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Frame Story
Genre
Explanation and Analysis:
The Catcher in the Rye is a classic example of a bildungsroman. This is a German word meaning “a novel of development,” and it’s a genre that focuses on the protagonist's journey through personal growth and self-discovery to maturity. Salinger’s book follows Holden Caulfield, a conflicted and grieving teenager navigating the tumultuous transition from adolescence to adulthood. As he recounts his experiences over a few days in New York City, readers witness Holden’s critical view of the adult world and his craving for connection to the world around him. Holden goes from being a childlike adolescent who’s absolutely sure he sees the world correctly to a more nuanced figure, one who knows that people aren’t wholly good or wholly bad.
An important feature of the bildungsroman is the protagonist's psychological development, especially as these narratives are usually focused on how they change. For this reason, The Catcher in the Rye also falls into the genre of psychological realism. In an effort to explore why people do the things they choose to do, Salinger has the reader look deeply into Holden’s psyche and explore the underlying reasons for his behavior and thoughts. The novel’s stream-of-consciousness narrative technique is a common feature of this genre, as it allows the reader to feel immersed in a character’s thought process. By representing the confused array of Holden’s inner thoughts and desires, Salinger allows the reader to experience them as they unfold.
Related Themes:
