Similarities Between Less Than Zero And Catcher In The Rye

The theme of American youth culture is one which is prevalent throughout American literature of the twentieth century. Two novels which effectively explore and encapsulate this genre are ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ by J.D Salinger (1951) and ‘Less Than Zero’ by Bret Easton Ellis (1985). These novels are set in two completely different decades, which will allow comparisons in American youth culture at different points in time. It is commonly believed that the notion of the ‘teenager’ emerged in the 1950’. Both Salinger and Ellis appear keen to explore what it is to be a teenager in both of their novels. They explore different perceptions of teenage life and the place they hold in society. Some of the emerging themes in these
Over the course of a weekend he recounts the days following his expulsion from Pencey Prep, an upmarket private school. After a fight with his roommate, Stradlater, Holden leaves school a few days early to explore New York before returning home, interacting with teachers, nuns, prostitutes, an old girlfriend, and his sister along the way. J.D. Salinger's classic The Catcher in the Rye illustrates a teenager's dramatic struggle against fatality and growing up. Holden experiences feelings of alienation from his peers and family following his exclusion from school. Throughout the novel we bear witness to Holden’s deteriorating mental state as he becomes increasingly reclusive, going out of his way to avoid all contact with other people. Holden’s feelings of alienation throughout the novel and society’s impact on him force him to be portrayed as a disaffected character. This allows us to look closely as how this work reflects American youth culture at this time. In contrast to this, Less Than Zero takes place in the mid-80’s against a hedonistic backdrop of parties and excess. The protagonist Clay is a very rich young college student who is constantly exposed to expensive cars, giant