In Donald P. Costello’s article entitled “The Language of The Catcher in the Rye,” Costello supports his thesis, being that the language in the novel The Catcher in the Rye all serves a greater purpose, by delving into the linguistic elements of the novel as well as the significance behind them. Costello acknowledges the authenticity of the language used in the novel, but argues that Salinger’s intent was to use Holden Caufield’s speech to characterize him. To do this, he elaborates on the unique parts of Holden’s vernacular and how they are used, along with Holden’s awareness of his language. Finally, Costello closes his article by explaining why the specific language was employed. Initially, Costello explains that the language in the novel perfectly encapsulates the vernacular used by teenagers in the time period the book is set in. In order to support this statement, Costello mentions a plethora of reputable sources that also share the same belief. He even acknowledges reviewers with contrasting opinions by explaining that they did not agree that the book’s language was authentic because of how obscene is. Costello then uses this information as a base for the rest of his arguments within the paper. In order to build upon his first statement, Costello argues that although Holden’s language is a valid representation of teenager’s in that time period, Salinger was more focussed on using his language …show more content…
for characterization than for authenticity. Costello then mentions that Salinger achieves this task by having “strong personal idiosyncrasies” (Costello 252) sprinkled throughout Holden’s speech. From here, examples of specific phrases, like “ “and all” and “It really did” Holden uses are given. Costello theorizes that these phrases could shine a light on Holden’s mental processes. For instance, Holden’s use of “and all’ could potentially highlight his apathetic attitude, along with his tendency to see the world in only extremes because it shows both how he understands that there is more depth underlying issues, but does ‘not both going into it”(Costello 252) and how he usually uses the phrase when making generalizations. In addition, the constant use of the phrase “It really did” makes his fear of being an insincere phony evident. Holden also tends to refrain from using harsh swears in order to avoid the phoniness of copying other schoolboys. For example, vulgar words in Holden’s vocabulary do not have the correct connotation when used casually and tend to only hold their true meanings in certain circumstances, such as those where Holden is angry. By using such unique, but ordinary word choice, Costello argues that Salinger is able to create the character he wants while still making the character realistic. Costello also puts an emphasis on how Holden uses his language.
He makes the point that Holden’s slang lacks the ability to communicate because certain words have more than one meaning. One example of this is how “crap is used in seven different ways” within the story, making Holden’s slang unstable. It is also noted that Holden has various other faults in his speech such as his tendency to use clichés and his slim vocabulary. However, other slightly positive aspects of his speech, such as his creative phrases and flexible use of parts of speech are also
highlighted. Despite how Holden uses his language, Costello argues that Holden is aware of how he is using his words. The fact that he changes his word choice when around adults and brings up more mature topics exemplifies how he can change his language based on his audience. The fact he consistently uses repetition to clarify what he is saying suggests that “Salinger...wanted to make him aware of his speech.” (Costello 260). On the other hand, Holden is concerned about the language others use, especially when their terminology can be described as phony. Through Holden having these concerns, it is implied that he is conscious of the choices he makes in his speech. Due to the way Holden’s sentences are structured and other characteristic of his speech, Costello postulates that Salinger intended on making his work sound vocal. Since Holden does well in English, it would be unlikely that he would write so many fragments or constantly use repetition. Also, Holden tends to use conjunctions such as “I’d’ve” along with italicized words on multiple occasions. Because of all of these factors, Costello believes that the details within Holden’s writing are more prevalent in spoken language opposed to written language, which thus supports his assertion that Holden is speaking the story rather than writing it. Essentially, discussing Holden’s quirky, yet accurate vernacular along with its usage and why it is employed allowed Costello to convey the significance of the language used in The Catcher in the Rye.
Immaturity of Holden in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye In J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, the main character, Holden, cannot accept that he must move out of childhood and into adulthood. One of Holden’s most important major problems is his lack of maturity.
