What it truly means to be American is a topic that fascinates American authors and readers alike. What makes up the American spirit, American culture, American identity, and American values ​​are questions that many authors answer, and almost all authors answer differently. In the novels Catch 22, by Joseph Heller and The Catcher in the Rye, by JD Salinger, the idea of ​​Americanism is explored in great detail. Each novel presents a slightly different vision of what it truly means to be American. Through the use of characters and narrative, the literary works Catch 22 and The Catcher in the Rye convey what their respective authors believe to be the American spirit, American culture, American identity, and American values. Both the novels Catch 22 and The Catcher in the Rye convey what their authors believe to be the American spirit, through the actions and thoughts of their characters. In the novel Catch 22, Heller establishes that the American spirit stands up for what it believes in passionately and has a fighting spirit. Yossarian's fighting spirit and desire to defend his beliefs; therefore, it showcases the American spirit. At the end of the novel, Yossarian decides to passionately defend his beliefs and fearlessly abandon the army. While this does not initially appear to exemplify the American spirit, the book's satirical nature creates an environment in which the army is the antagonist and Yossarian is the protagonist. Therefore, although he is fighting against authority, Yossarian truly passionately defends fairness and his own life; which is the epitome of the American spirit described by Heller. As he explains his intentions to leave, Yossarian enthusiastically states, "I'm not running away... middle of paper... and Rye each convey what their respective authors believe about the American spirit, American culture, American identity and values ​​through the use of characters and narrative. Each of the novels has a similar but different take on what exactly it means to be an American. Americanism is explored in great detail in both works, allowing for a comprehensive explanation of what it means to be an American about what it really means to be American is interpreted and answered differently by hundreds of authors. Both Catch 22 and The Catcher in the Rye approach this question slightly differently, but they successfully clarify what each author believes is at the heart of American society. . Works Cited Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 1991. Print.Heller, Joseph. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperback, 2004. Print.