J. D. Salinger Controversy

In many works of fiction, the life experiences and views of the authors are often reflected in their work creating captivating novels. Jerome David Salinger or J.D Salinger as he is better known became one of the most interesting authors in American literature, along with his famed character Holden Caulfield from the famous novel Catcher in the Rye published on July 16, 1951 (French 16). Like many authors, J.D. Salinger incorporated main parts of his autobiography into the life of his novel’s main character, Holden. Soon after publication the novel was highly acclaimed by people all over the world paving the way for its continued fame today (Bloom 10). James Miller Jr. said that “No other writer since World War II has achieved the heights
Salinger loved and lost, and as a result developed different feelings towards things that reminded him of his pain. In 1941, Salinger became involved with a lady by the name of Oona O’Neil, the daughter of Eugene O’Neil, a famous American playwright (Mori). However, the United States became entered World War II, and Salinger was drafted (French 24). Salinger was then sent to Signal Corps School, and then transferred to Counter-Intelligence Corps (French 24-25). During this time, he sent letters to Oona almost every day (French 25). Despite all the work of Salinger to keep his beloved girlfriend, she found another man. Forty-four years of age, this man was much older than eighteen year old Oona (Mori). The man she fell in love with, was a man by the name of Charlie Chaplin, a famous actor, producer and director (French 25). Even though Oona’s father disapproved of it Chaplin and O’Neil ended up getting married in 1943 (Mori). When Salinger found this out he was devastated, and he sent Oona an angry letter in
When Stradlater gets back from his date with Jane, Holden is holding his anger inside because he knows that Stradlater is older and more sexually experienced and does not want anything to happen to Jane. When he confronts Stradlater about the date, Stradlater does not want to tell him anything. This gets Holden very angry and he snaps and attacks Stradlater (Salinger; Chapter 6). Not only is this reflective of J.D. Salinger’s experience with his girlfriend, but also it further develops Holden’s character as an innocent young man who is fighting to hold on to his childhood through his “childhood