Abstract
This study will attempt to deal with the body of J.D. Salinger's work from his earliest short stories through his novel, The Catcher in the Rye (1951). It will focus upon his major theme, the initiation of a young man or woman into the modern world and will make an effort to trace this theme throughout the portion of his work under consideration. To accomplish this it will also be necessary to discuss the theme of alienation which Salinger finds as the direct result of the initiation.