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
It is interesting that Holden does like and relate to Jesus. His spiritual and generous side is particularly evident during his encounter with the two nuns. Holden likes the nuns because they lived what they believed. He later contrasts them to his aunt and Sally Hayes' mother. While Holden's aunt is "pretty charitable...[he] couldn't picture her doing anything for charity if she had to wear black clothes and no lipstick while she was doing it." (p. 114) Sally Hayes' mother, on the other hand, would only: to stop, I stop." (pg. 92) Holden's morals are put to the test when he has an opportunity to have sex with a prostitute. When the prostitute undresses, "sexy was about the last thing [he] was feeling" (pg. 95), so Holden asks to prostitute to leave. In the world portrayed by J.D. Salinger, even religion is corrupt. Greed and sensationalism are replacing spiritual and moral values in all aspects of religious life. Holden claims that he is "sort of an atheist" (pg. 99), but admits that he: Salinger shows Holden as the Christ figure, despite his swearing, drinking, smoking, and other superficial crudities. Holden is special. He is spiritual, generous, and protective of the innocent. The society that surrounds Holden is corrupt, immoral and spiritually void, regardless of an individual's place in society. In this world the immoral, the Ossenbergers and the Stradlaters survive, while Holden cannot. Holden is not equipped with the ability to be immoral, therefore is unable to deal with the reality of his society.
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1184
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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