Considering the praise and criticism of The Catcher in the Rye Since its publication in 1951, J.D. Salinger's The Young Catcher has served as a firestorm for controversies and debates. Critics have debated the moral issues raised by the book and the context in which it is presented. Some have argued that Salinger's account of the human condition is fascinating and enlightening, yet incredibly depressing. The psychological battles of the novel's main character, Holden Caulfield, serve as the basis for critical argument. Caulfield's self-destruction over the course of days forces one to contemplate society's attitude towards the human condition. Salinger's portrayal of Holden, which includes episodes of depression, nervous breakdown, impulsive spending, sexual exploration, vulgarity, and other erratic behavior, are all attributed to the controversial nature of the novel. Yet the novel is not without its keen supporters, who argue that it is a critical look at the problems faced by American youth in the 1950s. When developing a comprehensive opinion of the novel, it is important to consider the praise and criticism of The Young Hunter. When studying a literary work, it is significant to note the historical context of the work and the time in which it was published. written. Two short stories by J.D. Salinger, "I'm Crazy" and "Slight Rebellion off Madison," were published in periodicals in the 1940s and featured Holden Caulfield, the main character of The Catcher in the Rye. Both stories were revised for later inclusion in Salinger's novel. The Catcher in the Rye was written in a prose-like literary style, peppered with 1950s teenage slang. It is widely believed that much of Holden Caulfield's candid outlook on life reflects issues relevant to today's youth, and thus the novel continues to be used as an educational resource in high schools across the nation (Davis 317-18). The first step in reviewing criticism of The Catcher in the Rye is to study the author himself. Before his novel, J.D. Salinger had a fundamentally non-literary status, having written for years without notice from critics or the general public. The Young Catcher in the Rye was his first step into the field of literature. This initial status left Salinger, as a serious writer, almost unique as a kind of free agent, not beholden to one or more schools of criticism, as many of his contemporaries were..