historical_context

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Pencey was the last school that Holden attended and where the story begins. He gets kicked out after failing all of his classes excluding english.

Historical Context

The novel Catcher in the Rye was published in 1951 and is set in 1946. This time period is following the cold war in a new era of prosperity and genuine hope for the future. While the time period is optimistic, it is set up to make Holden Caulfield, the main character stick out like a sore thumb. He is negative and depressed in a time of light and cheerfulness. The information relating to the time is accurately relevant as it was written in the present. This affects the story and possible readers around during its publication because they can easily relate to the time period and mood that is set from the late 40s leading into the 50s.  It might almost seem ridiculous to reiterate the feelings in the late 40s because everyone was experiencing them. 
It is significant for many teenagers to read this book during high school because it is still fresh in their minds from their required US History class and the feelings of the time period are reinforced even more. Since this book was written in such a prosperous time, many people had the opportunity to actually read books as a pass-time. It also was a set up for a lot of controversy. The book had a negative tone as it is in first person of Holden. Reading this book could possibly put a damper on the illuminating time period as Holden sparks diversity and rebellion in the youth. The historical context of this book is important for the people reading it today because in a different time period Holden�s actions may not seem so drastic or irrelevant. It�s important however to have some kind of background in American History because for an immigrant Holden�s actions may seem normal if that is all they know about America.

"Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody."
-Holden Caulfield

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