J.D. Salinger Research Paper: Salinger V. Caulfield
Mikahla Denney
Mr. Snow
English II PAP- 3
12 March 2012
The Catcher in the Rye: Salinger v. Caulfield
During World War II and the post war era after, many peoples’ lives went down paths that lead their sanity to meander, just like that of J.D. Salinger. Salinger grew up as a very bright child, yet his work effort lacked great stamina which caused him to flunk average school, requiring a military academy. Once Salinger reached adulthood, he became lost in his paranoid thoughts and secluded himself away from the rest of society. In his novel The Catcher in the Rye, critics believe that Salinger portrays his post-war self through the character Holden Caulfield, yet because of Salinger’s solitary ways, none know for sure. Because of the extremely obscene language, rebellion towards the adult world, and apparent mental health issues, Holden Caulfield exemplifies the life of J.D. Salinger. Jerome David Salinger, born January 1, 1919 of father Sal Salinger, a successful Jewish meat importer, and mother Miria Jillrich Salinger, an Irish immigrant, lived with a very bright yet rebellious disposition (Garrett 201). Salinger’s history remained hidden from public eyes, for when interviewers pressed for information on his childhood, “he has been known to spread rumors: he was a goalie for the Montreal hockey team” (201). Salinger attended a private preparatory school in Manhattan called McBurney. At the end of his first year at this school, he flunked out. His father, very concerned for his son’s education, enrolled Salinger in Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania (202). “One of his classmates remembered crawling through the fence with him after lights out to poach local beer taps” (202). After Salinger graduated the military academy in 1936, he attended New York University, Ursivus College, and Columbia University (Nassa 389). Salinger’s writing career took off in 1939 by writing short stories in Whit Burnett’s writing group at Columbia University.
Mr. Snow
English II PAP- 3
12 March 2012
The Catcher in the Rye: Salinger v. Caulfield
During World War II and the post war era after, many peoples’ lives went down paths that lead their sanity to meander, just like that of J.D. Salinger. Salinger grew up as a very bright child, yet his work effort lacked great stamina which caused him to flunk average school, requiring a military academy. Once Salinger reached adulthood, he became lost in his paranoid thoughts and secluded himself away from the rest of society. In his novel The Catcher in the Rye, critics believe that Salinger portrays his post-war self through the character Holden Caulfield, yet because of Salinger’s solitary ways, none know for sure. Because of the extremely obscene language, rebellion towards the adult world, and apparent mental health issues, Holden Caulfield exemplifies the life of J.D. Salinger. Jerome David Salinger, born January 1, 1919 of father Sal Salinger, a successful Jewish meat importer, and mother Miria Jillrich Salinger, an Irish immigrant, lived with a very bright yet rebellious disposition (Garrett 201). Salinger’s history remained hidden from public eyes, for when interviewers pressed for information on his childhood, “he has been known to spread rumors: he was a goalie for the Montreal hockey team” (201). Salinger attended a private preparatory school in Manhattan called McBurney. At the end of his first year at this school, he flunked out. His father, very concerned for his son’s education, enrolled Salinger in Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania (202). “One of his classmates remembered crawling through the fence with him after lights out to poach local beer taps” (202). After Salinger graduated the military academy in 1936, he attended New York University, Ursivus College, and Columbia University (Nassa 389). Salinger’s writing career took off in 1939 by writing short stories in Whit Burnett’s writing group at Columbia University.
Cited: Coles, Robert. “Anna Freud and J.D. Salinger’s Holden Caulfield.” Virginia Quarterly Review 72.2 (2000): 214. Academic Search Elite. Web. 31 January 2012 Garrett, Agnes and Helga P. McCue, eds. Authors and Artists for Young Adults 1989. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale Research, 1989. 75 vols. Nassa, Chris, ed. Contemporary Authors: New Revision Series. 2004. Vol. 129. Farmington Hills, MI. Gale Group, 2004. 153 vols. Sater, Michael. “J.D. Salinger (1919-2010)”. Entertainment Weekly 12 February 2010: 28. Master FILE Premier. Web. 2 February 2012 Thomas, McMahan, ed. Authors and Artists for Young Adults 1984. Vol. 36. Farmington Hills, MI. Gale Group Inc., 2001. 75 vols.