The thing that some young readers say they hate about this novel is the main character himself. That’s a fair point. This is a first-person-central narrative, which means that we as readers are stuck with the voice and the mind of the protagonist, and this particular protagonist is confused, angry, anxious, and full of insecurities—all of which he’s trying to cover up, which can make for a pretty toxic experience. Holden is no Nick Carraway, the affable first-person narrator of The Great Gatsby. Nick was a slightly removed, secondary character, telling us about the main character, Jay Gatsby. Nick’s cool-headed, humble, and non-judgmental demeanor make for a trustworthy and likeable narrator. On the other hand, Holden is impulsive, boastful, and severe in his judgments. He is the main character in his own story, so everything is always about him. Me! Me! Me! Me! Me! At times, it can feel like being stuck on a cross-country road trip with your most obnoxious and egotistical friend. But… that’s the most impressive quality of the novel.
Remember, at the time of its publication there were very few representations of teenagers in the media, even fewer in which the teenager was also the main character, and virtually none of those representations were honest and authentic. What Salinger did was revolutionary. Not only did he write a novel about a teenager, but he allowed that teenager to tell his own story, and then imbued his protagonist with perhaps the most honest and authentic teenage voice that anyone had ever heard… and it upset a lot of people. Quite a few book critics panned the novel. Many parents were deeply disturbed by Holden’s behavior and concerned that their own children might emulate the main character’s profane vocabulary, academic lethargy, and general hatefulness. Libraries and schools banned the book for fear that it would promote juvenile delinquency.
But let’s step back for a moment. Throughout the course of a day, who do you think about more than anyone else? Yourself. Who do you worry about more than anyone else? Yourself. How many opinions do you have but are careful not to share? How many insecurities do you have but never openly acknowledge? How many desires do you have but never express? How often do you know exactly what must be done but fail to do it? Now, imagine if all those thoughts, opinions, anxieties, insecurities, and desires were broadcast all day, every day, in real time, for the rest of the world to hear. And imagine if everyone could watch you all day, every day, even in your most private moments, as you struggle to temper those opinions, battle those anxieties, overcome those insecurities, and back up your words with actions. That’s a lot of teenage angst to take in. You might not be the most likeable protagonist either. And that’s the brilliance of Salinger. He has given us a protagonist that is, in many ways, a lot like us.
This whole book is, for Holden, a form of therapy. He’s talking (some would say ranting) out loud and somewhat extemporaneously. And as many of us would, he rambles, repeats himself, goes off on tangents, speaks in hyperbole, curses, and sometimes contradicts himself. That’s because he’s caught up in the moment. His story is something of an exercise in free association, almost stream of consciousness. In telling his story in such a raw and uninterrupted way, he’s figuring himself out… even if he doesn’t realize it.