Since the publication of 195 1, The Catcher in the Rye has brought spiritual comfort to countless young people all over the world. As soon as the novel came out, Holden, a teenager who hates false environment, was regarded as a charming new hero by millions of readers, and the kind language advocating freedom in the novel was warmly welcomed. This novel reflects the contradictory and chaotic outlook on life and morality of American teenagers after World War II, and represents the thoughts and situations of quite a few people at that time. Holden, the hero, resisted without a clear purpose, which was a typical disease of students and teenagers at that time. After The Catcher in the Rye was published, college students and middle school students scrambled to read it. Parents and teachers also regard novels as "required reading materials" and regard them as the key to understanding contemporary teenagers.

The Catcher in the Rye led the new trend of American literary creation and fascinated Americans in the 1950s. This period can be called "Salinger era" beyond the definition of literature. This paper analyzes Holden's mental journey from hating hypocrisy and pursuing innocence to finally succumbing to social reality, and reveals the inner world of loneliness, hesitation and pain of American teenagers after World War II.

This novel was first welcomed by American college students after World War II. Then, no matter what parents or librarians think of this book, a large number of middle school students begin to want to take this novel to read-because reading it has become an entry pass for some school gangs. Although this trend is still far away, some people will still recall a meaningful saying by John B. Judith, the author of New Harmony: "I once read The Catcher in the Rye with a flashlight after turning off the lights." This is an old Salinger fan revealing his senior status-reading after turning off the lights does not mean eager to learn, but represents a rebellion against the bedtime system; Moreover, Salinger himself once risked violating the military discipline of the military academy and wrote with a flashlight in the quilt. Therefore, "reading The Catcher in the Rye with a flashlight" may be the best way for Salinger's real fans to commemorate him.

Although Salinger's original intention in writing this novel is only to show the hypocrisy of adults and the innocence and rebellion of teenagers. But cynical followers are more radical than revolutionary teachers. 1980, mark david chapman killed John Lennon, the lead singer of the Beatles, in new york. He told the outside world that the reason why he killed Lennon was written in The Catcher in the Rye. Another legend is that when a reporter visited the prison, he heard him muttering, "I am a catcher in the rye." He thinks he didn't kill Lennon, but the cover of the magazine. Perhaps he thinks that any idol must enlighten the public from a distance like Salinger, and it is too vulgar to appear on the cover of magazines frequently (it may be acceptable for revolutionary youth to appear on the cover of Time once like Salinger). A few months later, John David hinkley shot President Reagan and found a copy of The Catcher in the Rye in his hotel room. The reporter once again linked the novel with the murder case, but later there was a legend that the murderer's purpose was to attract the attention of movie star Jodie Foster.