UTX_Shadow t1_ixqjcox wrote on November 25, 2022 at 3:06 PM

Did a thesis on Salinger’s works, and was taught by the leading Salinger expert, here are some thoughts:

1). Catcher is actually the last book of Salinger’s you should read. The story is “written” by a man named Buddy Glass, second eldest.

2). When you explore Salinger’s other works (Nine Stories, Raise high the roof beams, Franny and Zooey, and Seymour: an introduction) you get a better sense of the character of Holden.

3). I argue that Holden is just an extension of the author (Buddy). Both have brothers who died. It’s the exploration of Buddy’s feelings towards his brother, Seymour, committing suicide.

4). I also argue that this brings the whole exploration full circle. It’s a book of mourning, not teenage angst as most people see it.

ShreddedWheat t1_ixqr60u wrote on November 25, 2022 at 4:08 PM

Book-ception lol

I read this when I was 25 or so. Was I way off on maybe Holden going through some sexual identity questioning?

UTX_Shadow t1_ixqsp4z wrote on November 25, 2022 at 4:20 PM

I personally never focused on that? He definitely did, but not sure how it relates to the greater narrative

AuroraBean t1_ixrvle5 wrote on November 25, 2022 at 9:05 PM

Thank you for this, it's a really interesting take on the book. The mourning theory would make sense as authors and artists often try to explore emotion across several works. Which is what mourning is really isn't it? Stages of grief. Oh I'll have to hunt them down now and test your theory!

oldsportgatsby t1_ixswnsl wrote on November 26, 2022 at 2:11 AM

As you are well-familiar with Salinger's works I'm curious what you think of a long-held opinion I've had:

That the novella Zooey is kind of a repudiation of Holden's "philosophy" at the point he was at in his life. That when Zooey is having the second-to-last heart to heart with Franny, that he is speaking to her about many of the "flaws" she has that Holden has as well. It's been awhile since I read it so I can't back it up with a ton of details, but memorably that "its none of (her) goddam business" that her professor musses his hair before a lecture.

Like Holden, Franny is written to be "soulful" but dealing with an internal conflict with an ideology about people being genuine/authentic. in Zooey, Salinger sorta clears the air that both Franny and Holden's thoughts are NOT to be applauded, but also not to be taken as "this is a character you should not empathize with." Franny and Holden are written to be flawed but beautiful people (which should be obvious just from reading Catcher). They aren't finished products of people but, contrary to what so many people believe, they are not "meant to be hated."