I Used to Hate the "Catcher in the Rye"

I was fourteen. It was my freshman year of high school and I was fully engrossed in the self-perceived melodrama of my life. I was your typical moody teenager. I hated all of my classes, not understanding why I needed to take Biology when I was clearly not cracked out to be a medical professional. Our reading list in English consisted of your typical high school reads: Romeo and Juliet, The Odyssey, some other one I can’t remember, and “The Catcher in the Rye.” “The Catcher in the Rye” would prove to be the most discussed out of that very memorable list (as evidenced by my ability to remember the others…).

I detested Holden Caulfield. While other students in my class fawned over the glowing symbolism and a character they felt that they could finally relate to, I yearned for the day we could put the book to rest. He was whiny. Really whiny. He was also spoiled. And an asshole. Holden was that rich kid in high school with so much potential who squandered it because of nepotism. He had to find something wrong with everything. There was nothing that he truly seemed to like. He invaded my perfect literary world and I wanted him out.

I have had so many more crazy experiences since I first read this book. I’ve seen a lot more of life. I’ve seen that people aren’t perfect and that they make mistakes, but you must, must attempt to get to know them and figure out why. People are often the biggest surprises in life. 

I chose to read this book recently a second time around. I finally have an understanding of why this book is a classic. The feelings that a teenager experiences? They’re all there. Holden’s an anti-hero and really, aren’t all human beings? Maybe the reason I couldn’t stomach it the first time was because I was feeling some of the same feelings as Holden. Maybe I was actually like Holden?

 

Is Holden Caulfield my favorite literary character of all time now? No. However, having lived a little bit more, I find myself better able to relate to him than I was that first semester freshman year. Maybe I didn’t initially like him because he was like me?

Teenagers and 20something’s have a tendency to think they know everything even when they don’t. If there’s anything that I have learned in my short time on this planet, it is that things and people change. Your ideas will change about them. However, you have to open yourself up to doing so.

I think I’m finally starting to do that.