Authors JD Salinger and Joseph Heller created novels that depict the American landscape based on spirit, culture, identity and values. The American spirit is defined through rebellion in both novels. J.D. Salinger captures the rebellion through Holden's refusal to go with the flow of society, and Joseph Heller shows the rebellion by using Yossarian to capture the rebellion according to his ideals that it is better to survive than fight in a war while most Americans supports the belief that it is an honor to sacrifice oneself for one's country. The essence of American culture is represented in the novels by the vague meaning of love in that era. Both authors define the vague meaning of love through the multiple lovers that both Holden and Yossarian obtain, as well as the lack of seriousness used when they claim to be in love. J.D. Salinger defines the American identity of individualism through Holden's desire to make his own decisions and choose his own destiny. Joseph Heller uses Yossarian to describe the American identity of independence because of its desire to be free from war and all the hardships it brings. Finally, American values ​​are defined by J.D. Salinger and Joseph Heller through Holden's concern for a person's inner being and Yossarian's concern for self-preservation. Through the development of the characters Holden and Yossarian, the novels Catcher in the Rye and Catch-22 capture what it means to be an American through spirit, culture, identity, and values. The Catcher in the Rye and Catch-22 are novels that equally capture the essence of rebellion in the totality of the American spirit. Salinger demonstrates the American spirit through adolescent rebellion arising from the needs for truth and security in life. The protagonist, Holden, creates this… middle of paper… influences him to impress his superiors with the sacrifice of his inferiors. In both novels, the essence of being American was represented by Holden and Yossarian through the American spirit, culture, identity and values. Both characters develop through the novels to capture the landscape of American literature. The American spirit is conveyed by the spirit of rebellion of Holden and Yossarian. American culture is represented by Holden and Yossarian through the vague term and meaning of love in the era around World War II. Both the protagonists and antagonists of Catcher in the Rye and Catch-22 capture the American identity of individualism and independence, as well as their opposites. American values ​​are also shown by both protagonists and antagonists through concern for a person's interiority and desire for self-preservation and its opposites.