The Catcher in the Rye is narrated by Holden Caulfield, a sixteen year-old boy recuperating in a rest home from a nervous breakdown. Holden tells the story of his last day at a school called Pencey Prep, and of his following psychological meltdown in New York City. Through this book Caulfield becomes an example of a rebellious and confused adolescent who discerns the "phoniness" of the adult world.

The theme in The Catcher in the Rye is a perceptive study of one individual's understanding of his human condition. This makes for uncomfortable reading, but for an entertaining and fascinating novel.

The purpose of this classic tale is to come

Salinger also uses irony, in that Holden is extremely bright and intelligent, yet he struggles with day-to-day questions about why the world is how it is. He has a hard time coping with reality even though he is smart enough to realize that there is nothing that he can do to change how the world is.

The major conflict in this novel is man versus self. Psychologically, Holden battles himself. Life continues on around Holden as it always had, with the majority of people ignoring the 'madman stuff' that is happening to him. And until it begins to encroach on their well-defined social codes, they will have nothing to do with Holden. Progressively throughout the novel the conflict turns to being between the society and the society's attitude to the human condition.

"What I really felt like was jumping out the window."

"They Sound so phony when they talk."

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 750
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)