Catcher In the Rye vs. Grapes of Wrath

Inherent Corruption in Society The inherent aversion to corruption in society often inspires individuals to respond to the issue in hopes of minimizing the drastic effects it may have on people. This shared disdain for such corruption is analyzed in The Catcher in the Rye and The Grapes of Wrath. Both authors address the corruption; however they do so from different perspectives they come to differing resolutions. Both protagonists in their novels experience isolation as a result of society’s corruption; however, Salinger’s chooses to isolate himself whereas Steinbeck’s experiences isolation inadvertently. J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye and John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath share a social commentary about how corruption pervades every aspect of society and due to society’s corruption, people either experience isolation by choice or through condemnation. Alienation and isolation due to society’s corruption is relevant in both novels through the characterization of the protagonists. For example, Salinger develops Holden Caulfield, a socially inadequate teenager who distances himself from others due to their phoniness. From the onset of the novel, Salinger develops Holden’s desire to remove himself from society because of his belief that everyone is a phony. Although he disguises his motives to Old Spencer for leaving schools, Holden admits that “The reason [he] left Elkton Hills was because [he] was surrounded by phonies. That’s all. They were coming in the goddam window” (13). Holden goes to great efforts to distance himself from others believing that he alone is genuine and authentic in society. Later in the novel, Holden makes plans to go on a date with Sally Hayes and nearly cancels on account of her ‘phony language.’ Analyzing her talk Holden thinks “Grand. If there’s one word I hate, it’s grand. It’s so phony. For a second, I was tempted to tell her to forget about the matinee” (106). Holden also mentally isolates himself; he avoids social

Cited: Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Viking, 1939. Print. Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown, 1951. Print.