Ms. Smarty Pants Know It All

Sometimes books need to find you at the right times. I had read The Catcher in the Rye twice before. It’s never connected. I was confused about what I was not getting. This time, I finally understand its vaunted status in American literature.

This book can mean and symbolize all sorts of things to all sorts of people. This is what it meant to me, now.

The protagonist, Holden Caulfield, is having a crisis of faith. He’s not questioning the purpose or existence of God. He’s questioning the purpose of modern society and his existence within it. Although he’s a schoolboy and today we assign this book to be read by students his age, the story is not confined to an age-specific audience, and it is not merely a coming-of-age story.

Holden is a bright boy who has seen more of life than many his age. He’s lived in a number of places and experiences a deep guilt and cutting loss from the death of a younger brother. He sees the superficiality of the world around him and feels lost.

His family is wealthy and successful. This affords him environments and peers free from the struggles of survival. But since they are wealthy from work, he will still need to make his own way in life.

And that idea, that he will have to live amidst the phonies, is making his spirit revolt. Put on a suit. Go out for cocktails. See prestigious plays. Talk about stupid things with stupid people.——All to get along.

Since he’s not inspired by this future, he’s not getting along in his present either. The other boys are doing what boys in his lifestyle should. Holden is getting kicked out of another private school for failing classes. The book is about his post-news two-and-a-half-day existential crisis.

It may seem indulgent and immature. I think the reader always knows that he’s never in any real danger and that his problems are mainly large in his mind.

But I think that is part of the draw of the book. It is very modern. For many of us, this is the life we have. We’re not in danger of starvation. We’re not in danger of a bleak future. But we are in danger of an empty one.

What are we doing that we actually want to do? What are we doing that we really enjoy doing rather than just being phonies—whether its to get along or whether its because we’re supposed to like doing it?

There’s a strong through-line of nostalgia in the narrative. Holden’s most hopeful moments are with the young, his sister and his own younger self. The joys are more real for them. They know what they like and don’t question it. Even if, as you’ll see, the younger was just a few months ago.

I’m trying to figure out my future right now. Sometimes a book finds you at the right time.

Tags: Books //