| The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger is a popular piece of classic literary work. Ever since its publication, it has received much attention and criticism, both negative and positive. It has always been a controversial book. People praise it for its literary merits, such as being a realistic portrayal of adolescents, and criticize it for its "depravity", accusing it of poisoning young people’s morality. Thus, studies or rather debates on The Catcher in the Rye have never stopped. With the development of literary theories, many more interpretations and analyses of the protagonist Holden Caulfield have come out. Some study him from psychoanalytical point of view, some approach him from the cultural background of Cold War, and others, with the employment of queer theory, are interested in his sexual orientation. The death of Salinger in2010reignites people’s interests in studying the book as well as the life of its reclusive author. My interest in The Catcher in the Rye would also be in its protagonist, and I’m trying to offer my understanding of Holden Caulfield’s views of life in a clear way through three aspects, namely, sex and love, innocence and experience, life and death.The Introduction mainly reviews the critical reception of The Catcher in the Rye.Chapter One reexamines the protagonist Holden Caulfield and brings the pieces of Holden scattered throughout the book into a whole picture.Chapter Two analyses Holden’s view on sex and love, and comes to the conclusion that he cannot separate love from sex. This chapter also treats questions of homosexuality and incest. Chapter Three talks about Holden’s rigid view on innocence and experience and finds that Holden is reluctant to let go of child-like innocence and to enter the adult world of experience.Chapter Four presents Holden’s opinion on life and death and tells how he arrives at choosing life over death.The Conclusion deals with Holden’s illusion of being a catcher in the rye, and how he finally outgrows his messiah complex. |
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