The Catcher in the Rye - Question 6

In my opinion, what signifies a book as being a classic is its timeless message. The message should be something that can apply to any generation reading the novel, no matter how old the book is. The Catcher in the Rye was written over fifty years ago, but its message of learning to grow up will never fade away. Holden Caulfield catches the attention of readers right away because of his realistic qualities, such as a strong personality and teenage, rebellious attitude.

So many people can relate to this novel because it seems in our walk of life, we are always forced to deal with “phonies” like Holden. Holden learns to deal with these phonies by the end of the novel. His quick-to-judge approach of the people around him stands him out from other protagonists in various novels. I think the theme of the Honors English books this summer are all related to one another. In each novel, an unexpected ending surprises readers, in an unsatisfying, yet subtly fulfilling way. People still love to read this timeless novel because the values and overall message can be applied to their lives even in society today.

I have read many reviews of The Catcher in the Rye. Some say that the novel is about nothing and simply has no important message to it. I do believe people said the same thing about Seinfeld, and look how popular and rich those characters have become. Anyway, reading those reviews upset me. Steinbeck did not write this novel to show society that Holden Caulfield is a lazy kid capable of blowing a “wad” of money in New York City like it is candy. Yeah, that is what the novel outwardly appears to revolve around, but it is what readers can take form the novel after looking deeper in to it. I believe he wrote it, and intended for it to be read for a long time, because he wanted to show people that their not alone in life when it comes to the trials and tribulations of growing up and achieving adulthood. We learn that life is going to suck sometimes, (pardon my incorrect grammar, but I feel that Holden made a point with his, so I am stating mine) but in the end it is not about the places you go or the things you see in life that matter. It is learning from those experiences a lesson that will stick with you your whole life. Steinbeck, in my opinion, does a magnificent job of teaching this important lesson through his novel The Catcher in the Rye.

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown and, 1991. Print.