Holden's Tone

In chapter one, Holden’s tone is caustic, incoherent, and bitter. Beginning the novel, Holden says, “If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it to tell you the truth. [...] I'm not going to tell you my whole goddam autobiography or anything” (Salinger 3). Conveying Holden’s bitterness through word choice and syntax, the author delivers a message to his readers about what to expect the rest of the novel in terms of language and tone. His use of the words crap, lousy, and goddam all render to Holden’s pungent

and astringent voice throughout the story. Holden’s stream of consciousness continues, and he says, “Like as if all you ever did at Pencey was play polo all the time. I never even once saw a horse anywhere near the place. [...] They don’t do any damn more molding at Pencey than they do at any other school. And I didn’t know anybody there that was splendid and clear thinking and all. Maybe two guys. If that many. And they probably came to Pencey that way” (4). Explaining his thoughts on his last school, Pencey Prep, Holden is caustic in saying that their advertisements are just strictly for the birds. Through the author’s use of italics and word choice as well as jumping around to different thoughts constantly, he achieves a jumbled, sarcastic and bitter tone of voice.
Holden and Mr. Spencer’s relationship is very personal and caring. At the end of their discussion, Mr. Spencer says, “I’d like to put some sense in that head of yours, boy. I’m trying to help you. I’m trying to help you, if I can” (20). Mr. Spencer sent Holden a note to chat at his house which most likely means that they have a more personal relationship than most teachers and their students. Mr. Spencer most likely feels sympathy for Holden when he hears he is being kicked out of school and wants to do everything he can to help. Holden seems to care deeply for Mr. Spencer as he constantly states that he feels bad for him as well as showing a great deal of respect for him too. Their relationship is almost like a father and son, they bicker and bluntly remind each other about problems and mistakes, but they also care about each other’s well being and future.
When Mr. Spencer says that life is a game, he most likely means that conformity is inevitable. Explaining to Mr. Spencer his meeting with Dr. Thurmer, Holden says, “Oh… well, about Life being a game and all. And how you should play it according to the rules. He was pretty nice about it. I mean he didn't hit the ceiling or anything. He just kept talking about Life being a game an all. You know” (12). After hearing this and repeating it along with his approval of the quote, Mr. Spencer most likely means that Holden is going have to learn to play by the rules because he cannot go on the rest of his life being kicked out of every school. Holden is completely opposed to this as he thinks that it’s only a successful game is you are a ‘hot-shot’, but if you are not, then there is no game for you. I think that life is a game and choices made determine the final outcome, but every game and everything has rules, therefore life is a game that is played with certain rules.
Holden is being truthful when he says that he only wrote the note so that Mr.

Spencer would not feel too bad about flunking him. After seeing that Mr. Spencer felt pretty lousy about flunking him, he tried to make him feel better: “So I shot the bull for a while. I told him I was a real moron, and all that stuff. I told him how I would’ve done exactly the same thing if I’d been in his place, and how most people didn’t appreciate how tough it is being a teacher. That kind of stuff. The old bull” (17). The readers can tell that Holden is being truthful because of the way he feels and responds towards Mr. Spencer. Holden rambles on in hopes of making him feel better for flunking him. Therefore, it makes sense that his purpose for the note is to make Mr. Spencer feel better about failing

him.
Page Number: 18
The ducks could be a symbol of rebirth/return or a symbol of the childness that Holden still has left in him. When Holden thinks about the ducks and the lagoon, he wonders, “If [the lagoon in Central Park] would be frozen when I got home, and if it was where did the ducks go. I was wondering where the ducks went when the lagoon got all icy and frozen over. I wondered if some guy came in a truck and took them away to a zoo or something. Or if they just flew away” (18). In the sense of rebirth/return, the ducks could symbolize his thoughts of whether or not to return to his life after being sent away. They could also foreshadow his return to school or something else further on in the novel. The ducks could also symbolize the last strand of childness that Holden has left as throughout the novel his adult-like nature and language is very prevalent.
Holden is being truthful when he says that people around him are phonies. One of Holden’s many accusations of phoniness is about the people at Elkton Hills: “One of the biggest reasons I left Elkton Hills was because I was surrounded by phonies” (19). Holden seems to be truthful as he gives evidence for his allegation. He describes the headmaster and all the actions he carries out that grant him the title of being phony. Holden is always very blunt and truthful, therefore he is not a phony.
Page Numbers: 24, 25, 29, 30, 38, 39
The Red Hunting Hat could symbolize Holden hunting himself, his differences, or be a reference to the title of the novel. After putting his hat on to begin reading he “pulled the peak around to the back again and relaxed” (29). He also states later that this hat is a people hunting hat. The fact that Holden is wearing this hat while reading could mean that he is hunting within himself to discover more secrets he does not yet know. Wearing that hat backwards is also also catchers in baseball wear their hat, which could mean it is a reference to the title itself. Holden is also asked several times about his hat which could lead readers to believe that the hat makes him different and special.
Holden thinks that Ackley is annoying with a terrible personality and that Stradlater is a phony with an ego.

Ackley barges into Holden’s room and Holden thinks to himself: “He ha[s] a terrible personality. He [is] also sort of a nasty guy. I wasn’t to crazy about him, to tell you the truth” (26). The whole time Ackley is in Holden’s room, he talks about how mean, rude, dirty, etc. he is. He even tells him to his face what he thinks about him. When Stradlater comes to join them, Holden thinks to himself, “He was at least a pretty friendly guy, Stradlater. It was partly a phony kind of friendly, but at least he always said hello to Ackley and all” (34). Holden seems to have conflicted feelings about Stradlater. He thinks that he is nice although it may be phony, and that he is handsome and built, but he also thinks that he is a hot-shot, a secret slob, and thinks too highly of

himself.
Page Numbers: 35, 36, 39, 40
Stradlater’s razor symbolizes his personality. Holden describes Stradlater as a “secret slob. He always looked all right, Stradlater, but for instance, you should’ve seen the razor he shaved himself with” (35). Just like the razor, Stradlater's life away from what others can see is dysfunctional. He cannot remember his dates name, he wants other people to do his homework for him, and he has a major ego. On the outside though, just like the final outcome from the use of the razor, he is perfect. He is the most handsome guy, even in pictures, he gets all the girls, and has a great build.
Page Numbers: 41, 44
In checkers, keeping the kings in the back row symbolizes protection and keeping emotions hidden. As Holden rambles on about Jane, he mentions her stepfather: “[He would] run around the goddam house, naked. With Jane around, and all” (42). Jane may have had an abusive past with her stepfather which leads to her putting all her kings in the back row as a sign of protection. She also only signs off to stay out until nine-thirty. This could be a way for her to mentally “keep her kings in the back row” and protect herself from anything that might happen if she stays out any later.