The Catcher in the Rye

THE CATCHER IN THE RYE       

J D SALINGER

At what point does the reader realise Holden is seriously depressed?

Do Holden's encounters with adult hypocrisy ring true to you? Or are they more a reflection of his own deteriorating mental stability? Or both?

Do you find the characters likeable? Would you want to meet the characters?

Holden seems to be reaching out for genuine intimacy in his encounters. Is he himself capable of intimacy? Are any of the other characters capable of providing it? In fact, what is intimacy—sexual and/or non-sexual?

What is the role of women in the text? Is love relevant? Are relationships meaningful?

What role does Phoebe play in the novel? Why (and how) does Holden’s relationship with her affect his decisions, his philosophy of life, and his actions?

Where in the novel is the title mentioned and why is it important—especially the fact that Holden gets Robert Burns's poem wrong?

Discuss Holden's observations about the carousel's gold ring at the end of the novel. What is the significance of the ring? What do his observations reveal about his state of maturity? In what way has his character changed—or developed—by the end of the story?

Does the novel end the way you expected? How? Why?

How essential is the setting to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else? In any other time?

Why is the novel controversial? Why has it been banned? Do you think the reasons for banning are still relevant?

How does the novel relate to current society? Is the novel still relevant? 

Does your reaction to the novel depend on the age you are when we read it?

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/aug/01/the-catcher-in-the-rye-fans-jd-salinger-holden-caulfield 

 DID YOU KNOW?

 JOHN LENNON'S MURDERER WAS OBSESSED WITH IT. When the police arrived at the scene of John Lennon's murder, they found 25-year-old Mark David Chapman reading aloud from The Catcher in the Rye. He'd bought a copy of the book—his favourite—en route to murder John Lennon; in it he wrote "This is my statement," and signed as Holden Caulfield. The next year, police found a copy of The Catcher in the Rye at the home of John Hinckley Jr. after he attempted to assassinate Ronald Reagan.