Nineteen million American adults suffer from a major case of depression (Web MD). That is a staggering one in every fifteen people (2 in our classroom alone). Holden Caulfield is clearly one of those people. Depression is a disease that leads to death but is also preventable. Psychology, stressful events, and prescription drugs are causes of depression. Stressful events brought on Holden’s depression. Holden has been trying to withstand losing a brother, living with careless parents, and not having many friends. The Catcher in the Rye is a book that takes us through the frazzled life of Holden Caulfield, who appears to be just a regular teen. But by hearing his thoughts and through heart-wrenching events in the book, the reader learns that Holden is not the innocent boy that he once appeared. In his book, The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger shows that Holden’s depression is not only affecting him, but also the people around him through Sally, Phoebe, and Sunny.
Holden experiences both alienation and disillusionment when meeting with people like Sally Hayes, Sunny and Ackley. Holden is so desperate to have human connection yet, when he starts to talk to them, he experiences them as ‘phonies’. This makes him more depressed, continuing his downward spiral. Holden is caught in a trap of his own making.
At first glance, J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye simply tells the story of Holden Caulfield, who is often characterized as annoying and whiny by the people around him. The anti-hero frequently speaks on impulse, making quick and often inaccurate observations of others. Holden’s immature and overly critical attitude turns off those he encounters, who are displeased with how callow he is. However, what these characters fail to understand is that there is actually a sort of sophistication behind Holden’s reasoning. In fact, throughout the novel, Holden disguises his maturity through outward displays of childishness.
The novel “The Catcher in the Rye,” revolves around the protagonist Holden Caulfield as the story is told from his perspective. J.D. Salinger constructed Holden Caulfield as a cynical person who cannot accept to grow up. Throughout “The Catcher in the Rye,” J.D. Salinger uses symbolism to reveal and reinforce critical aspects of the protagonist Holden Caulfield. Three important aspects Holden acquired through Salinger’s use of symbolism are: his stubborn, uncompromising mentality; his softer, more caring respectful side; Holden’s cowardly way of acting and thinking.
The form of diction used in The Catcher in the Rye is a topic on which many people are strongly opinionated. Because the narrator speaks solely in the vernacular, the novel is ripe with vulgar language. Most of this language is used to characterize Holden, the protagonist and narrator, as a typical American teenager living in the late 1940s or early 1950s, but some of it is utilized to convey Salinger’s theme of innocence versus corruption. When Holden is walking through his sister Phoebe’s school, he sees a scrawl on the wall saying “Fuck you.” He imagines the writing was etched by “some perverty bum that’d sneaked in the school late at night to take a leak or something” (260-61). Again in the museum, Holden encounters another such sign. Both the school and the museum are places he identifies with his childhood, but they have been perverted by the corruption of the world. He is concerned for the children who will inevitably see these signs and be told what they mean by “some dirty kid…all cockeyed, naturally” (260), spoiling the children’s innocence. This is just one more step towards adulthood and corruption. He is disgusted by the people in the world, saying “You can’t ever find a place that’s nice and peaceful, because there isn’t any. You think there is, but once you get there, when you’re not looking, somebody’ll sneak up and write ‘Fuck yo...
The Catcher in the Rye is not all horror of this sort. There is a wry humor in this sixteen-year-old's trying to live up to his height, to drink with men, to understand mature sex and why he is still a virgin at his age. His affection for children is spontaneous and delightful. There are few little girls in modern fiction as charming and lovable as his little sister, Phoebe. Altogether this is a book to be read thoughtfully and more than once. It is about an unusually sensitive and intelligent boy; but, then, are not all boys unusual and worthy of understanding? If they are bewildered at the complexity of modern life, unsure of themselves, shocked by the spectacle of perversity and evil around them - are not adults equally shocked by the knowledge that even children cannot escape this contact and awareness?
In his novel Catcher in the Rye, J. D. Salinger portrays childhood and adolescence as times graced by innocence when his protagonist, Holden Caulfield, is faced with the reality of becoming an adult. Holden’s desperation to maintain his innocence and the manner in which he critiques those he deems to have lost theirs, emphasizes his immaturity and ignorance while highlighting the importance the author places on childhood.
Innocence lies within everyone in at least one point in their lives, but as reality consumes them, that purity begins to vanish slowly as they learn new experiences. In the coming of age novel set in the nineteen-forties, J.D Salinger writes about a sixteen-year-old boy named Holden Caulfield who stands between a road that separates childhood from adulthood and is confused about which path to take. On a three-day trip in New York away from his family and fellow peers at school, Holden encounters many situations in which lead him to think twice about who he wants to become and how he wants to guide others who are in the same situation he is in. In The Catcher in the Rye, J.D Salinger utilizes symbolism, vivid imagery, and slangy diction to expose Holden’s struggle to preserve the innocence of the people that he loves while alienating himself from the adult world he calls “phony.”
