Abstract

First published in 1951, The Catcher in the Rye continues to be one of the most popular novels ever written as well as one of the most frequently banned books in the United States. Especially popular among the youth, the novel deals with the inner world of Holden Caulfield, a 16-year-old boy from the middle class. It explores the “rebellious” protagonist’s depression, nervous breakdown, alienation as well as his thoughts about the people and society. Although severely criticized and even banned for one time for its vulgar language, erratic behaviors and depressing human conditions that Holden perceives, it had sharp advocates who maintained that the novel revealed the true problems facing the 1950s youth. Through analyzing Holden Caulfield from three perspectives that shape Holden’s characteristics, namely, the social context of the author Salinger’s times, the life experience of the author, and the surrounding environment of Hold Caulfield, this thesis, based on the novel, aims to better understand the theme of the novel—the sensitive youth beleaguered by society, and intends to gain further insight into the special group of today’s youth. In this prospering society, people ought to pay more attention to the realization of spiritual values, especially that of the youth’s. 

Key words: Holden Caulfield, Character, Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye，spiritual value

摘要

自1951年首次问世以来，《麦田里的守望者》一直是美国最受欢迎也是屡禁不止的小说之一，在年轻人中尤为风靡。小说主要描述了一个中产阶级16岁青年的内心世界，挖掘了叛逆主人公的消沉，精神崩溃，与世格格不入以及对周围的人们和所生活的社会的看法。虽然该小说因语言粗俗，主人公霍尔顿奇怪的做法及他眼中令人沮丧的人类处境而受到各种批评指责，甚至一度被禁，许多支持者认为小说揭示了20世纪50年代青少年所面临的真实的问题。本论文意在于原小说的基础上，通过从三个方面，即作者塞林格生活的社会背景，塞林格的生活经历及霍尔顿的周边环境来解读主人公霍尔顿的性格特征以更好地理解主旨—敏感的青少年在成长的道路上内心的困扰。通过其形象的研究，更好地了解青年人这一特殊的群体。在物质生活获得极大发展的现代社会,人们应该更多地关注个人精神价值的体现,尤其是青少年的精神价值。

关键词： 霍尔顿•考菲尔德；性格；塞林格；《麦田里的守望者》；精神价值

Chapter 1 Introduction
Once published, The Catcher in the Rye became one of the most widely read and discussed works in the American literary canon. Arthur Mizener noted in 1959 in a Haper's magazine that J. D. Salinger was" probably the most avidly read author of any serious pretensions of his generation." (Jack Salzman, 1991: 1)"; it was "the most interesting fiction that has come along for some time."