Summary Essay of The Catcher in the Rye, Comparing the Life of J.D. Salinger to His Literary Protagonist Holden Caulfield

A summary of The Catcher in the Rye that compares the life of J.D. Salinger to his literary protagonist Holden Caulfield. Included are many new insights into the motivations of the author, why his protagonist threatened to run off to the woods, and why Salinger actually did.


“For both Holden and Salinger, going off to the country was the last option, a final denunciation of society. Holden reached out to friends and strangers without success, nearly gave up on everyone, and threatened to run off to the woods. The author reached out with his book, also without success, and actually did run off to the woods.” . . . Read the essay for a full analysis and explanation.