J.D. Salinger: Influential American Writer
“An artist 's only concern is to shoot for some kind of perfection, and on his own terms, not anyone else 's” (Salinger 198). JD Salinger was an extremely influential writer in the 20th Century. Though he did not write many works, he is still a very well known author in American Literature. He is mainly known for The Catcher and the Rye. There is a strong relationship between his life and his literature, and there are many connections between the two. Salinger also has recurring themes in many of his books.
JD Salinger was born in New York on January 1st, 1919. He was the youngest of two children, and the son of a rabbi. Salinger did poorly in school and flunked out of a school in his hometown and was then placed in a Military school in Pennsylvania ("J.D. Salinger"). After graduating military school, Salinger attended college for business but ended up becoming interested in writing and began writing short stories. Soon after, he was drafted into World War II which scarred him but also inspired his writing ("J.D. Salinger"). After the war he returned back to New York and continued writing. His work was published in The New Yorker, a favorite magazine of Salinger’s. He kept writing and in 1951 The Catcher in The Rye was finally published ("J.D. Salinger"). This book was the biggest part of his career and helped established his legacy as an influential and talented American writer. He only published a few more works after this, and let a quiet secluded life. Salinger died at age 91 at his New Hampshire home on January 27th, 2010 ("J.D. Salinger"). Though JD Salinger was a very personal and reclusive author, he allowed a 16 year old from a high school in Cornish to interview him for the high school newspaper. …show more content…
He stated this about his writing and publishing: "There is a marvelous peace in not publishing. It 's peaceful. Still. Publishing is a terrible invasion of my privacy. I like to write. I love to write. But I write just for myself and my own pleasure” (Salinger). This quote from the author shows how his personal life did flow and connect into the characters and themes in his novels. Though he did leave a very personal life away from the public eye, his emotions clearly show in his work. This interview in 1962 was believed to be his first interview since 1953 and one of his last (Fosburgh).
JD Salingers literature connects with his life in many aspects. In The Catcher and the Rye, the main character Holden Caulfield is very similar to Salinger is different ways. Salinger and Holden have very similar childhoods. Holden Caulfield starts out going to a prep school, which his parents sent him to. Salinger’s parents also sent him to a boarding school, where he had a nosy neighbor similar to the character Ackley in The Catcher and the Rye. Holden Caulfield and Salinger both were born in New York to wealthy parents (“Connections to Literature”). JD Salinger and Holden Caulfield both also have a certain interest and love for childhood innocence and not wanting to grow up or become an adult. Towards the end of The Catcher and the Rye, Holden talks about a poem written by Robert Burns called Comin’ Thro the Rye. He mishears the line and believes it is “If a body catch a body comin’ thro the rye” (Salinger 115). Holden then comes up with the idea of “the Catcher in the Rye”, where he is standing at the edge of a cliff with rye on it while children are playing, and catches any children that are too close to the edge of the cliff and saves them from falling off. This is a metaphor and a symbol, inferring that Holden wants to save them from going into adulthood and to stay a child. Salinger, throughout his lifetime had an interest in innocence as well. In the 1970’s he wrote letters and had a close connection to a 18 year old named Joyce Maynard (“Connections to Literature”). He also had other relationships with younger women and some ended up moving in and living with him in various points in his life. In The Catcher and the Rye, Holden goes on a
“An artist 's only concern is to shoot for some kind of perfection, and on his own terms, not anyone else 's” (Salinger 198). JD Salinger was an extremely influential writer in the 20th Century. Though he did not write many works, he is still a very well known author in American Literature. He is mainly known for The Catcher and the Rye. There is a strong relationship between his life and his literature, and there are many connections between the two. Salinger also has recurring themes in many of his books.
JD Salinger was born in New York on January 1st, 1919. He was the youngest of two children, and the son of a rabbi. Salinger did poorly in school and flunked out of a school in his hometown and was then placed in a Military school in Pennsylvania ("J.D. Salinger"). After graduating military school, Salinger attended college for business but ended up becoming interested in writing and began writing short stories. Soon after, he was drafted into World War II which scarred him but also inspired his writing ("J.D. Salinger"). After the war he returned back to New York and continued writing. His work was published in The New Yorker, a favorite magazine of Salinger’s. He kept writing and in 1951 The Catcher in The Rye was finally published ("J.D. Salinger"). This book was the biggest part of his career and helped established his legacy as an influential and talented American writer. He only published a few more works after this, and let a quiet secluded life. Salinger died at age 91 at his New Hampshire home on January 27th, 2010 ("J.D. Salinger"). Though JD Salinger was a very personal and reclusive author, he allowed a 16 year old from a high school in Cornish to interview him for the high school newspaper. …show more content…
He stated this about his writing and publishing: "There is a marvelous peace in not publishing. It 's peaceful. Still. Publishing is a terrible invasion of my privacy. I like to write. I love to write. But I write just for myself and my own pleasure” (Salinger). This quote from the author shows how his personal life did flow and connect into the characters and themes in his novels. Though he did leave a very personal life away from the public eye, his emotions clearly show in his work. This interview in 1962 was believed to be his first interview since 1953 and one of his last (Fosburgh).
JD Salingers literature connects with his life in many aspects. In The Catcher and the Rye, the main character Holden Caulfield is very similar to Salinger is different ways. Salinger and Holden have very similar childhoods. Holden Caulfield starts out going to a prep school, which his parents sent him to. Salinger’s parents also sent him to a boarding school, where he had a nosy neighbor similar to the character Ackley in The Catcher and the Rye. Holden Caulfield and Salinger both were born in New York to wealthy parents (“Connections to Literature”). JD Salinger and Holden Caulfield both also have a certain interest and love for childhood innocence and not wanting to grow up or become an adult. Towards the end of The Catcher and the Rye, Holden talks about a poem written by Robert Burns called Comin’ Thro the Rye. He mishears the line and believes it is “If a body catch a body comin’ thro the rye” (Salinger 115). Holden then comes up with the idea of “the Catcher in the Rye”, where he is standing at the edge of a cliff with rye on it while children are playing, and catches any children that are too close to the edge of the cliff and saves them from falling off. This is a metaphor and a symbol, inferring that Holden wants to save them from going into adulthood and to stay a child. Salinger, throughout his lifetime had an interest in innocence as well. In the 1970’s he wrote letters and had a close connection to a 18 year old named Joyce Maynard (“Connections to Literature”). He also had other relationships with younger women and some ended up moving in and living with him in various points in his life. In The Catcher and the Rye, Holden goes on a