Catcher In The Rye Rhetorical Analysis
Holden notices two nuns with cheap looking suitcases. He immediately judges them based on the appearance of their suitcases.Holden says that he doesn’t like cheap suitcases because they do not look as nice. He is not just talking about suitcases, he means people who are in different economic positions than his. This shows how Holden, who grew up going to private schools where almost all the boys were from rich families, wasn’t used to being around someone who was from a lower class or someone who wasn’t as rich as he was. Holden talks about his old roommate, Dick Slagle who had an inexpensive suitcase wanted to be perceived as rich and looked upon as a higher classman from his peers. This is an example of the 1950’s superiority complex, Dick
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Holden’s diction is minimal and simple, and his word choices voice a teenager, so it helps the audience, especially us who are teenagers, to understand what he is saying. He is blunt so we do not have to analyze everything he says in order to have a deep understanding. Holden uses suitcases as metaphors for social classes. Also, it (luggage/ suitcases) symbolizes the emotional baggage that each social class carries and the prejudice that is ingrained into the 1950’s society. However, this way of thinking is still prevalent in today’s society too.This is portrayed in this excerpt, when Holden talks about how he got changed rooms to be with Stradlater afterwards, and that he felt more comfortable with him than Slagle because “At least Stradlater’s suitcase were as good as [Holden’s]”. This represents how having material was more important than the person behind it, and how those were wealthy would only look at others who were wealthy as well. Irony is used when Holden displays his dislike for wealthy people and thinks they phony, but he is a victim of this way of thinking because he is from a wealthy background and he judges others (i.e. the nuns for having inexpensive looking suitcases). He’s being hypocritical without actually realizing it and this connects to the 1950’s way of thinking because he automatically looks
Holden’s diction is minimal and simple, and his word choices voice a teenager, so it helps the audience, especially us who are teenagers, to understand what he is saying. He is blunt so we do not have to analyze everything he says in order to have a deep understanding. Holden uses suitcases as metaphors for social classes. Also, it (luggage/ suitcases) symbolizes the emotional baggage that each social class carries and the prejudice that is ingrained into the 1950’s society. However, this way of thinking is still prevalent in today’s society too.This is portrayed in this excerpt, when Holden talks about how he got changed rooms to be with Stradlater afterwards, and that he felt more comfortable with him than Slagle because “At least Stradlater’s suitcase were as good as [Holden’s]”. This represents how having material was more important than the person behind it, and how those were wealthy would only look at others who were wealthy as well. Irony is used when Holden displays his dislike for wealthy people and thinks they phony, but he is a victim of this way of thinking because he is from a wealthy background and he judges others (i.e. the nuns for having inexpensive looking suitcases). He’s being hypocritical without actually realizing it and this connects to the 1950’s way of thinking because he automatically looks