Social Themes and Growing Up in The Catcher in the RyeWhen reading JD Salinger's novel, The Catcher in the Rye, one is bound to have a very strong reaction to the content of the book. Whether this reaction is negative or positive, it is undeniable that the reader will think about the novel after reading it. There may be several reasons why this novel has such an impact on readers. It may be Salinger's use of catchy, biting and generally negative slang phrases that grab the reader's attention. Another possibility is Holden, the subject and main character of the novel. “He calls everything “phony”, is constantly in search of sincerity and represents the first hero of adolescent angst” (Belcher). Or, it could be the originality of the perspective the book takes on the popular theme of right of passage and the experience of growing up. Most likely, it was the overall tone of the book that incorporated all of these factors and combined them to form an inventive story with a believable plot. Holden Caulfield, described in the book as being about sixteen years old, is a classic antihero type: full of negative opinions, rarely a gentleman, not exactly the best-looking boy at his prep school, yet deserving of some sympathy. Holden is a character who would be motivated solely by his hormones and his own personal opinions. Unfortunately for him, these two aspects of his character often get him into trouble. However, despite all of this, Holden is a character that most teenagers relate to in many ways, because his feelings are genuine and his problems are easy to understand. When you study a piece of literature, it makes sense... middle of paper. .....d he was confused like everyone else. There's a line in the book where Holden actually says "I don't know exactly what I mean by that, but I think so." You wonder how the author got away with saying something like that, but then you realize that it's actually refreshingly different and almost a relief. The theme of the novel was a message about society and growth. For Holden and many others, it's too much to ask to live in a world where you have to catch yourself before you fall. Works Cited Belcher, William F., and Lee, James EJD Salinger and the Critics. September 20, 1999http://kirjasto.scifi/salinger.htm.Davis, Robert Con, ed. Contemporary literary criticism. Flight. 56. Detroit: Gail Research Inc., 1989. Stevenson, David. “JD Salinger: The Mirror of Crisis.” The Nation, Vol. 184, No. 10, March 1957, 215-17.