Abstract

J. D. Salinger is one of the most significant American novelists in the twentieth century. The Catcher in the Rye, as Salinger’s only novel, has won Salinger eternal fame in modern American literature. The Catcher in the Rye tells a story about a 16-year-old boy, Holden Caulfield, who was born in a rich middle-class family. After being expelled from the school, he doesn’t dare to go home, so he goes to New York City to kill time. He witnesses the ugly capitalist society and a variety of phony people. He could not understand what is happening around him and wants to escape from the real world. However, it is impossible to realize. Therefore, he uses unrealistic fantasy to self-deceive and comfort himself. Finally, Holden compromises with the real world. 

This paper is to analyze Holden’s social background, education and character to explore causes of his tragic fate in The Catcher in the Rye from the perspective of tragic theories. In 1950s, the tense political situation in the United States has brought tremendous pressure and depressive spirit, Americans have to use indulgence to remedy the loss of heart. Through wandering around New York, Holden witnesses the sickness and hypocrisy of the society. The disappointment at society makes Holden plan to keep away from the society. What’s more, lack of family education and wrong orientation of school education have greatly restricted the development of Holton's thought and spiritual world. And the goodness and cowardice of Holden’s personality exacerbates the formation of his tragic fate. Society, education and one’s own character are the key factors to the growth of young people. These factors also are conducive to learn mental status and growth environment of adolescents in the modern society.

Key words: Holden; tragic fate; society; personality

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

1 Introduction.1

2 Impact of society: sickness and hypocrisy2

3 Failure of education5

3.1 Lack of parental education5

3.2 Wrong orientation of school education.6

4 Holden’s personality: goodness and cowardice9

5 Conclusion.11

References .14