Post 4 - Setting

Question: What contribution to the story is made by its setting? Is the particular setting essential, or could the story have happened anywhere?

The primary setting in The Catcher in the Rye is New York City. This locale provides insight into the themes and motifs present in the novel, and reflects the inner workings of Holden Caulfield. When one contemplates the traits of N.Y.C. and Holden, it is easy to find many parallels that aid in the understanding of this complex character.

New York is commonly regarded as the most fast paced metropolis in the entire world, and has earned the subtitle “the city that never sleeps.” This mentality is portrayed through Holden’s inability to stay in one place at for long, and through the fact that he rarely garners shut-eye. However, New York is also often associated with a lack of identity. The masses are simply that - groups of faceless, moving bodies who give no regard to their surroundings, or often even to themselves. Holden fights for the exact opposite. He advocates individuality, and the resistance of conformity. He also believes that the adult world is full of phonies, people who will give anything to be likable. This provides a greater struggle in Holden’s coming of age, as he opposes anything to do with adults. Irony is created because of this conflict, in the fact that New York is dominated and run by the adult community. 

Holden’s true loneliness is also mirrored in New York City. Though the urban center is highly populated, the people have become disconnected. The near emptiness of late night streets suits Holden quite well, which creates a delightful prophetic fallacy. It also allows for long walks in which Holden expresses many of his deepest inner thoughts, that, in turn, further a reader’s belief and impression of the protagonist. A major idea that is exposed because of the setting is Holden’s contradictions. He knows so few people in the massive city, and therefore, can get away with consistent lying, and ironically, phoniness. This allows for the thorough comprehension of the fact that Holden has indeed grown up - he just doesn’t know it. At the same time though, it lets him make a strong stand against conformity, especially in his decision to wear his large hunting hat. He ignores normal social ideals, and indicates a lack of approval towards judgement, indicated when he states, “I took my red hunting hat out of my pocket and put it on - I didn’t give a damn how I looked. Even put the earlaps down” (Salinger, 88). Instances like these allow Holden to isolate himself from civilization, and in a sense, become an individual in the endless crowd of New York, and the world.

Personally, I feel that the setting is quite essential to the overall story. Not only does it assist in the comprehension of the themes, motifs, symbols and characters, but it also sets the tone for the overall story. No other city is as suited to act as the backdrop to this unique journey to self discovery, simply because there truly is no place on earth as broad, exciting, confusing, and lonely as the big apple.