History YMMV / TheCatcherInTheRye

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Holden is either a shining beacon of morality amongst all that was wrong with the 1950s, or a whiny prototype EmoKid who refuses to let himself see anything good in the world, OR just one of the first examples of teenage disillusionment in a post-World War II world. Or you think he's telling you to kill pop-culture icons (see LoonyFan in the Trivia sec). It really depends on the reader.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Holden, according to some. To others, a JerkSue. It's only too easy to get irritated by Holden's constant negativity. Still others see him as a JerkassWoobie.

* SecurityBlanket: His hunting cap can be seen as this, in that he's constantly putting it on and taking it off only when he's in a situation where he knows he will be mocked for wearing it.

** Its current 'tame' status was referenced in a recent episode of WesternAnimation/SouthPark, where the boys, disappointed by the book's content, try to write the [[RefugeInVulgarity most disgusting story imaginable.]]

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Holden is either a shining beacon of morality amongst all that was wrong with the 1950s, or a whiny prototype EmoKid who refuses to let himself see anything good in the world, OR just one of the first examples of teenage disillusionment in a post-World War II world. Or you think he's telling you to kill pop-culture icons (see LoonyFan on the main page). It really depends on the reader.

** Catcher in the Rye is uncontroversial by today's standards. See above entry for LoonyFan that has helped fuel an undeserved reputation as a dark and controversial book. It's current 'tame' status was referenced in a recent episode of WesternAnimation/SouthPark, where the boys, disappointed by the book's content, try to write the [[RefugeInVulgarity most disgusting story imaginable.]]
** In the '50s, Holden Caulfield probably was a great character, just for being so ''[[DarkerAndEdgier different]]'' from other literary protagonists of the time. Today... Not so much. Considering that so many characters are like him nowadays, he [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation can sometimes come off as the]] UrExample of a JerkassStu.

** Holden refers to how attractive Stradlater is all the damn time.

* AntiHero: Holden is a Type IV/V.

** Catcher in the Rye is uncontroversial by today's standards. See above entry for LoonyFan that has helped fuel an undeserved reputation as a dark and controversial book. It's current 'tame' status was referenced in a recent episode of SouthPark, where the boys, disappointed by the book's content, try to write the [[RefugeInVulgarity most disgusting story imaginable.]]

** In the '50s, Holden Caulfield probably was a great character, just for being so [[DarkerAndEdgier ''different'']] from other literary protagonists of the time. Today... Not so much. Considering that so many characters are like him nowadays, he [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation can sometimes come off as the]] UrExample of a JerkassStu.

* YourMileageMayVary: Any high schooler would tell you that the book has its detractors.

* HilariousInHindsight: Why is this book so frequently banned? Because it uses the word "Fuck"- during a scene in which Holden, discovering it scribbled where grade-schoolers can see it, tries to scrub it out so it can never offend anyone again. Also counts as CompletelyMissingThePoint. Considering how much Holden swears BEYOND "fuck," this is somewhat justified. However, this does miss the point, considering how iconic the book is.

** The underage protagonist spending the entire novel smoking, drinking (when he can get served), hiring a prostitute, having a [[{{Understatement}} generally negative attitude]] AFTER being kicked out of school might also have something to do with why people ban it ...

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Holden, according to some.
** To others, a JerkSue. It's only too easy to get irritated by Holden's constant negativity.
* Still others see him as a JerkassWoobie

* {{Wangst}}: The nonstop swearing and pessimistic, holier-than-thou type of attitude that the narrator had (due to ''everyone'' being a "phony") made the book completely unbearable.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Holden is either a shining beacon of morality amongst all that was wrong with the 1950s, or a whiny prototype EmoKid who refuses to let himself see anything good in the world, OR just one of the first examples of teenage disillusionment in a post-World War II world. Or you think he's telling you to kill pop-culture icons (see LoonyFan on the main page). It really depends on the reader.

* {{Wangst}}: The nonstop swearing and pessimistic, holier-than-thou type of attitude that the narrator had (due to ''everyone'' being a "phony") made the book completely unbearable.

** In the '50s, Holden Caulfield probably was a great character, just for being so [[DarkerAndEdgier ''different'']] from other literary protagonists of the time. Today... Not so much. Considering that so many characters are like him nowadays, he [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation can sometimes come off as the]] UrExample of a JerkassStu.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Holden is either a shining beacon of morality amongst all that was wrong with the 1950s, or a whiny prototype EmoKid who refuses to let himself see anything good in the world, OR just one of the first examples of teenage disillusionment in a post-World War II world. Or you think he's telling you to kill pop-culture icons (see LoonyFan below). It really depends on the reader.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Holden is either a shining beacon of morality amongst all that was wrong with the 1950s, or a whiny prototype EmoKid who refuses to let himself see anything good in the world, OR just one of the first examples of teenage disillusionment in a post-World War II world. Or you think he's telling you to kill pop-culture icons (see LoonyFan below). It really depends on the reader. Quagmire brings this up during his rant to Brian on ''FamilyGuy'''s "Jerome is the New Black", saying Holden was a spoiled brat instead of a burdened genius.

** To others, a JerkSue. It's only too easy to get irritated by Holden's constant negativity.