Sep 5, 2008

The Catcher in the Rye | Overview

Background
The period following World War II was a time of hope, change, and puzzlement. Today’s youth have come to know this period through television sitcoms (Happy Days and Ozzie and Harriet), movies (Rebel Without a Cause), and early rock ‘n’ roll music, which is still heard on “oldies” radio stations. Needless to say, these provide a simplistic picture of this complex period (1945-60).

In reality, an estimated 50 million persons had died during the six years of World War II. They died on the battlefield, of starvation, and as a result of...