Existential Angst in the American Novel: A Study of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye and Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar

Abstract

The study aims to examine how The Catcher in the Rye (1951) and The Bell Jar (1963) reinterpret and transform existentialist concepts of angst through the lens of 1950s American youth culture and emerging feminist consciousness. These two novels are set in 1950s American society, a time characterized by fear and paranoia due to the Cold War and the lingering traumas of the inhumane world wars. The popularity of existentialism, which promoted ideas of absurdity, freedom, and meaninglessness, captured the attention of American writers during this period. This thesis is primarily a philosophical and feminist study that examines existentialist themes in the two novels. The focus is on theories and terms concerning the human condition and how the protagonists of the two novels, Holden Caulfield and Esther Greenwood, navigate themes related to the human condition and mental illness. By exploring these characters' journeys, the study sheds light on the unique challenges faced by young adults in post-war America. Additionally, it investigates how the authors' personal experiences influenced their portrayal of existential angst in their respective works. Subsequently, sections are provided to discuss the novels through a feminist literary critical lens, introducing a social critique of 1950s American society. This multi-dimensional analysis allows feminist theory to complement existentialism, as the latter concerns itself with the human condition and is not gender specific. By combining these philosophical and critical approaches, the thesis aims to provide a rich foundation for examining how existential themes manifest differently across gender lines and individual experiences in post-war America.