我会站在一道破悬崖边上，我要做的就是抓住每个跑向悬崖的孩子——我是说要是他们跑起来不看方向，我就得从哪儿过来抓住他们。我整天就干那种事，就当个麦田里的守望者罢了。
The Catcher in the Rye(Little,Brown and Company,2001) is a typical novel which reflects the confusion and rebel of the 1950s in America history written by (During 1945-1955, the dark cloud of World War II has not left yet, the smoke of gunpowder of cold war arises again. On one hand the development in science and technology is fast, and on the other hand, people lack the ideal, demoralized, under the great social background unable to change in oneself.Then, “ a generation of collapsing ” appears )
Holden Caulfield, the main character of this novel, is portrayed by the author as a typical teenager of the time. Born in a wealthy middle class family, Holton was supposed to live a good life. However, he was expelled from school four times, not dare to go home, wandering alone in York city one day and two nights, living in small inn, going to nightclubs, being alcoholism. In his view, school is a hypocritical place. The purpose that you go to school is only to get a good job or beat others. Although he has deep thinking towards the world and always aspires for the kindness , he can’t find a real friend, so he always feels alone.
Being unable to go back home and having no faithful friend to talk with, Holden Caulfield looses his hold with himself and goes to do a lot of what he in fact thought very nasty, such as paying for the bill for an silly blonde woman, calling to a social butterfly, listening to a false pianist’s performance. After an extremely desperation, he decides to go to a place far away ,leaving New York. Luckily, he informs his little sister Phoebe of this decision, Phoebe stops him and let him be back to the regular life.
Salinger J.D. ‘s psychological description is very impressive and vividly.For example, he describes Holden’s psychologies :” Every time I’d get to the end of a block I’d make believe I was talking to my brother Allie.I’d say to him,’ Allie,don’t let me disappear.Allie,don’t let me dispear.Allie , don’t let me dispear.Please,Allie.’”He also has a good command of making comparisons.Through sharp contrast between hypocritical people from all walks of life and innocent and pure children.People around him always lack of patience and don’t have time to listen carefully to what others really think.Everyone is busy with their things and has no time to know about others’thoughts,even Holden’s parents are one of them. Holden almost not mention his parents in the book ,we can see that his parents may pay so little attention on his growth and make no efforts to understand him.
Despite being in this upsetting situation, Holden is dragged out of the deepest depression by sister Phoebe.To Holden,sister Phoebe is the representation of valuable and rare warmth,his only sunshine,after his brother Allie’s death.It is Phoebe that encourages Holden to try to adapt himself to society and trys to accept the whole world ,no matter its good side or bad side.
I know that The Catcher in the Rye is a marvelous book and has affected several generations of America .From my point of view, The Catcher in the Rye also can contribute a lot to all world’s youths,preventing some of them from degenerating and inspiring readers to be more positive. Through reading this novel,we can find many feeelings similar to Holden’s,but we can choose another different way to overcome these passive ideas because we can learn that life is not entirely meaningless,how it will is up to your attitude towards it.
