The Catcher in the Rye

Holden Caulfield is a teenage boy from an affluent family who has just been expelled from his fourth school for poor academic performance. Lacking direction and purpose, he runs away to New York City where he wanders aimlessly while railing against the "phoniness" of society. Holden despises the superficiality of the people he encounters and seeks genuine human connection, but he also fears intimacy and repeatedly sabotages his own relationships. Through Holden's irreverent narration, Salinger explores themes of teenage angst, alienation, and the struggle to find one's place in the world. The Catcher in the Rye is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers of all ages, capturing the essence of adolescence with its raw honesty and vivid portrayal of the complexities of growing up.

escapism ꞏ innocence ꞏ high school ꞏ mental illness ꞏ phonies ꞏ depression ꞏ criticism ꞏ analysis ꞏ loneliness ꞏ fiction ꞏ society ꞏ identity ꞏ growing up ꞏ coming of age ꞏ the catcher in the rye ꞏ new york city ꞏ j. d. salinger ꞏ holden caulfield ꞏ rebellion ꞏ adolescence ꞏ bildungsroman ꞏ classic literature ꞏ alienation ꞏ american literature