest times were as a child, or maybe because he writes about what he would've wanted to experience as an adolescent at the time like the drinking and sense of independence. However, there are several points of the book where the reader can make inferences that Holden is not fully mentally stable. From that perspective, I can gather, in a sense, Salinger is somewhat diagnosing himself; almost as if he is aware his behavior is antisocial behavior and voicing it through the words of his book.
ReplyDelete-Caitlin Jensen
J.D. Salinger grew up in a different era as Holden Caulfied., however, I always believe that the author and their main character often hold some sort of relationship with each other. I feel that Holden and J.D. are a “one in the same” kind of person because of the struggles they faced and how they dealt with it throughout their life. Like Holden, Salinger grew up in Manhattan so he is knowledgeable and aware of the things that occur in the city. I also believe that the fact that both Salinger and Holden have spent time in a mental institution shows the reader that there is some sort of connection between the two people. I believe that the main character of Salinger's acclaimed novel is meant to also portray the man he wishes he could have been. Salinger’s alienation from society and the people around him after moving to New Hampshire is also the same compared to Holden Caulfield. J.D. may have felt as though he did not fit in with other people, the same way that Holden felt about his peers at Pencey Prep. I feel that he can relate to Holden which made it very interesting to learn more about as I progressed through the book.
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ReplyDeleteWhen reading the novel, I think that the author, JD Salinger, wrote this book based on the experiences that he had throughout his life. The characteristics shown by Cauldields could in fact be due to Salingerfs avoidance and even isolation during public. The fact that the novel takes place in Manhattan could be where the author lives or used to live due to all of the description of the setting and scenery and the description of growing up in a town like that. A connection with the character and the author is the fact that the author was forced to study abroad by his father, this is also something that Caildfield had to go through in the novel, and he was forced to go to school by his father. Despite the lack of interaction with the father and Cauldfield it shows that he still cares for him in receiving a good education to later excel in life. The fact that Cauldfield criticizes women throughout the whole novel could be linked with the 2 divorces that the author had to go through. This link of poor interactions with women could be another way to show that Salinger in fact wrote this novel based on his own experiences.
ReplyDelete-Diego Arriola
J.D Salinger's decision to remain separate from the public eye could relate to his character's distancing himself from the rest of society. His growing up in Manhattan obviously had a large impact on his life, as Catcher in the Rye takes place in the same location, but it also allows the little details he drops into the book to be more accurate and really bring the setting to life. I find it interesting that he hung out with 'famous women' when in Catcher in the Rye, Holden has such a nonchalant attitude about all the women he comes across, and the only one that really stands out is Jane, who came from his childhood. Another oddity is that Salinger seems to prefer college-aged women, marrying one and having a relationship with another one. It is interesting to know that despite the fact that he aims to keep his private life a secret, his romantic relationships are still public knowledge. I couldn't find any relation between this and his book. Holden's character is also one of increasing solitude, something he experiences as he begins to become a recluse, and I'm sure that Salinger poured some of his own personal thoughts and feelings into Holden's experience.
ReplyDelete-Kayla Manness
I remember reading a passage in a standardized test about J.D. Salinger during his later years. From what I vaguely remember, a journalist contacted Salinger about his book (or maybe it was an essay or some sort of writing) and Salinger responded and they were in contact for quite a while. The journalist was thrilled that Salinger had disclosed some information about his writings(?) and he might have spilled it to other journalists as well. Salinger was not very happy with the outcome obviously. I believe that that certain incident has also contributed as to why Salinger has been away from the public eye and became quite eccentric.
ReplyDeleteMarie Manipud
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ReplyDeleteI think that Salinger wrote The Catcher in the Rye as a self reflection of his overall life to that point in which it was written. In other words, he is Holden in the story and the story is about the way in which Salinger views and approaches the world. Certain characters and places represent things in Salinger's life. For example, I believe that the women Holden does admire, such as his sister Phoebe and his friend Jane, symbolize Salinger's intimate relationship with younger women. I also see how Holden being the way he is due to 'traumatizing events' in his life (brother's death and often social rejection) represent Salinger's isolation to the public due to his acquired PTSD from the war. On being expelled from Pencey, I would have to think it would be a strange, yet reasonable comparison for Salinger's refusal to publish certain work of his or not wanting to gain publicity to avoid being a 'phony', much like Holden's reason from his expulsion was because the people there were "phonies" and therefore did not entirely put his best effort into it.
