have you read catcher in the rye?

Question

what significance do you think that this book had in leading john hinkley to shoot reagan and mark chapman to kill john lennon ?

Answer 1

No significance. Unfortunately, the mentally ill often focus on things (anything) for no rational reason and make connections that are in no way rational. That's the nature of mental illness. I doubt that even the most sensitive psychiatrist could analyze Hinkley's motivation with any certainty.

But every time there's a weird happening, a tragedy that gets national attention, the public craves for some rational motive (anything, anything at all).

Catcher in the Rye is a book that lots of people read in those days--lots of people for lots of reasons. I read it as an adult because my 8th grade students were reading it. It helped me understand adolescents--well, sorta. At that time it gave them a language to talk about adults and themselves; it sometimes gave them a way of talking about their own feelings and experiences. But I don't think it motivated their behavior. Lots of people thought it encouraged them in their disrespect for adults. I never thought so.

But I also didn't think it came anywhere close to the literary merit of Salinger's short stories; esp. "For Esme with Love and Squalor," for example.

Answer 2

I don't think that the book had any real significance in either of those two events. It's extremely cowardly to blame such a horrible deed on a work of literature that school children have been reading for decades with no ill effects.

Besides, in my opinion, Catcher in the Rye is a difficult book to appreciate once you're an adult. I loved it as a teenager and couldn't get past page 20 later.

Answer 3

Ive never heard that one before. Hinkley was mentally ill and was obsessed with Jodie Foster and Chapman was a hateful nut who wanted recognition or something, so I dont think that book influenced it. I have read the book, but I dont see how it could persuade someone to kill. I mean he becomes a hateful prick in the book but he doesnt kill anyone in it.

Answer 4

yes I read it. Ever watch Conspiracy Theory? The book is mentioned in it-everytime a copy is sold the government knows about it... Anyways, I believe that "there is no such things as coincidences" (read the Celestine Prophecy). That being said, I think it was a coincedence that they both were reading copies of that book. It is an excellent book by the way, though I must say it didn't give ME the notion to go out and assasinate (sp) anyone. & I think there was a serial killer that had a copy of that book on him the day he got arrested too, but I can't remmber which one...

Answer 5

the significance of this book is not content based but contextual... it didnt inspired anybody to kill others but it inspired some people or political actors to cover some peoples crime by blaming a counter-relational "virtual enemy" that may have a very far posibility of intersecting a behaviour. its like saying X was inspired by a cat and raped Y so the main guilt is in the cat that was having sx in public!!

Answer 6

i loved the book. people just like to have something to blame for something they don't understand. some people think that just because these people read the book that it had to be the reason why they took someone's life. that's just retarded because millions of people have read and loved the book and yet not everyone had gone psycho afterwards.

Answer 7

Isolation. At the heart of CITR is the theme of isolation--true of any coming of age book--MC and JH just never got past the isolation of their youth.

Oh yeah, and they were murderous psychoes.

Answer 8

I don't know, but the book does have a mystical quality about it. I recommend reading it - it's very short. It's one of my very favorite books, but there are strong negative opinions about it as well.

Answer 9

None. They are phycos that used a great book as a bad excuse for their behavior.

Answer 10

I had to read it for school and thought it was overrated. I highly doubt that it would drive someone to murder, unless they were REALLY sick of the teacher's stupid questions ;)