Catcher in the Rye: Reflection of history, social and behavioral issues, symbolic and thematic reference

This novel reflects a few things going on in the historical behavior of this time period and setting.  Some references to the time period was the fact that Holden went to private schools instead of public schools like we do today. Although there are private schools today, these were the main schools that high schoolers went to in this time period.  This shows that life in this era was a little more classy.  Many people valued the money they had and showed it off by sending their children to private schools.  Another reference to the time period this was written in was the dialogue and words used in this novel.  Holden would say "necking" instead of kissing.  He would also say "swell" and "matinee" and many other related time period words.  There were also some references to the setting.  New York City can be stereotyped and there were many typical city things mentioned.  There was the fact that Holden took cabs.  That is a thing mentioned in any book taking place in the city.  The cabbie also called Holden "mac" which seems like a "New Yorker" thing to say.  Another small sterotype that referenced to the novel was the superficial mood of other people.  New York seems like a place where the big-shots go, and small characters like Ernie the piano player, represented that.

Some behavioral issues were obviously the phoniness of many of the characters Holden encountered.  This shows that this was a time where money and looks started to be valued more than love and happiness.  This was a changing of an age for Holden because he values different things than that.  This could have been the time period that started this trend of valuing material things that still goes on today.  Other behavioral issues were mainly about Holden and his refusal to accept growing up and his lonliness.

Many social issues relate to the behavior issues.  In the social world, many people would like to talk to the people who could do something for them and the rich or famous people.  When Holden was dancing with one of the three girls at the lounge, she got so excited when Holden told her that he saw a famous person, although he lied.  She even told her friends she saw him, but Holden made up the whole thing. This shows the social issues becoming more superficial.

The symbolic and thematic significance in this book is huge.  Holden wanting to be "The catcher in the rye" came across as a symbol of him wanting to conserve child innocence and childhood in general.  The thematic significance can relate to everyone because everyone at some time or another does not want to grow older.  All people handle it differently, but we can all relate.

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown, 2001. Print.