For centuries, the title of J. D. Salinger’s 1951 classic, The Catcher in the Rye, has been one of the most recognized phrases in literature.
But many don’t know what it actually means, or why it was chosen as the title of this book. In this article, we will examine why The Catcher in the Rye is so named and what creative significance it holds as an emblem of Salinger’s work.
From the sun-soaked fields of America to a British folk song, the title of this book clearly has a deeper significance. Read on to discover why The Catcher in the Rye remains a beloved part of literature today.
Why is it Called the Catcher in the Rye?
J. D Salinger’s famous novel the Catcher in the Rye is a mix of emotions and experiences, although why it’s called the Catcher in the Rye has been up for debate since its original publication in 195To try and under the origin of the title, it is important to look at the context of the novel and the symbolic meaning of the catcher in the rye.
The Context of the Novel
The novel follows the protagonist Holden Caulfield’s journey, a 16-year-old student who struggles in his studies, unsure of his direction and purpose in life.He is expelled from Pencey Prep, and he decides to escape from New York and the adult world for a few days, eventually contemplating his life and his mistakes. The novel itself is semi-autobiographical; J.
D Salinger had a difficult time in his education and was supposed to attend university at one point, but dropped out. We can then make a connection between Holden’s story and Salinger’s life, as Holden’s struggles seem to reflect Salinger’s own.
The Symbolism of the Catcher
The idea of the ‘catcher in the rye’ is referenced several times throughout the novel.This phrase is derived from Robert Burns’ poem “Comin’ Thro the Rye”. Now in this poem, the line “Gin a body meet a body/ comin’ thro’ the rye” signifies two people meeting in a field of rye, as rye was a popular crop at the time.
The narrator of the poem wishes to catch the other person, which is where the entire idea of the catcher came from. The thing is that “catcher in the rye” doesn’t just signify the title of the novel; it shows what the entire story is about. Holden wants to “catch” these children who are running out of innocence, to preserve something before adulthood takes it away from them.
The rye field itself symbolizes innocence in the sense that it’s a field of crops, but in this context, it is something which Holden needs to protect and watch over.