10 E Shockley Catcher Draft 3

Life is seen clearer when viewed through one’s own eyes. We all think we see life best through our own eyes; we don’t live life based on reality but mostly our perception of reality. Many have started to believe that J.D. Salinger wrote through Holden, the main character of Catcher in the Rye. Salinger wrote his novel in first person imposing the belief that the actual person and fictional character are identical. Because of this people can see why he strangely Salinger, would close the world out of his life and his works. Salinger might just see the world from one perspective; his. Character and creator share life, personality, and the overwhelming feeling that adulthood is full of sex without love and life without meaning. Holden Caulfield, main character in The Catcher in the Rye, is a remarkable character. Critic Alfred Katin wrote “[Holden speaks] in a language that is peculiarly honest and their own, with a vision…that captures their most secret judgments of the world (Verde). In fact, Holden is such a “real” character because of the depth and emotion he has, many believe that J.D Salinger and Holden Caulfield are the same. Jerome David Salinger is the son of a wealthy Jewish importer (Verde). He grew up in New York City where he went to public grade school (Verde). However in 1932 Salinger was enrolled at Manhattan’s McBurney school, a private institution . Holden Caulfield went to private schools where he did badly and got kicked out. Holden replies with this when talking to old Spencer, “’Four.” I moved my ass a little bit on the bed. It was the hardest bed I ever sat on. “’I passed English all right,”’ (Salinger 10). Interestingly enough J.D. Salinger did poorly in most of his classes just like Holden. His interests were also journalism and fencing (Verde). Even the small similarities of character and author are startling. It seems as though Salinger is portraying himself through his story, showing it from his own perspective. His family life and High school were almost identical, even the school mottos were the same, “Since 1888 we have been molding boys into splendid, clear thinking young men,” (Salinger 2). It’s obvious where Salinger contracted his ideas. The military school he went to was Valley Forge, it’s motto was, “young men…alert in mind, sound in body, considerate of others, with a high sense of duty, honor, loyalty, and courage,” (Verde). At Valley Forge Military school Salinger saw the social groups form. There he met the “snobs and the bullies, the jocks and the pompous school administrators,” (Verde). These categories meet the requirement of Ackley, Stradlater, Marsalla and old head master Thrumer (Verde). Caulfield is Holden’s last name. It’s interesting that a “caul” is on a baby when it’s born and is a membrane like substance. When it occurs people thought it meant that people would have the ability to see into two worlds. Ironically it just about means that, but not in the past, present, future, of the living and dead like most people might think. The “caul” in The Catcher in the Rye, represents the idea that Holden, Salinger, sees into the actual reality, and his own perception of reality. People go throughout their life, working to survive, struggling to carry on. But there are those who don’t care, don’t struggle and wander, ‘what is the meaning of life?’ Salinger was the son of a wealthy importer, he didn’t care what happened. Holden says in The Catcher in the Rye, “Game, my ass. Some game. If you get on the side where all the hot shots are, then it’s a game, all night I’ll admit that. But if you get on the other side,

where there aren’t any hot-shots, then what’s a game about it? Nothing. No game,” (Salinger 8). Life, a game. Either with or without meaning. Holden doesn’t see meaning, he sees a game. And games have no point. Holden “Longs to escape the shallow pettiness and corruption of the adult world,” (Verde). Adolescence is a fun filled time of life where one doesn’t have to worry. But as soon as Holden starts to transition into adulthood he realizes that life is losing its meaning. Really Holden has everything at his disposal; looks, money, powe, intelligence even. But who seriously gives a shit if there is no reason to live. A person such as Holden