Catcher In The Rye Narrative

The prescribed text “The Catcher in the Rye,” written by J.D Salinger, is a complex novel where the narrative is in first person. This gives us a better insight into a character’s emotions and experiences. The protagonist, Holden Caulfield, is an adolescent who undergoes developmental changes in the novel. Throughout the novel, we are allowed to experience Holden’s thoughts and emotions that he encounters, which brings us closer to the character Salinger created.

The narrative’s point of view allows us to read Holden’s words and thoughts. The novel is a first-person narrative, which composes of the pronoun “I.” This method allows us to not only read his words, but his thoughts too. Holden is the first-person narrator, and is the main character

Therefore, Holden’s narration is a “mass of contradictions,” as stated in the tutorial letter 501/3/2017, ENG1501, page 58. Holden is the kind of character who vocalizes what he wants to execute, but decides to avoid it because he instantaneously does not feel up to it. An example to take into consideration is when Holden’s roommate, Ward Stradler, has a date with Jane Gallagher, with whom Holden is familiar with. Holden got stirred up with excitement and wanted to greet her. As a result, Holden repeatedly says, “I oughta go down and say hello to her, at least,” but he contradicts his excitement to see her by saying, “I’m not in the mood right now.” (J.D. Salinger, 1945, page 34 of ‘The Catcher in the Rye’). Another example would include his speech about being a pacifist on page 48. Holden exclaims that he is a pacifist who doesn’t like getting into fights, yet he thinks about violence often. It was Holden, who had initiated a fight with Stradler, “…and then I tried to sock him, with all my might…” on page 45. In chapter 13, page 96-97, Holden also describes what he would to the person who stole his jacket with gloves in it, “… I’d feel I ought to sock the guy in the jaw or something – break his goddamn jaw.” This proves that Holden’s mind isn’t wired to be a true pacifist. In the novel, Holden has the urge to call Jane quite often, example on page 68. Holden once again contradicts himself by vocalizing, “The only reason I didn’t do it was because I wasn’t in the mood.” (J.D. Salinger, 1945, page 68). Throughout the novel, Holden has the tendency of wanting to call people, but changes his mind every single