An Analysis Of The Catcher In The Rye: Pop Culture

Jenna Gear
The Catcher in the Rye
Assignment #2- Pop Culture

The Catcher in the Rye was written in 1951, a time period where many things discussed in this novel were not found often in literature. Originally written as a book for adults, it became popular among the younger crowd because of teenage unease and rebellion shown throughout the novel. I believe so many were interested in this novel because it covers complex issues of identity, belonging, connection, and alienation. There are many teenagers out there that feel a lot like Holden did throughout the story, and really connected. The Catcher in the Rye exploded in pop culture over the years. There have been shootings, films, television shows, music, and even other books written
This would be the shooting of John Lennon by Mark David Chapman. He even went as far to changing his name to Holden. Chapman explained in an interview with Larry King that like Holden, he wanted to preserve the innocence that Lennon had. Chapman believes Holden would have wanted Lennon dead as well He explains that there were voices telling him to “do it” over and over again. After the shooting he wrote in the copy of The Catcher in the Rye he purchased that evening that “This is my statement,” and signed Holden Caulfield. After obviously being arrested, Chapman’s defense team was going for the insanity plea. Dozens of phycologists studied Chapman in the six months to the scheduled trial. It was determined that he was mentally ill but was fit to stand trial. Five physiologist’s believed that Chapman had paranoid schizophrenia, along with other personality disorders causing him to believe he was really Holden Caulfield. Chapman ended up pleading guilty to all charges, and from interviews after sentencing he seems to have a sense of remorse for what he
A question universally asked, I personally believe Holden does not show criminal tendencies like the people he “inspired.” Holden wasn’t just negative all the time, although spoke lowly of the people he encounters in the story, he also had something positive to say about them as well. He does this with many people in the story. For example the cab driver, the three girls at the bar, the nuns, Mr. Spencer, Sally Hayes, and even his parents. Caulfield never showed any violent tendencies when in fact, while he was being beaten by old Maurice, he explains he was a coward and couldn’t hit him back. Holden defiantly has some social issues but I didn’t get the sense he was a physco-path. I thought of him as more as a spoiled kid, who has never gotten much human attention still struggling with the loss of his young brother, Allie. Losing Allie was hard for Holden because he got much love, admiration, and attention from him. After repeatedly bringing his younger brother up in the novel, and explaining how it makes him feel so damn depressed. It is clear that was the underlying reason for many of Holden’s issues. Holden is an everyday teenager in my mind who is looking for love. He is not a sociopath like the people who say Holden was their