While Catcher in the Rye remains one of my favored American Classics, it is not for classroom instruction. First, Salinger never intended it for an adolescent reading audience. It has always been a book written for adults.
Then, What is the main message of The Catcher in the Rye?
The main message of The Catcher in the Rye is that no single individual can save the world. Holden wants to protect all the world’s innocents to compensate for his brother Allie’s death, but he starts to understand that he needs to let the people he loves, like Phoebe, take risks.
Is Catcher in the Rye inappropriate? There have been many complaints made against The Catcher in the Rye. Many people feel that the book contains inappropriate offensive language, sexual content, occultism, and violence (“Banned Books Project”). … Today, most of the cursing in the book would not even be considered PG-13 if it were put in a movie.
Keeping this in consideration, Can a 12 year old read The Catcher in the Rye?
High school age might be better. I hardly think 8-10 is an appropriate age to read this book. Children need to be children they don’t need adult-content shoved in their faces.
What does the last line of Catcher in the Rye mean?
In The Catcher in the Rye, what does Holden mean when he says, “Don’t ever tell anybody anything. … When Holden says “Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody,” he means that getting close with others and building meaningful bonds will eventually end in heartbreak and loneliness.
What can we learn from Catcher in the Rye?
Here are five things The Catcher in the Rye can teach you about life, even if your prom-going days are far behind you.
- You’re not alone in your frustrations. …
- Social niceties aren’t always phony. …
- Excellent writing can transport you. …
- Growing up means channeling your frustrations towards something productive.
Does Holden Caulfield lose his virginity?
Holden Caulfield does not lose his virginity during the course of The Catcher in the Rye, though he makes some half-hearted attempts to do so.
What’s wrong with Holden Caulfield?
Holden Caulfield suffers from post traumatic stress disorder. The fictional cause is the death of his beloved little brother, Allie. The reason that The Catcher in the Rye is so powerful is that it is a true book (I don’t say that it is a true story). … Salinger, himself, and Holden’s PTSD is Salinger’s PTSD.
Who was killed because of Catcher in the Rye?
The Most Famous Connected Murder — JOHN LENNON
On the way, he passed a fan he had signed an autograph for hours earlier, Mark David Chapman. Chapman pulled out a . 38-caliber revolver and fired four times into Lennon’s back. The singer would be officially pronounced dead at the hospital.
Is The Catcher in the Rye a must read?
It’s great you should see it. The best thing about The Catcher in the Rye is that it opens up the reader to the rest of Salinger’s work and he was AMAZING. Check out his other works you won’t be disappointed. It’s fashionable, currently, to dislike this book (and to find Gatsby “overrated”).
Why do kids read Catcher in the Rye?
They wouldn’t have wanted their kids to read that.” According to English Department Chair Jennifer Pust, though teachers can choose which book to teach, most cover “The Catcher in the Rye” because of it being a classic coming of age story and the fact that its literary devices are valuable for students to learn.
What is the symbolism of Catcher in the Rye?
The Museum of Natural History
The museum represents the world Holden wishes he could live in: it’s the world of his “catcher in the rye” fantasy, a world where nothing ever changes, where everything is simple, understandable, and infinite.
Is Holden in a mental hospital?
Holden (despite the confusion of the Harcourt Brace executive) is not crazy; he tells his story from a sanatorium (where he has gone because of a fear that he has t.b.), not a mental hospital.
Is Holden in a mental hospital at the end of the book?
After a two month jump in time, he explains that he returned home to his family and got sick. He was sent to a rest home, which is more commonly known as a hospital to treat his mental illness. He narrates the final part of the book from this institution, with a hopeful attitude towards the future.
What does The Catcher in the Rye symbolize?
The title of The Catcher in the Rye is a reference to “Comin’ Thro the Rye,” a Robert Burns poem and a symbol for the main character’s longing to preserve the innocence of childhood. … “If a body catch a body coming through the rye.”
Why is The Catcher in the Rye so important?
That being said, “The Catcher in the Rye” is more than just some book you read in a high school literature class. … When you read this novel, you can feel the emotions of Holden and go through his experiences with him. It helps you to understand a little more about how World War II changed the lives of Americans.
What makes Catcher in the Rye so great?
It creates passion in young readers and it continues to do so every single year that I teach it. The Catcher in the Rye is the greatest book of its time because it makes students who read it, even the ones who don’t like reading, want to read more. This year my classes had amazing discussions surrounding the novel.
How does Holden Caulfield lose his virginity?
In chapter 13, Holden checks in at the Edmont Hotel and meets an elevator operator who offers to send him a prostitute for five dollars. Holden agrees and begins to contemplate sex, women, and his missed opportunities to lose his virginity in the hotel room as he waits for the prostitute.
Why is Holden still a virgin?
In contrast, Holden later claims that he’s still a virgin because he always stops at “No,” so what sets him apart from Stradlater and Co. is his refusal to commit what today we’d classify as sexual assault.
What mental illness does Holden Caulfield have?
Holden displays many common traits of a person with PTSD following this loss. He has substantial amounts of guilt and depression and struggles to remember the details of events in his life. Holden’s emotions seem to be highly unbalanced.
What mental disorder does Holden have?
While Salinger never provides a specific diagnosis, references to Holden’s mental instability are clear throughout the novel, and the reader could easily make the connection that Holden suffers from some combination of depression, anxiety, and/or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Is Holden Caulfield in a mental hospital?
Holden (despite the confusion of the Harcourt Brace executive) is not crazy; he tells his story from a sanatorium (where he has gone because of a fear that he has t.b.), not a mental hospital.
Why was Holden Caulfield depressed?
His past traumas and current issues have led him to depression. In the beginning, Holden tells readers about the two deaths he experienced. His younger brother, Allie, died of leukemia three years prior, which greatly impacted him emotionally. Additionally, a classmate of Holden’s previous school committed suicide.
Why is Catcher in the Rye so important?
That being said, “The Catcher in the Rye” is more than just some book you read in a high school literature class. … When you read this novel, you can feel the emotions of Holden and go through his experiences with him. It helps you to understand a little more about how World War II changed the lives of Americans.