The Praises and Criticisms of J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye" Ever since its publication in 1951, J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye has served as a firestorm for controversy and debate. Critics have argued the moral issues raised by the novel and the context in which it is presented. Some have said that Salinger's tale of the human condition is fascinating and enlightening, yet incredibly depressing. The psychological battles of the …showed first 75 words of 2687 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2687 total… a time of conservatism in America made it all the more controversial. Some critics scolded the novel as being too pessimistic or obscene, too harsh for the society of the 1950's. Others, however, have nominated Salinger himself as the top-flight "catcher in the rye" for that period of American history (Peterson 3). They argued that Salinger's concerns represented an entire generation of American youth, frustrated by the phoniness of the world, just like Holden was.