I think the universal theme that the book addresses is self-worth and self confidence. Basically how you view yourself. I think this book does a good job on explaining how easy it is to take little things and turn them into problems in your life. There are many points in the book that I do not like Holden because he looked for the worst, or only focused on the worst in the story. I think the story does a great job at displaying the universal theme. It is such an important theme also, especially when and if the book is directed toward teenagers and people in their 20’s. In the book, the reader follows as Holden is switching schools, telling us of his personal experiences, and trying to find his place in the world and in his life. He does not know what he wants to do. He struggles a lot with not knowing. He struggles a lot with getting to know people and being close to them. He would not call anyone on the phone simply because one moment he felt like it and the next moment he didn’t (Salinger 59). He did not really ask anyone for help in the story. He mainly kept to himself. He did take some handouts if they were given to him generously, but he never overstayed his welcome. He was carefully about the people he surrounded himself with. The nuns were probably one of my favorite parts in the book because he gave them money to pay for their breakfast (Salinger 110-111). There, I saw Holden as a gentleman who was trying to make a difference in those nun’s lives. I think that the book also explores confidence. Holden did not have a lot of confidence in himself, it was evident, but he did not let people know that. I think the universal theme is so powerful because many people struggle with finding and accepting who they are. People focus on the positive mainly, and it was nice to read a book that contradicts that point.
Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye
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