Observing a person’s actions may not always reveal who they truly are as a person; the only possible way is to take a trip through their mind. Although this is not humanly possible, J.D. Salinger makes it possible through the techniques he uses in his novel: The Catcher in The Rye. Different styles of writing are incorporated to reveal who Holden Caulfield really is; from first person narration to the thoughts running through his mind to the limited word choices, Salinger’s structure and stylistic choices in The Catcher in the Rye highlight Holden’s personality traits.
Salinger’s use of first person narration throughout the novel provides readers with a glimpse into the thoughts of Holden, revealing who he is as a person. Holden is the core …show more content…
Throughout the novel, choppy sentences and long, never ending passages are seen. The sentence structures reveal the yo-yo emotional states Holden finds himself in. Typically, short and choppy sentences such as “My nerves were shot. They really were.” (67) reveal Holden is in his state of depression, hence what he is saying. However, when sentences are long winded and never ending, such as “‘You know those ducks in that lagoon right near Central Park South?...By any chance, do you happen to know where they go, the ducks, when it gets all frozen over? Do you happen to know, by any chance?’...” (145) Holden is content . On the surface, it may seem as if Salinger’s sentence structures are not consistent, but in the underlying context, it reveals the emotional state Holden is …show more content…
This is ironic because, right off the bat, he lets readers know he has a “lousy vocabulary” (13). Holden uses basic adjectives and does not go into further detail when describing someone or how he is feeling. When he is inside the Lavender Room, Holden describes the girls he sees as using words such as “blonde” (92) and “really ugly” (92). This refers back to the “lousy vocabulary” (13) Holden claims he has; he can only be straight to the point. Moreover, when describing how he feels, Holden tends to repeatedly say he is “feeling depressed” (47) because he has no other way to express his current feelings so he resorts to saying he is 'depressed'. Holden’s limited vocabulary limits his ability to describe his surroundings and feelings, giving readers an opportunity to determine what Holden is saying in their own.
Salinger does in fact reveal who Holden Caulfield really is. It is accomplished through the sentence structure of the novel. This is significant to the readers because they are able to gain a unique perspective through the thoughts of a seventeen year old boy. Throughout the novel, Salinger adapts a unique writing style to reveal Holden’s personality which brings together the plot and gives readers new insights. And because of this, the readers are now able to understand Holden as a person and why he says and does the things he
Salinger’s use of first person narration throughout the novel provides readers with a glimpse into the thoughts of Holden, revealing who he is as a person. Holden is the core …show more content…
Throughout the novel, choppy sentences and long, never ending passages are seen. The sentence structures reveal the yo-yo emotional states Holden finds himself in. Typically, short and choppy sentences such as “My nerves were shot. They really were.” (67) reveal Holden is in his state of depression, hence what he is saying. However, when sentences are long winded and never ending, such as “‘You know those ducks in that lagoon right near Central Park South?...By any chance, do you happen to know where they go, the ducks, when it gets all frozen over? Do you happen to know, by any chance?’...” (145) Holden is content . On the surface, it may seem as if Salinger’s sentence structures are not consistent, but in the underlying context, it reveals the emotional state Holden is …show more content…
This is ironic because, right off the bat, he lets readers know he has a “lousy vocabulary” (13). Holden uses basic adjectives and does not go into further detail when describing someone or how he is feeling. When he is inside the Lavender Room, Holden describes the girls he sees as using words such as “blonde” (92) and “really ugly” (92). This refers back to the “lousy vocabulary” (13) Holden claims he has; he can only be straight to the point. Moreover, when describing how he feels, Holden tends to repeatedly say he is “feeling depressed” (47) because he has no other way to express his current feelings so he resorts to saying he is 'depressed'. Holden’s limited vocabulary limits his ability to describe his surroundings and feelings, giving readers an opportunity to determine what Holden is saying in their own.
Salinger does in fact reveal who Holden Caulfield really is. It is accomplished through the sentence structure of the novel. This is significant to the readers because they are able to gain a unique perspective through the thoughts of a seventeen year old boy. Throughout the novel, Salinger adapts a unique writing style to reveal Holden’s personality which brings together the plot and gives readers new insights. And because of this, the readers are now able to understand Holden as a person and why he says and does the things he