On the other hand, the novel can be seen as quite conclusive as although we do not get a specific conclusion, we have to think for ourselves. “Holden’s escapades are not so much adventures as ‘misadventures’, the cumulative effect of which leads him to a sanatorium… Holden the narrator, as opposed to Holden the picaresque hero, realizes his own failings from a retrospective stance.”(1) If we look at the deeper meaning, Holden actually learns something about himself and the world. The novel is about Holden’s coming of age and his mental deterioration over a few days. He is also learning that he cannot preserve and protect childhood and innocence, people have to grow up. The novels actual conclusion is in Holden’s realisation of what life is about. I think that he realises that adulthood is part of growing up and over the few days he realised that he wasn’t as mature as he first thought. An example is when he calls himself “Jim Steel” he tries to give himself a mature name, and when he tries to buy alcohol he feels he is more mature than he actually is.
It is also true that the novel is largely made up of trivial events in the way that it is split up into small chapters and in each chapter something different occurs, leading to different themes and characters introduced. Possible trivial events include Holden’s encounter with Sunny, when it becomes clear that he is unable to handle a sexual encounter; the end of his date with Sally, when he tries to get her to run away with him; and his departure from Mr. Antolini’s apartment, when he begins to question his ways of judging other people. These are just a few examples that make the novel trivial and unpredictable; I think that this is a good technique used by Salinger as it keeps the interested in the book.
The novel being trivial allows new characters and themes to arise throughout. “Holden experiences incidents of depression, nervous breakdown, impulsive spending, sexual exploration, vulgarity, and other erratic behaviour, have all attributed to the controversial nature of the novel” (2) This points out many themes raised in the novel. In fact some of the so called trivial events actually show deeper meanings of Holden’s values and ideas in relation to society. An example is when Holden hires a prostitute; this introduces new characters and the theme of sex. Holden believes he is quite experienced but becomes alienated when he refuses to sleep with the girl. A religious theme is introduced through the nuns and Holden pretending to be shot represents his mental deterioration. Therefore the trivial events help to bring out the key themes which would otherwise be difficult to get across to a reader.
Holden’s life itself is trivial as he has been thrown out of many schools and has had many events affect his life. Not least the death of his younger brother Allie. Holden does not seem to come from a very secure background, it seems as though he has constantly been pushed away from his family by being sent to school. This may be why he is so rebellious against school and adults. Some events in the novel could be seen as trivial but are actually just Life. Life is made up of trivial events and Salinger uses these events to show an average life of a teenager, full of ‘misunderstanding and confusion’.
Looking at an average teenage life we could predict that most of these things were going to happen, just not over such a short space of time. Holden comes across as a very social person when he meets new people. Though we cannot trust what Holden tells us as it is entirely his views, he may be telling us lies. He is also an insecure person when his breakdown is taken into consideration.
“A beautifully crafted, honest depiction of adolescent confusion and angst, Catcher in the Rye can be read on many levels. Holden is one of literature's most memorable characters.”(3) This statement is very true as it is because of how Salinger created Holden that people see the events as trivial. If he was not a confused teenager then all of the events would be interpreted differently. It is because of Holden's age and the way he is that the events are seen as trivial. If it was stated that Holden's mental state is deteriorating then we would expect the events, as we are not told this they are seen as trivial.
Holden is by all means a very intelligent teenager who seems to have suffered quite a lot. It is for this reason that we can sympathise with Holden’s mental deterioration. Holden doesn’t seem to be interested in material possessions and carries out very un-American activities, such as giving his items and money away. Holden doesn’t care too much for possessions he says,” Almost every time someone gives me a present, it ends up making me sad.” This is Holden’s life the way he wants it and many of the so called trivial events include Holden giving and not receiving. Holden doesn’t seem to want anything from anyone, not even advice. He is given advice by almost everyone he comes across but refuses it. An example is when Carl Luce tells him he needs to see a psychoanalyst, “I told you the last time I saw you what you need…to go to a psychoanalyst and all”.
The language in the novel was said to be, “by normal literary standards, very impoverished.” This is quite obviously a negative criticism of the language used by Salinger. It is described as poor by normal literary standards of the time. It may well have been described as poor because it is not complex; Salinger uses short sentences and no really complex techniques. This is not a bad thing when we take into consideration that the book is told in the first person and is Holden's account of a few days in his life. This is why the book is so colloquial because it is supposed to be spoken; I think that this novel is definitely supposed to be read out loud to get the full emphasis on the language.
