Catcher In The Rye Language Analysis

Many people might consider high school as a place to learn and make friends, but according to a recent survey, about one in ten people do not enjoy school. Like these teens, Holden Caulfield, who is the main character in the novel, Catcher in the Rye written by J.D. Salinger, experiences a struggle between his close friends. These struggles were caused as part of him tries to be at an adult level and the other part tries to keep away from “phonies”. Holden uses slang words, catch phrases, and seeks for a person to discuss with throughout the novel which may seem to create a negative images and ideas, however, these ideas and images make it possible to reinforce one of the main themes shown in the novel that people can feel alienated even if
These phrases and words used in the novel was demonstrated when he was at Mr. Spencer’s house and he was talking about the meeting with his parents. As Mr. Spencer talks that his parents are grand people, he replied in his mind that, “Grand. There’s a word [Holden] really [hates]. It’s phony. [He] could puke every time [he hears] it” (Salinger 12). Holden uses “phony” to emphasize his emotions by calling the word “grand” as “phony.” This not only shows the lack of his trust with Mr. Spencer, but also shows the lack of communications and trusts between him and his parents. After he overcomes the struggles such as the loss of his friends such as Sally Hayes, he had no one and no where to meet or visit to, as a result, he decides to meet Phoebe, his sister. After he was able to sneak into the house, he mentions about him liking Allie to Phoebe. But she replies that Allie is already dead. Holden opposes her and says, “I know he’s dead! Don’t you think I know that? I can still like him, though, can’t I? Just because somebody’s dead, you don’t just stop liking them, for God’s sake — especially if they were about a thousand times nicer than the people you know that’re alive and all” (Salinger 189). He sometimes uses words such as “God’s sake” to describe his loneliness throughout the novel. Although he is in the house with Phoebe, he is still
Such a behavior was demonstrated throughout the novel when Holden kept trying to call Jane Galanger. For example, “[Holden] started toying with the idea … of giving old Jane a buzz … ” but he decides not to because “[he] wasn't in the mood” (Salinger 71). Examples like this are appearing continuously throughout the novel, but he could not call Jane. Holden’s need to call Jane demonstrates Holden’s want to find someone to talk over with, leading to his loneliness. Another example of Holden being lonely in the novel is when he visits New York. Although many people describe New York as full of people, joy, laughter, etc., Holden describes New York as a “terrible [place] when somebody laughs on the street very late at night. You can hear it for miles. It makes you feel so lonesome and depressed. [He] kept wishing [he] could go home and shoot the bull for a while with old Phoebe” (Salinger 91). This quote clearly shows that Holden is full of sadness, even if he is in the place where many people enjoy. His desire to meet Phoebe and call Jane Galanger shows the only two people who Holden trusts and communicate with. This ultimately leads to the theme, as it clearly displays that even when Holden is in/at the place where there are a lot of people such as school and New York, he feels desolate and isolated from other