Holden's Corrupt Society
Post World War II America experienced an economic boom never before seen in the United States. Despite this prosperity, discontent and alienation were becoming a common experience for American youth. J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye portrays its protagonist, Holden Caulfield, as a disenfranchised youth who can no longer function in the world in which he resides. The novel became an instant success among young people. The Catcher in the Rye’s portrayal of a society that had become a moral and spiritual wasteland rang true for many young people. So true for so many that the novel became a popular icon for the youth of the 50’s and 60’s. The Catcher in the Rye shows that sex is another one of life’s beautiful things corrupted in this society. Sex in the traditional sense is a physical expression of love by two consenting partners in a monogamous relationship. None of the sexual encounters portrayed in The Catcher in the Rye meets any of these qualifications. Holden is a virgin, but his virginity is not due to lack opportunity. According to Holden, he has had "quite a few opportunities to lose [his] virginity". (pg. 92) Holden wants to have sex but he is unable to abandon his morals, as he remarks, "when they tell me
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Some common words found in the essay are:
JD Salinger, Catcher Rye, Sally Hayes', According Holden, Carl Luce, Pencey Prep, Pency Prep, Holden Christ, Memorial Wing, Bible Disciples, catcher rye, pencey prep, sally hayes' mother, pg 2, jesus death, jd salinger, pg 35, education quality, according holden, pg 99, school pg,
Approximate Word count = 1184
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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