Anomie and Alienation: Tracing Social Fragmentation in Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye

Abstract

This study critically examines J.D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye (2010) through the theoretical framework of Émile Durkheim’s Theory of Anomie (2005). Durkheim conceptualizes anomie as a condition of societal normlessness triggered by rapid social change, wherein individuals become estranged from prevailing norms and values. Applying this theory to the post-war American context depicted in the novel, the research focuses on the character of Holden Caulfield—a 16-year-old navigating the liminal space between childhood and adulthood. Holden’s deep-seated alienation, disillusionment, and denunciation of societal “phoniness” are interpreted as manifestations of anomic behavior. His idealization of innocence and longing for refuge in imagined childhood spaces—symbolized by the “field of rye”—underscore his existential struggle against a world he no longer perceives as authentic. The study draws parallels between Holden’s psychological fragmentation and Durkheim’s concept of anomic suicide, which arises from the disintegration of social cohesion. It further incorporates insights from Durkheim’s The Division of Labor (1960), highlighting the tension between mechanical and organic solidarity. Ultimately, the research reveals how Salinger’s portrayal of Holden encapsulates the personal consequences of societal disruption, illustrating the psychological toll of rapid transformation on individuals caught in transitional social landscapes.