Postwar America Unit II Project

1. Postwar America Unit II Project Ben Aloi With the country conforming to a white, suburban “American Dream,” 1950’s teenagers like Holden Caulfield struggled to find their identity and break free from their artificial upbringings. They revolutionized society’s values, and most importantly, they defined their generation with an extensive counterculture movement.

2. 1950s Teenagers • More privileges than their parents • Better healthcare and education • Access to new technology • Frequent advertising targets • Wanted to express themselves • Found their voice in rock and roll music • Slang words

3. Holden’s Youth • Unmotivated: gets kicked out of several schools • Alienated from his peers • Afraid of growing up • Hates “phonies”, people who act like something they’re not • Loves children for their innocence • Wants to be the “catcher in the rye” (save kids from adulthood) • Thinks about running away

4. Holden Becoming an Adult • Smokes, drinks • Keeps asking questions about sex and adulthood • Death is very real to him • Starts to care about his future (“where do the ducks go when the lake freezes over?”) • Not as interested in the museum anymore • Very protective of his sister, Phoebe • Finds comfort in his life

5. The Red Hunting Hat • Symbol for Allie (red hair) • Represents everything from his childhood that he’s trying to hold onto • Illustrates his struggle between youth and adulthood • Helps Holden feel unique • Stands out from the “phonies” • Way of coping with his loneliness • Realizes it can’t save him from reality: “My hunting hat really gave me quite a lot of protection…but I got soaked anyway” (275) • Given to his sister, because he no longer needs it

6. Holden’s Loss of Innocence • Death of his brother, Allie • Aware of the darker side of life • Childhood doesn’t last for very long • Sometimes good people are taken for no reason • Beaten up by Maurice • Can’t just do whatever he wants without consequences • Has to prepare for what life may throw at him • Wants friends that will have his back • Sees profanity written on the walls of Phoebe’s school • Upset that little kids are being exposed to those words • Wants them to stay pure at heart • Not ready for them, or himself, to grow up • Assumes responsibilities • Has to start making his own decisions • Takes care of Phoebe • Has to try at school • Returns home to face his parents

7. Loss of Innocence: 1950s Teenagers • Red Scare • Bomb drills • Alternative education practices (i.e. “new math”) • Friends’ parents arrested for being communists • Race barriers • Segregated schools • White and black radio stations • African-Americans: <3% of suburban population • Advertising targets • Rebelling against their parents • Drinking • Smoking • Recreational drug use • Sex • Rock ‘n Roll • Long hair • Fashion (greasers)

8. Personal View • Teenagers are caught between two completely different mindsets • Childhood: Innocent, Spontaneous, Naïve • Adulthood: Responsibility, Maturity, Adversity • Many of the changes are involuntary • Influenced by parents, friends, celebrities • Sudden change in interests • Too much pressure to think about the future • Not enough time to “live in the moment” • Teenage years should be a time for developing your own opinions and unique personality • Not everyone is ready for adulthood at the same time: people shouldn’t be expected to act a certain way based on their age • Transition should be comfortable, not abrupt