Superficially the story of a young man getting expelled from another school, the Catcher in the Rye is, in fact, a perceptive study of one individual’s understanding of his human condition. Holden Caulfield, a teenager growing up in 1950’s, New York, has been expelled from school for poor achievement once again. In an attempt to deal with this he leaves school a few days prior to the end of term, and goes to New York to take a vacation before returning to his parents’ inevitable irritation. Told as a monologue, the book describe Holden’s thoughts and activities over these few days, during which he describes a developing nervous breakdown. This was evident by his bouts of unexplained depression, impetuous spending and generally odd, erratic behavior, prior to his eventual nervous collapse.
Holden would often mention about how lonely and depressed he was, “It was against my principles and all, but I was feeling so depressed I didn’t even think. That’s the whole trouble. When you’re feeling very depressed, you can’t even think.” (Salinger 91). This quote shows that because of Holden’s isolation, he becomes so depressed his morals bend and becomes more corrupted. Holden often repeats himself when he wants to emphasize something important. J.D Salinger’s tone sounds like a typical teenager using many slang and vulgar words such as, “chrissake” and “goddam.” Today, the lexicon Salinger used seems normal since the literary period was pre-modernism. However, when it was first published in the 1950’s it was offensive, caused a lot of controversy, and was even banned in several countries. The Catcher in the Rye was first banned after its publication for nontraditional or unpopular viewpoints, which many other classic writers faced such as William Shakespeare and Mark Twain. The book is known for being obscene and profane that teachers have been fired for allowing their students to read it. However, with Salinger’s coming-of-age-feel, it is still a popular book and is read in schools
Holden is a pessimistic, remote, and miserable character and he expresses this attitude through dialogue, tone, and diction. Throughout the book he has remained to be a liar, a failure, a loner, and lastly, a suicidal guy who feels like he has no purpose in life. Perhaps Salinger expressed his perceptions and emotions of his teen years in this book and it was a form of conveying his deep inner feelings of his childhood. Readers can see this clearly shown in The Catcher in the Rye written by J.D. Salinger.
Upon introduction, Holden Caulfield gives the impression of being a textbook teenage boy. He argues that Pencey Prep, the all-boys academy at which he studied, is no greater than any other school and is “full of crooks.”(Salinger, 7) His harsh language only further argues that he is situated in an all-male environment and has no apparent filter for when swearing is inappropriate. Despite all of the indications that Holden is typical, it soon becomes evident that Holden’s personality does not conform to the teenage stereotype. Although he appears to have some friends, namely, his roommate, Stradlater, and ‘Ackley kid’, it is clear that he does not integrate well with his peer group. Holden’s inability to read social cues leaves him in the dust when all of his “friends” have matured enough to recognize his need for improvement. He is constantly making jokes out of everything without any thought as to how h...
As children, the teenage stage in life is usually eagerly anticipated yet intimidating at the same time and for good reason. The adolescent phase can be challenging and confusing for the teenager itself and those around them. In The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger, Holden Caulfield experiences the difficulties of being an adolescent in a middle-class family living in the mid 1950’s. After being kicked out of his school for failing four out of five classes, Holden disembarks on his journey into the city of New York. During his three-day excursion, his cynical temperament causes him to harshly critique people he encounters often times referring to them as “phony”, even though he himself is phony in many occasions in the novel. This recurring
One of the reasons I enjoyed reading this book so much is because of its use of colloquial language. This made it a really quick read for me, and I spent more time focusing on what Holden was saying or describing rather than trying to interpret complicated language. Holden uses cuss words and incorrect grammar a lot, and this makes him a lot more relatable as a character. He doesn’t seem like some distant, boring character, but rather like an everyday guy that you would want to engage in a conversation with. This novel covers some pretty serious topics, and the use of colloquial language helps to “lighten the mood” and make the book more humorous. This thus allows for the message of the novel to be understood more clearly. The colloquialism