Catcher in the Rye and 1950s Television
J.D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye depicts life in the fifties as seen through the eyes of a disillusioned teenager. There is a vast difference between the life of a real 1950s family and that of a typical family portrayed through the television sitcoms of the day. The Catcher in the Rye is filled with examples that demonstrate how different real societies are. In the fifties, quaint and perfect families dominated television home-life. The mother or "house-wife" on television was always perfect. She would always don a housedress, frilly apron, and four-inch high heels, all this along with her perfect makeup and hair. You could always count on your TV mom to be up at the crack of dawn to make your breakfast. It would typically consist of eggs (sunny side up, of course), sausages, bacon, toast, orange juice and of course, the fresh, piping hot pot of coffee for TV dad (we'll get to him later). She would always have the paper ready on the kitchen table for dad and the kids' ( we'll get to them too) lunches would always be ready. When it came time for the children to go off to school, and dad to work, mom would always be waiting at the front door. She would give the children their lunches and a kiss on the cheek an
Her mother was married again to some boozehound. "(237), indicates that Holden's leaving Pencey seemed to be a big problem for him. "They won't be home till very late, mother said. "(210) That indicates that she was in fact not home. Another thing uncommon among television kids was the idea of going out and getting drunk. The children on TV would go to school every day. Problems such as divorce and alcoholism were things that were never dealt with in fifties sitcoms. Veterans from World War II were home and trying to make a living for themselves and their families. In reality, fathers weren't always the perfect businessmen. Holden's mother seemed to have a life outside of the home, too. Holden's life was not perfect, his life was very difficult at times. Real life moms were never quite that perky. "Her mother and father were divorced. The TV dad would always be in his suit and tie at the kitchen table, coat and all.
Common topics in this essay:
Catcher Rye,
Leave Beaver,
Holden Caufield,
Ernie Morrow's,
Beav Holden's,
Wally NewYork,
Pencey Daddy's,
G'night Sally,
Rock Roll,
War II,
tv dad,
life fifties,
leave beaver,
catcher rye,
holden's life,
kitchen table,
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