On Holden's Trauma In The Catcher In The Rye

Since the publication of The Catcher in the Rye by Jerome David Salinger in 1951,it has gained huge success.The novel's protagonist Holden Caulfield was influential,especially among adolescent readers.However,the image of Holden was also controversial for his "inappropriate" behaviors and languages.By using literary trauma theory,I regard Holden as a traumatized person and try to justify his actions.Living in the society full of phonies,he is an innocent victim for not yielding to the mainstream values and dares to challenge it.The main body of the thesis is followed by the traumatic events Holden experienced and the relevant traumatic effects,what's more,I try to conclude and judge Holden's efforts to get recovered from trauma.Holden Caulfield is a character of contradictions.And his trauma is also complicated.Apart from his unspeakable loneliness during the process of growth,he also suffers the continuing abuse of the phonies and marginalization in the world.He is clearly caught between adolescence and adulthood,with a tumult of conflicting emotions.Through Holden's narration,Salinger criticizes the prevailing atmosphere of emptiness and money-worship at the society in the post-World War ?.