In the 1994 Washington Post critical review "J. D, Salinger's Holden Caulfield, Aging Gracelessly," Jonathon Yardley asserts that The Catcher in the Rye is "an essential document of American adolescence," and that there can be "no question about its popularity and influence. " Although this book has been heavily criticised and condemned over the years for being "obscene," having an "excess of vulgar language, sexual scenes, and things concerning moral issues," it is now accepted as a classic piece of literature.The experiences of Holden Caulfield in this novel still resonate with teenagers of today, causing it to be a popular choice of reading material in high schools. Teenagers can relate to Holden's difficulties with growing up and his feelings of lonliness.
Furthermore, most teens use their own slang and profanities during conversations and many have to deal with temptations such as alcohol and tobacco. Because of the timeless themes that relate to any typical teenager, this book has endured many years and will continue to do so for a long time. The difficulties which Holden faces due to growing up are universal among all teenagers.As teens get older, they are approaching the adult world and have to start facing the responsibilities and situations which are associated with this new phase of their lives.
Holden is very resistant to these changes, which is similar to many adolescents of today. He does not understand the adult world and is not ready for the transition. He shows that he is not ready for this by criticizing adults and their "phoniness. " Furthermore, he shows that he is not ready to face the adult world when he decides to stay in a hotel alone for a few days after being expelled from his school.
He does not want to "face the music" right away and would rather ignore it. This is a normal route of teenagers who generally do not have the gumption to suffer the consequences of their actions. He feels that he can avoid some of the heat by avoiding the situation for a while. Also, the sexual side of being an adult frightens him because he does not do well with relationships.
He does not know how to relate to other people and feels that others cannot understand him and his thoughts. Furthermore, in chapter nine, he talks about sex and admits that "[sex] is something [he] just don't understand. [He] swear[s] to God [he] don't.He worries about how he is going to have sex when he does not even comprehend the nature of it. Many teenagers of today do not truly understand the emotional and physical implications of sex, just as Holden does not.
Many are nervous about entering relationships because of sexual pressures. Holden's discomfort with sexual situations is much the same as many teenagers experience today and they many take some reassurance in the fact that this is "normal. " Growing up and taking on new challenges can seem daunting to most teens, as it does to Holden. These feelings will continue to surface as more and more youth enter the adult world.
Catcher in the Rye will continue to stay relevant in this aspect because, even in the modern world, teenagers have to enter the realm of adulthood. In this novel, Holden also deals with various emotions which connect to loneliness. He longs for human contact, calling many people as he wanders throughout New York alone. Although he puts out a tough exterior, acting as though he does not need anyone, he is constantly thinking about what other people are doing.
Holden explains his alienation to the reader by saying that he does not want to associate with all the "phonies" that he sees out there.He pretends as though he thinks himself better than those around him, as an excuse not to make good friends. The real story is that in interactions with other people, Holden is confused and overwhelmed, so he creates a sense of superiority to serve as a type of protection from these encounters. He very often sabotages his own attempts to escape from his loneliness by being rude to people or by over-reacting and being very dramatic. For example, his rude and intrusive behaviour during his encounter with Carl Luce ruins what could have been a pleasant meeting.Furthermore, his date with Sally is ruined by his harsh reaction to her speaking with her friend.
He makes out that the situation is horrible because the Ivy League student is so "phony," when most people would just try to become part of the conversation. As he says to Mr. Spencer at the beginning of the novel, he feels trapped on "the other side" of life. He continually attempts to find his way in a world in which he feels he does not belong because he is "different. " He does not seem to relate to others well, not finding "pop culture" as important as others, which could be a result of the trauma he suffered as a child.
When his brother Allie died, he lost his best friend. Others whom he meets have not had this same type of experience and do not relate to how it changed him. He even contemplates suicide in the book, which is a common occurrence among teenagers. Many teenagers who read this novel can relate to his feelings of loneliness. There are many pressures in our society to act as those portrayed in pop culture.
Those who seem "different" are very often not accepted by those around them. Also, teenagers who have difficulties with interpersonal relationships for a variety of reasons are often shunned by their peers, as Holden is in the novel.The experiences which one deals with in their life can have a huge affect on their actions, demonstrated by Holden's behaviour. Those who have dealt with hardships can find a kindred spirit in Holden, who is dealing with many issues related to his family life and his inability to interact genuinely with others. There will always be teenagers who will relate to this alienation that Holden encounters, because there will always be those who have to deal with family turmoil, death, and relationships and the lonliness that these problems can create.
It has been said that "many adolescents use their own unique language of slang and swearing, which is partly to rebel and partly to find their own identity. " This typical teenage trait is also exhibited in Holden. When someone listens to a teenager they usually hear a variety of swear words and slang terms. Holden uses quite a bit of slang and profanity in his speech. For example, he calls his roommate Stradlater a "sonuvabitch" and uses the word "goddamn" quite often. Each generation of youth has its own variety of slang.
Although most children are taught that there are some "bad" words or swear words that should not be used, many teenagers use swearing as a rebellion on their childhood and their parents. They want to assert their independence by showing that they can choose their own language. Holden is a prime example of this behaviour and this establishes some common ground between Holden and the reader. Some readers may even be drawn to the book as a result of this usage of colloquial language because it sounds like it was written by an actual teenager.Another major aspect of teenage life is the pressure of drinking and smoking. Many teenagers are pressured by their peers to start up one of these habits because it is a "cool" thing to do.
Others will take up these habits to relieve stress or to drown their problems. Throughout the novel, Holden drinks even though he is underage. It seems as though he is drinking because of the social status that he feels it brings him, as well as to forget the fact that his brother is dead and he has been expelled once again from school. His curiosity gets the best of him and he continually drinks.Another problem with teenage drinking, at all times throughout history, is the great ease at which it can be acquired.
In the novel, Holden can simply walk into a bar of some sort, order a drink and in most cases, get served. Although society is more stringent with underage drinking today, there are ways for teens to easily acquire alcohol, as Holden does in this novel. Holden is also an avid chain smoker. It seems that every chance he gets, he is lighting up yet another cigarette. Smoking is an adult activity, and Holden smokes to be more of an adult.
Even though he comments that the cigarettes taste bad, he still smokes them. He smokes to ease his nerves and simply because he has become addicted to the substance. Smoking is a big problem faced by teens in all generations. Many smoke to rebel against their parents or because, like alcohol, it is viewed sometimes as the "cool" thing to do. A large portion of today's teens smoke although they are aware of the dangers.
Smoking and drinking are bad habits, but teenagers of every day and age are faced with these temptations. With these similarities to today's youth, Holden Caulfield truly resembles the typical teen.Many teenagers will read this book and enjoy it because they feel they can relate to the experiences that Holden has, as well as the pressures that he faces in his life. This novel is accepted as a classic piece of literature purely because it conveys the true mindset of many youth, at the time when it was written, and today. Holden's constant frank and honest observations throughout the novel have always captivated youth readers and will continue to captivate them as this novel endures as a classic for many years to come.