Salinger’s language used can be seen as impoverished when compared to other books. This is what makes “The Catcher in the Rye” so unique. “Even though the novel The Catcher in the Rye is set in the fifties, I can still relate to the protagonist, as well as others around his age, because of the language. It makes the characters so human, and just about anyone can relate to that!” (1) Salinger uses simple language and form to give the reader colloquial dialogue, giving the book more meaning to the reader. As the novel is wrote in this way the reader can put themselves in Holden's shoes and relate to his life.
"The book never fails to interest me, to make me laugh to demonstrate the powers of unembellished writing, to give me written characters I can believe in, to make me respect the author to this day for his unrelenting courage to go his own way." (4) The language reels the reader in and makes the book that bit more personal, it is used to capture the reader and make them relate to Holden.
The colloquial language gives a sense of realism to which the reader can relate to the protagonist and how he feels at different times. “Teenage Skaz” is a piece of writing about “The Catcher in the Rye” in comparison to “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”. It compares the language of the two and how both used the same style to different effects. “Skaz” is “used to designate a type of first person narration that has the characteristics of the spoken rather than the written word.” (5) Salinger uses a specific technique to keep the readers attention throughout the novel; this is Holden's informal, speech like dialogue. It could be said that the language is quite the opposite to impoverished. The language is well thought and structured by Salinger allowing the reader to relate to Holden and his realisation of life and growing up.
“Whether you are a teenager, or you have teenagers, or you just remember being 'like that', his story holds you. He does not know what he wants in life or why people want what they want of him” (3) Salinger’s technique of wanting the reader to become one with Holden works very well. It makes the reader remember how it feels or felt becoming an adult. It is the realism of the novel which makes it easy to read and relate to. This is why I think the language is well thought and structured by Salinger.
In conclusion of how far I agree with the statement, “The story it tells is episodic, inconclusive and largely made up of trivial events. The language used is, by normal literary standards, very impoverished” (5) I disagree with the view of the statement as a criticism of the novel. Although I agree with some of the points brought up. I think that the statement is targeting the negative side of the points. These are what make “The Catcher in the Rye” the novel that it is and there is so much thought behind these points.
The novel is episodic to an extent because of its structure and dialogue. However, it is this that makes the book what it is and gives it its style. The breakdown into small incidents gives us the flashback imagery which the book requires, as it is written in the first person narrative and is a description by Holden of past events.
It was also suggested that there is no general conclusion to the novel. There is indeed no general moral or written conclusion to the novel, although when the deeper meaning is looked at there are in fact many small conclusions. One of which being Holden’s realisation that he cannot preserve innocence and growing up is part of life. Also the inconclusive factor leaves the reader guessing and making them come to their own conclusion. There is also a realistic feel leaving no known conclusion, as life itself has no conclusion aside from death.
It can also be concluded that the novel is in fact made up of many trivial events. Again a sense of realism is brought out as life itself is made up of trivial events, in fact making the novel much better. The novel touches its reader on a much deeper level than we think. We sometimes feel what Holden feels and we can relate to some of his actions and thoughts. Another point which arises is, “Is Salinger aiming for realism or mocking Holden?” It is true that Salinger is mocking Holden. Salinger is actually using Holden to express his own opinions; he gets his views on society and life across through a teenage boy’s development from childhood. I feel that all of Holden's opinions on capitalism, America and life are in fact what Salinger is thinking. I believe that this is the only way he could express his opinion. This is why the book was banned in America.
I have concluded that the language is not actually impoverished. I feel it is unfair to say that the language is impoverished compared to literary standards of the time. I think that the language used is very well thought and structured, Salinger was aiming for a realistic feel for the reader and even today people can relate to the book, “Enhanced by the teenage slang of the 1950's, it is a widespread belief that much of Holden Caulfield's candid outlook on life reflects issues relevant to the youth of today.” (2) The statement is completely outrageous in its views on structure and language in the novel. It is obvious that a lot of thought has gone into the novel and the character of Holden. It is for this reason that I agree points about the structure but not those about the language. The points I agree with are that of the novel being episodic, inconclusive and made up of trivial events, although it is these factors which make the novel so easy to read follow and relate to.
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- (5) = “Teenage Skaz” by David Lodge
- “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger
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