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Similarities Between Catcher In The Rye And Pleasantville

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In the 1950’s the American economy was booming due to the conclusion of World War II. Economic prosperity transformed family life and people put more emphasis on the individual. Television programs represented how people should live the ideal life. With many changes in culture people began to have a different perspective on life. In the 1998 film, “Pleasantville” directed by Gary Ross and the novel, “The Catcher in the Rye” written by J.D. Salinger both depict teenage culture of the 1950s. These works decribe stories of rebellious tennagers and reveal that in order for a person to identify their true-self, he/she must go through a series of rebellious acts. Holden Caulfield, the main character in the novel “The Catcher in the Rye” realizes his true-self by performing rebellious acts against his parents and society. Holden is kicked out of Pencey Prep because he is failing three of his four subjects. In the book Holden says, “ I knew I wasn’t coming back to Pencey. They kicked me out… I was flunking four subjects and not …show more content…

Betty is rebellious against her husband. She doesn’t prepare dinner for him on time and she does not return home before dark. This is rebellion because women of that era were supposed to stay at home. Her rebellion causes her to experience different thoughts and feelings.With these experiences she turned into a colored person which symbolizes change. Betty find herself more than a stay at home mom and a person worth of value. Jennifer is also rebellious because she doesn’t follow David’s rules in Pleasantville. She messed up Pleasantville by having sex with Skip. She later understands the limitations she has put on her own life. When Skip asks her out, she says that she has to study. Jennifer studying is also rebellion because people in her time were out having parties. This shows her transformation into a person more like the

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