Holden Caulfield: A Rebellious Hero Against Mainstream Culture In The Catcher In The Rye

More than 30 years after its publication, J. D. Salinger's novel The Catcher inthe Rye has been considered as one of the two "modern classics" in contemporaryAmerican literature. The novel profoundly reveals the senses of alienation andloneliness through Holden Caulfield's roaming in New York after his expulsion fromPencey Prep school. Holden is disgusted with the indifference, fraud and phoninessamong his fellow students, and thus he goes to wander alone in New York, only tofind out that the society is even more vulgar, obscene and decadent. He feelsextremely depressed. Finally his sister Phoebe's love helps him escape from the abyssof desperation. Holden seemed to stand for young people everywhere, who feelthemselves beset on all sides by pressures to grow up and live their lives according tothe rules, who are disengaged from meaningful human connection and conform to abland cultural norm that restricts their personalities. Many readers see HoldenCaulfield as a symbol of pure, unfettered individuality in face of cultural oppression. This thesis tries to analyze the anti-hero Holden Caulfield in a culturalmacro-structure. In connection with the social, political and economic background,this thesis expounds the definition of the mainstream culture and its core expression—the American Dream. At that time, America, ruled by McCarthy government, wasunder the suppressed political environment at home and in an era of "cold war" withthe Soviet Union. The American government controlled their citizens' thought andmade the moral and legal system which was to be abided by all Americans. TheAmerican society had an extraneous influence on their citizens. The American Dreamwhich means the pursuit of freedom and happiness plays an important role inAmerican life. However, in the 1950s the American Dream was distorted and theAmerican people overstressed the pursuit of the material prosperity. Living in such asuffocating era, Holden indignantly rebels against the mainstream culture. He rejectsthe clique spirit—to form personal-interest clique and discriminate against dissenterswhich the Pency Prep school stands for;Holden denies the distorted American Dreamand exposes its deceptiveness and corruption. His language bears the samecharacteristics of the counter-culture movement.Holden is unwilling to swim with the tide. He is not only a poignant rebel butalso a staunch quester. He escapes from modern civilization, an obscene society and aworld of alienation. He engages himself in a search for self-identity, meaningfulcommunication, human love and children's innocence. To some extent, children'sinnocence and simple nature give him warmth and strength, but he finally realizes thatthe innocent childhood is brief and transient and it's inevitable for children to fall offthe "cliff". All his efforts to keep children from growing up are in vain. Finally heaccepts the reality and reconciles himself with the phony world by resorting to hiscompassion and love for humans.Like Holden, many young people are now faced with the problems of growingmature and fitting into the society. Holden's rebellion and quest may give usenlightenment and revelation. We should believe in the existence of all virtues liketrue love, purity and the spirit of sacrifice. We must cherish our love for nature andface the difficulties and challenges with courage and confidence.