The Catcher in the Rye is set in the late 1940s and early 1950s, in a post-World War II era. This also happened during the Cold War. The book begins at Pencey Prep, an exclusive boarding school in New Jersey. Later Holden returns to his hometown in New York. “If there ever is another war, I will sit on it. I will volunteer, I swear to God I will." Holden seems to have no fear of death. He seems to focus a lot on death, but he has had a lot of it in his life. His younger brother died of leukemia four years before we met him. He witnesses of a boy's suicide in elementary school. And then there's the little problem of World War II. On the other hand, he's fed up with people being fake and naive. He seems to have an opinion about everything. he has a mind beyond his years. "If you sat there long enough and heard all the fakes clapping and everything, you'd have to hate everyone in the world, I swear that's one of Holden's biggest problems in Catcher in." the Rye is that fake people go around pretending that great tragedies don't happen every day: they cry at sad movies, but they don't cry at the atomic bomb During the time period, this book was written strongly influencing the. entire theme of the book. World War II and the impending Cold War helped influence Holden and his surroundings. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The Catcher in the Rye was published in a time when social rules served as a code of conformity for younger generations. Because Salinger used slang and profanity in his lyrics and because he discussed sexuality openly, some were offended. Another thing stated was that young white men were expected to earn a high school diploma, enter a competitive workplace, contribute to the economy, start a family, buy a home, and enjoy holding a stable job and well paid. Holden Caulfield rejects every aspect of the American dream and refuses to conform to popular American ideals. "If I were a pianist, I'd play it in the damn closet." or “If a girl looks good when she meets you, who cares if she's late?” His use of slang and swear words draws attention to himself, suggesting that he is trying to create an impression of himself as tough and rebellious. Holden's language also indicates his immaturity, or perhaps a way of expressing his emotions. Whether it's rejecting the American dream or the way he chooses to express himself, there is a clear trend. It's clear that he's trying to stay young, immature, and reject the fact that he'll eventually need to get a job and grow up. “Now she's in Hollywood, DB, working as a prostitute. If there's one thing I hate, it's movies. At the beginning of the book, it seems like Holden is reluctant to go out into the world and get a job or grow up. Holden rejects many of the values ​​associated with pursuing the American dream. He considers the life his family leads and sees no value in becoming a corporate lawyer like his father, or in selling himself to the Hollywood machine like his brother. DB Holden has bounced from school to school due to his efforts to delay his inevitable graduation. High school; graduation will mean he is one step closer to becoming a man who chases money, traditionally part of the American dream. Holden Caulfield's character seems like a teenager trying to figure out life and find himself. He is a confused teenager, stuck between childhood and adulthood.