ReplyDelete- Daniela Vargas
Like many have discussed, Salinger and Caulfield are similar in some ways. From the way their personalities are, rebellious. Salinger not wanting to write for publication, he was not keen of being in the lime-light. Holden is rebellious by being kicked out of school multiple time, leaving his school a couple of days before he is released. When he gets to Manhattan his is constantly drinking and smoking cigarettes. Even wanting to run away from his responsibilities to move to a secluded place. Similarities in the way they respond to traumatic events. Holden, from his younger brother passing to being kicked from multiple schools, his outlook on life was bitter. As for Salinger, while being sent in to World War II he was traumatized. Because of this, he started to isolate himself. This is even prevalent in the way Salinger doesn't want to write for fame. Maybe, Salinger wrote this book for his own sanity to get his thoughts out in a beautiful way.
ReplyDelete-Kyle Elecanal
8) In chapter 15, Holden point out the fact that he, along with society judge others by the type of suitcases they carry. Of course, the suitcases symbolize an individual’s materialistic value/worth. Holden says "...it's really hard to be roommates with people if your suitcases are much better than theirs - if yours are really good ones and theirs aren't. You think if they're intelligent and all, the other person, and have a good sense of humor, that they don't give a damn whose suitcases are better, but they do. They really do". By saying this, Holden points out that human relationship cannot be established by people of different economic strata. Holden believes that it is impossible to build a relationship with someone with a lower social status because he thinks the ones in the lower class will always try to attain what the person in the high class has, those attempts, will strain the relationship to the point of collapse. This quote further demonstrates Holden's prejudices that have been imprinted in him. Owning a nice suitcase equates to belonging in a high social class. Holden recalls a time that illustrates his prejudice. Dick Slagle an old roommate of Holden at Elkton Hills used to hide his cheap suitcases and put Holden's expensive, or as Dick would say, “bourgeois” suitcases on display, to create the illusion that he was the owner of the good suitcases. Holden acknowledges his dislike towards the way he defines people, solely based from their suitcases, however he himself is guilty of the same prejudices when he sees the two nuns on the train. Holden is disgusted by the nuns "very inexpensive-looking suitcases” and says “It isn't important, I know, but I hate it when somebody has cheap suitcases. It sounds terrible to say it, but I can even get to hate somebody, just looking at them, if they have cheap suitcases with them". It’s ironic that Holden believes that a relationship cannot be established between the poor and the rich due to their differences, yet he seems to be building one with the nun as he converses with them. Finally, Holden compares the way Catholics are always trying to find out if other people are Catholic, to the way people compare the quality of two suitcases. Similar to Catholics, who build relationships based on a shared belief or a sacred bond, the affluent social class were no different, because they too build their relationships base on a person’s social class status, common opportunities, and similar upbringing. Both building relationships from common aspects of life.
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ReplyDelete7) Before I began reading the “The Catcher in the Rye” I researched Salinger’s history. I came to the conclusion that Salinger presented himself and his ideas through Holden Caulfield. An example that I can immediately recall is in chapter 17, when Holden embellishes his plan to run away to the woods, live in a cabin, which will ultimately result in Holden’s reclusion from society. His reason behind his escape plan is because he wants to escape the “phony” world he lives in. Similar to Holden, Salinger wanted to escape the world of fame and publication. The only difference is that Salinger actually lived in a cabin deep in the woods. Brandon Sanchez pointed out a great similarity between Holden and Salinger. He said that they both felt a sense of isolation, although the root of these sensations differ. Holden feels alienated by all aspects of society (not by choice), while Salinger desires isolation from society. Another similarity I came across, is how they both behave in a rebellious demeanor. While Holden is considered rebellious because he drinks alcohol, smokes, uses foul language, and is not committed to his studies, Salinger is seen as a rebel due to his relationships with very young women. The age gap between couples has always been a controversial topic, and has deemed taboos by society because it does not comply with societal standards. Because they both refuse to follow society’s uniformity, they are seen as rebellious individuals.
ReplyDeleteHolden shows a certain influence from Salinger in many ways. Salinger was traumatized by World War 2, the period after being the Great Depression, and at times Holden will sometimes feel traumatized or disillusioned about society. Salinger experienced all of these things from the period after World War 2, and might have created Holden's character being a little influenced by these experiences. In addition, Salinger has had a divorce at least twice, or lost his first wife. You can see some of Salinger's cynicism and sorrow towards women in his interactions with the ladies at the Lavender Room, or with Sunny.
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