Genre-
Classics | Young Adult | Fiction
Audiobook Summary-
The Catcher in the Rye summary and J.D. Salinger character analysis tend to emphasize teenage alienation, identity, and mental health struggles. The book traces the life of Holden Caulfield, a sixteen-year-old who has just been expelled from Pencey Prep, a private school. In 1950s New York City, Holden roams the city for a few days, meeting people and musing over his life, relationships, and the death of his younger brother, Allie. Holden's critical tone and repeated denunciation of "phoniness" in adult society emphasize his profound discontent with the world around him. Throughout the novel, Holden is unable to relate to others and often distances himself. His desire to preserve children's innocence, particularly his little sister Phoebe, symbolizes his own inner conflict and refusal to grow up. The title is based on Holden's aspiration to be the "catcher in the rye," a guardian of children from the cruel realities of adulthood. J.D. Salinger employs Holden's voice to introduce themes of isolation, disorientation, and the agonizing passage from adolescence to adulthood. The book continues to be a strong examination of adolescent identity and emotional depth, engaging readers for its unflinching and raw depiction of a young individual's inner life.