КИЇВСЬКИЙ НАЦІОНАЛЬНИЙ УНІВЕРСИТЕТ

ІМЕНІ ТАРАСА ШЕВЧЕНКА

ІНСТИТУТ МІЖНАРОДНИХ ВІДНОСИН

КАФЕДРА ІНОЗЕМНИХ МОВ

Summary
"The Catcher in the rye" Jerome David Salinger

Виконала:
Студентка ІIІ курсу,
Відділення МК
Юхно Мар’яна

Викладач:
Лазаренко Т.Д.

Київ - 2019
 Salinger had been working on his novel for almost 10 years before it was
published in 1951. The novel is considered to be one of the most controversial in
American literature. The book had a huge resonance in American society, literally
dividing it into two camps. First of all, this was due to the large number of jargon and
obscene language with which the writer generously flavored his book.
But at the same time, deep psychology, raising the urgent problems of the
younger generation, relevance and full compliance with the spirit of the times made
Salinger’s novel “The Catcher in the Rye” one of the most popular books of the 20th
century.
Since its publication, there have been numerous attempts to censor or ban the
book from schools and libraries, and it is currently on the American Library
Association’s list of banned and challenged classics, due mostly to its use of profanity
and sexuality. Nevertheless, the book has been translated into many languages, and in
some countries is included in the compulsory school curriculum.
The novel has a vague and unconventional plot. Holden Caulfield is the main
character and narrator. He relates the events of the three days he spends in New York
after being expelled from Pencey Prep, the fourth school he attended to. Holden
narrates the novel in stream of consciousness, allowing his thoughts to flow freely with
little regard. I really like the author’s using this style, because it helps to understand
the most secret parts of hero’s soul.
Confused and devastated, Holden searches for truth and fights against the
phoniness of the adult world. Being, by virtue of his age and character, a desperate
maximalist, the main character does not accept hypocrisy. He cannot bear human
imperfections. Despite being kind, sympathetic, timid, Holden is irritable, impulsive
and grumpy. It is not surprising that he is far from getting on with people. He simply
has no one to rely on. Thus, the author raises the topic of loneliness, which is especially
dangerous in adolescence.
Also, crucial problem of the novel is family relationships. Holden`s parents are
rich, and they can afford the most expensive schools. But they neither cherish their
children nor pay much attention to them. As a result, Holden becomes embittered to
the adult world and openly despises it. Anyway, he loves his siblings little old Phoebe
and dead Allie.
Little old Phoebe is my favorite character. Holden's 10-year-old sister is bright,
pretty, mature beyond her years, sane, and his most trusted link to family. Phoebe is
Holden's only real friend in the novel. She is his only confidant and, in Holden's view,
the only person that understands him.
However, not all problems of the novel concern the process of growing up.
Author does not deny exciting of hypocrisy, inequality and indifference. It may sound
implausible, but, to my mind, the author takes them for granted. He more concentrates
on Holden’s perception. When you are a teenager, you are prone to exaggerating
problems. The boy often notices only bad characteristics. Anyway, the novel is very
descriptive. If you read it, you can imagine the peculiarities of living in the USA in the
50s of the 20th century.
The title of the novel implies the main idea. The meaning relates to the Bible,
pointing to the catcher of human souls. Holden Caulfield identifies himself with such
a catcher and sees his life mission as protecting pure and innocent children's souls from
falling into the abyss callousness, lies and hypocrisy of the adult world. This fact proves
that Holden is a real dreamer with a poetry delicate soul.
The most exciting thing for me was recognizing my friends in Holden. The
author made an impossible thing – he wrote a book which became popular among
teenagers. While reading I understood that when I was 16 similar thoughts came to my
mind and I had something in common with the main character. I was absolutely
captivated by the novel’s passive anti-hero, Holden Caulfield. I felt his loneliness, his
distaste towards all of the “phoniness” present in the world, and his constant state of
utter helplessness in an uncaring world.
Now I am 19 and my mind changed significantly. In the end of the novel we are
observing how Holden has become wiser. The teenager’s escape turns into a deep
change in his soul. But growing up does not come to him through his attempts to get
drunk or spend a night with a prostitute. For this his character is too indecisive, and his
soul too conscientious. He uncompromisingly analyzes his behavior and repents of his
mistakes.
 Caulfield intends to leave for the West in search of a better life, writes a note to
Phoebe, but she comes to meet him with a suitcase and says that she is going with him.
Then the brother was seriously scared for her, began to dissuade her from going with
him. He himself abandoned the venture, seeing the consequences of his desire to paint.
So in the novel "The Catcher in the Rye" Holden turned from a teenager into a
responsible young man. In such a situation, Holden loses his choice and becomes the
position of an adult. Not she, but he must take responsibility for what is happening.
In an attempt to live an independent life, the hero finds in himself a conscience
and responsibility. These new sensations are intrusive, but he cannot more neglect
them.
To my mind, Salinger used a beautiful metaphor. In the end of the novel the main
character sees his sister riding on a swing in the rain. And this rain symbolizes
cleansing his soul from a raid of cynicism, as if he was being reborn to an innocent
child's life. But the narrator has already accepted his change and realized that he is an
adult.
I would highly recommend reading this book. Moreover, I think the novel is
worthwhile reading it the second time. Because when we are older we perceive the
same problems differently. And I suppose that Holden’s problems will seem for me
more remote than now.