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The protagonist Holden Caulfield narrates his story. It’s not a story that spans many years but just a few days.
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Holden goes to a posh boarding school, and he does not clear all his exams except English. He runs away and spends a few days in various places in New York, meeting people he knows and strangers as well.
He doubts the system, the pedagogy, and the teachers. He finds many people ‘Phony’, those who are too superficial. He uses the word 35 times in the story. He finds all those people who are flashy and not empathetic irritating.
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He assesses people, is judgemental, and cannot go by the book. He calls himself an illiterate but devours many books.
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I loved his relationship with his sister. He lovingly buys a record for her, that he feels she will enjoy listening to, but unfortunately, it breaks. There is a scene where he goes to his little sister, Phoebe’s room, and he just admires his little sister while sleeping thinking about the fact that children look so sweet while they sleep, and adults don’t. I found this part very sweet, and it portrays his utmost love for his kid sister. Although he hates many people for being fake, he is not a misanthrope.
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Although he plans to run away and work. He does not have a reality check. He has a very unclear perception of his future.
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I found the protagonist, sweet, irritating, opinionated, empathetic and both lovable and hateable, like any teenager could be.
The character makes us question a lot of ideals that people set for themselves and others. It also makes one think about the way children are taught and examined in schools.
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The title of the book was intriguing, and it comes from the song written by the poet Robert Burns ‘Comin Thro the Rye’. Holden dreams of saving children from falling off a cliff while playing in the field of Rye. It is very symbolic of Holden's appreciation of innocence in children.
It's a charming, and beautifully crafted story that I enjoyed rereading.
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