Use Of Language In Catcher In The

Rye Essay, Research Paper

The Language of Catcher in the Rye

The passage of adolescence has served as the central theme for many novels, but J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, long a staple in academic lesson plans, has captured the spirit of this stage of life in hypersensitive form, dramatizing Holden Caulfield’s vulgar language and melodramatic reactions. Written as the autobiographical account of a fictional teenage prep school student, Holden Caulfield, The Catcher in the Rye deals with material noted by a number of critics to deal with—the comic irony, the colloquial language, the picaresque structure, and the theme of anti-phonies that could even link Holden Caulfield to Huckleberry Finn. Notably in language, it is displayed in relating the two, the reader goes through a similar pattern throughout adolescence (Gwynn 29). As an emotional, intelligent, inquisitive, and painfully sensitive young man, Holden puts his inner world to the test through the sexual mores of his peers and elders, the teachings of his education, and his own emerging sense of self. Throughout the years, the language of the story has startled some readers. Salinger’s control of Holden’s easy, conversational manner makes the introductions of these larger themes appear natural and believable.

At the time of the novel through today, Holden’s speech rings true to the informal speech of teenagers. The study of the language in this story “can be justified not only on the basis of literary interest, but also on the basis of linguistic significance” (Costello 44). Such speech includes both simple description and cursing. For example, Holden says, “They’re nice and all”, as well as, “I’m not going to tell you my whole goddam autobiography or anything” (Salinger 3). In the first instance, he uses the term “nice” which extremely simplifies his parents’ character, implying he does not wish to disrespect them, yet at the same time he does not praise them. At best, he deems them as “nice and all.” Holden further cuts short his description when he states he will not tell his “whole goddam autobiography or anything.” From the start, the reader picks up Holden’s hostility and unwillingness to share his views strictly by his use of language.

From the last two examples, another different dialect can be seen. Holden has a habit of ending his descriptions with tag phrases such as “and all” or “or anything.” Not only does Holden speak like this in the beginning of the novel, but throughout the book, making this pattern a part of his character. One could imagine Holden frequently ending his sentences with “and all,” realizing it is a character trait since not all teenagers used that phrase. So the “and all” tag to Holden’s speech served to make his speech authentic and individual. It is also thought that “Salinger ‘imposed upon a tacky age the style that it lacked’” (Salzman 13). Salinger intentionally used such speech patterns to help individualize Holden, yet to also make him a believable teenager of the early 1950’s (Salzman 13).

Another example of how Holden’s speech helped define his character is how he constantly had to confirm any affirmation he made, as if even he did not quite believe himself. Such reconfirmations include phrases such as “…if you want to know the truth,” or “…it really does.” Holden says the first phrase several times. “I have no wind, if you want to know the truth,” “I’m pacifist, if you want to know the truth,” and a variation: “She had a lot of sex appeal, too, if you really want to know.” In each of the above instances, Holden makes a statement then feels compelled to clarify that is he is not making it up but is, in fact, telling the truth. These mannerisms may point to several aspects of his character. For example, Holden is on the verge of failing out of preparatory school and fears telling his parents. Because he did not do well in school, Holden may have felt as though no one ever took him seriously and realized his actions left him with no solid academic standing. Since Holden is essentially a failure at school with no serious friendships, he attempts to solidify some communication in asking for approval by stating “if you want to know the truth.” Holden wants people to believe him so he speaks to seek approval (Costello, 1990). Again, Salinger creates this speech pattern as believable for a common teenager, yet it also seems to belong individually to Holden.

The Catcher in the Rye gained much of its notoriety for the language used in it, particularly the crude words (Gwynn, 1958). Like most colloquial uses of body parts, accidents of birth, or religious connotations, Holden does not strictly make use of words in reference to their original meaning. The word “hell” is a staple of Holden’s vocabulary, and he uses it often with both positive and negative connotations. In one instance, he tells us he had a “helluva time,” when he and Phoebe sneaked away and had a good time shopping for shoes downtown. Other statements include “pretty as hell,” “playful as hell,” or “hot as hell.”

Holden’s perception that situations were anything but normal in some relation to the extremes of the usage of “hell” is applied to both positive and negative situations. In each use of the word, Holden uses “hell” as a way to expresses the confusion of adolescence and his own regular use of it illustrates his own extreme sensitivity as a character (Gwynn, 19