Essay about J.D. Salingers Development of Holden Caulfield

Many authors put their own life as inspiration towards their works and characters. J.D. Salinger’s character development of Holden Caulfield has been affected by Salinger’s complications in his school life, devastating past relationships, and overwhelming traumatic events during his pre-The Catcher in the Rye adulthood. J.D. Salinger’s school life had many significant events that are shown through Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye. In the novel, the 17-year-old Holden Caulfield leaves Pencey Prep. In chapter one, Holden states â€Å"...I’d just got back from New York with the fencing team. I was the goddam manager of the fencing team. Very big deal. We’d gone in to New York that morning for this fencing meet with McBurney†¦show more content†¦When Salinger attended McBurney School, he tried to conform so he can fit (one way was calling himself Jerry). While at this school, he also acted in plays and wrote the school’ s newspaper. This is shown through Holden as he doesn’t try to conform (which could be representing Salinger’s regret to try and conform), hates phoniness (as acting as a character [for example: in a play] is considered being phony), and likes writing (as shown in the beginning of chapter one as he tells the audience his story and how he admires his writer-brother, D.B.). Salinger himself stated, â€Å"My boyhood was very much the same as that of the boy in the book, and it was a great relief telling people about it† (interview by Shirlie Blaney). Salinger’s many failed relationships in his lives, from his parents to love interests, are hinted throughout Holden’s life and his character. Salinger’s father was from a Jewish descent while his mother was from a Catholic descent; however Salinger didn’t know about this until his bar mitzvah. Salinger had problematic issues with his father like how his father basically disapproved of hi s son in general (for example: participation in plays). It was even described that â€Å"J.D. skipped his father’s funeral and later stopped eating meat† (stated by www.nndb.com). Salinger’s relationship with his parents were broken because of the trust broken by his mother and theShow MoreRelatedHolden Caulfield of Catcher In the Rye, the equivalent portrayal of J.D Salinger1734 Words   |  7 PagesHolden Caulfield of Catcher In the Rye, the equivalent portrayal of J.D Salinger Jerome David â€Å"J.D† Salinger’s masterpiece, The Catcher in the Rye, is a world to the disillusioned protagonist Holden Caulfield. The story follows Holden Caulfield following his eviction from his private school, Holden leaves school two days early to travel New York before returning home. He interconnected with many different folks along the way and fascinatingly, the character of Holden Caulfield holds a remarkableRead MoreAngel Simon. Mrs Kehrmeyer. Ap English. 2 March 2017. 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