The Catcher in the Rye

1) What does the writing reveal about the author's values and attitudes?  From what perspective does he/she write?


J.D. Salinger wrote The Catcher in the Rye from a first-person perspective.  He has completely enveloped himself in the mind of Holden Caulfield, the main character of the story.  In some sections of the novel, I would often forget that it was fictional, due to his casual recollection of memories and impulsive thought process.  I believe that Caulfield was created from a possibly overlooked part of Salinger's personality.  With such a vivid memoir and attention to detail, I am led to think that there is a direct relation between Salinger and the characters he has created, not unlike many other authors.  Branching off of this thought, I am able to make observations about the author just from reading about the things he has imagined.
In reading, I noticed a very impulsive nature in Caulfield.  He would come up with an idea in his mind, then find himself carrying out the idea without much thought on it.  He also would explain that he didn't know why he was doing what he did, he just did it (Salinger 198).  I don't know a lot about Salinger or his experiences, but there is definitely an impulsive side to him, whether he expresses it or not.  The way he described Holden's behavior made it seem as though he knew the feelings quite well.  If Caulfield does come from a part of Salinger's personality, even subconsciously, then this prominent trait of the character must be present in some part of Salinger's mentality.
Another trait I found important was Holden's understanding of people.  He would recall a conversation, and give commentary about the person and their every action.  He could elaborate on a small stutter for pages, or the way someone played the piano. (Salinger 84).  Although this trait is not always something to be proud of, I found it interesting to hear the judgments we, as humans, tend to make in the back of our minds.  He didn't pay much attention to his surroundings, just how the people reacted to those surroundings.  This must have been something the author spent a substantial amount of time pondering, because each interaction was described in great detail.  
I am once again led to believe that Salinger shares these traits with his character because he has such a firm understanding of the concepts, along with other traits that Holden possesses.  


Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 1991