Catcher In The Rye Unreliable Narrator Essay - 1442 Words

Long-time controversial novel The Catcher In The Rye, by J.D. Salinger, explores the world of living post-trauma as a youth in the midst of the nineteen-fifties, through the eyes and flowing thoughts of its narrator, Holden Caulfield- a sixteen year old boy recuperating from the traumatic loss of his younger brother, Allie. Jumping into the story, the audience quickly learns that Holden is retelling his story in some sort of hospital, after he â€Å"got pretty run-down and had to come out†¦ and take it easy† (1). Salinger goes out of his way to make points on many touchy topics throughout Catcher, however, the true meaning of the text is heavily debated due to the nature of Holden: a sarcastic, lying, cynic. Often labeled an â€Å"unreliable†¦show more content†¦As long as he does this, Holden will disallow himself from making outside connections. Ever since the death of Allie, Holden was so hurt and disturbed that he put up a metaphorical â€Å"social-emotiona l wall† between himself and others to abstain from getting hurt again. After losing Allie, whom Holden loved dearly, and regarded as â€Å"the nicest† and â€Å"the most intelligent† kid, he closed up, and subconsciously decided to hide his true character (22). One should still choose to believe what Holden has to say, starting with a major example of the highly debated scene in which Holden seeks refuge at the apartment of an ex-teacher, Mr. Antolini. He needs somewhere to stay the night, and possibly someone to talk to, as he his misadventures in New York were taking a toll on him, leaving his body feeling â€Å"funny† and â€Å"sort of dizzy† (106). To further break this section down, there is need of more context. Holden describes the wife of Mr. Antolini, as â€Å"Lousy with dough†¦ [and] about sixty years older than Mr. Antolini† (106). He also takes note of the fact that the two â€Å"were never in the same room at the same time† (106), despite making efforts to get on particularly well and â€Å"kiss a lot in public† (108). Raising an eyebrow, the following excerpt reads, â€Å"I’ll leave this right here. Just dive in, you two,† she said. She put the tray down on the ci garette table, pushing all these glasses out of the way. â€Å"How’s your mother, Holden?† â€Å"She’s fine, thanks. IShow MoreRelatedCatcher in the Rye984 Words   |  4 PagesENG 4U1 June 12, 2012 Catcher In The Rye Essay A role model can be can classified as one of many things, but what is it exactly that distinguishes a good one from a bad? The novel, The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D Salinger is utilized to present the character Holden Caulfield as an unsuitable role model. Firstly, Holden relies on drugs for a way out of his problems instead of facing them. Also, he cannot find his place in the world, which arises, from his natural inclination to lie andRead MoreF. Salinger s The Catcher Of The Rye1121 Words   |  5 PagesOne of the best known novels in English-speaking countries, J.D Salinger’s Catcher In The Rye deals with Holden Caulfield’s past trauma which is the triggering factor in his depression, anxiety and alienation. Holden tells an unnamed person what has happened in the three days prior to his mental breakdown. Through Holden’s relatable characteristics and Salinger’s narrative treatment, the book continues to engage audiences across generations. The way that Salinger writes gives the audience a veryRead MoreDaisy Caulfield : Minor Character1424 Words   |  6 PagesA minor character in The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger, is Phoebe Caulfield, the main character, Holden’s younger sister. Holden describes his sister as not only the smartest kid in the world, but also a great dancer, and a very sympathetic listener. She’s also known as the funniest little sister ever. She is first introduced to readers when Holden says: â€Å"You d like her. I mean if you tell old Phoebe something, she knows exactly what the hell you re talking about. I mean you canRead MoreHow First Person Narration Affects The Overall Story939 Words   |  4 PagesFirst person narration? The first person narration is ‘The Story is told by a character that participates in the action of the story itself. First person Narrative is used by an author who wants a personal/subjective/intimate point of view’. In this essay, I will discuss the ways that first person narration affects the overall story which contains many things like Plot, settings of the story, Characters, the point of view, tone, irony, and symbolism. The story also contains many things for the thirdRead MoreWhen I Was In Middle School, My Ambition Was To Become1330 Words   |  6 Pagesto turn into a long-term project. In high school and my first semester of college I have been exposed to more different styles of writing both through the given writing assignments and the books I have read. One of my biggest struggles when writing essays is making them compact, concise, and on topic. I have always understood that being able to write well is a very valuable skill which, with practice, can be developed to fit any profession in which I may end up in the future. Over my summer vacationRead MoreIs Holden a Byronic Hero?2887 Words   |  12 PagesIn The Catcher In The Rye, judging from incidents involving Holden, I can conclude that he is some kind of a Byronic hero who typically exhibits following traits: No doubt, Holden has a troubled past. One way to understand Holdens uncommon combination of characteristics is to look at the traumatic events in his childhood, most importantly the death of his brother, Allie. How Holden reacts to his brothers death, by smashing all of the windows in the garage that night, shows that this event has