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Rhetorical Analysis Of The Catcher In The Rye

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Throughout the novel, J.D. Salinger uses slang as a method of style to not only show the time period when this book was written, but also the intelligence of Holden and his accompanying characters. In chapter two, Holden’s slang is especially evident when describing Mr. Spencer and the way he lives his everyday life. This chapter also depicts Holden’s feelings about Mr. Spencer and shows that Mr. Spencer is the only known father figure around Holden at this time and Holden just continues to disappoint and push Mr. Spencer further away. The author uses this passage and passages like it to further develop the characterization of Holden and show how he views the world and its inhabitants. This style is evident in the paragraph “They each had …show more content…

This immaturity is evident on page 24, “Nobody won,” he said……..he was always telling me I was a goddam kid because I was sixteen and he was eighteen.” This style is used by Salinger to further develop the school setting and show that these kids still haven't matured. This also puts the reader in a playful mindset and creates a not-so-serious tone of the book and enables the reader to relax and enjoy the book better. Salinger then uses profanity to show how these boys value girls on page 49 ““Who's your date?" I asked him. "Fitzgerald?" "Hell, no! I told ya. I'm through with that pig.""Yeah? Give her to me, boy. No kidding. She's my type.”” This also shows the time period as well when women weren’t as valued as they are …show more content…

adulthood. Holden constantly acts childish when leaving schools, wasting money, starting arguments, and flunking his classes. When he is sent off to different schools, he is also being forced into adulthood. He is all alone far away from his family, and it is up to him to make decisions for himself. “It was too late to call for a cab…..everyone was in the sack.” This shows that Holden has no guidance and that he is left to fend for himself and make his own decisions. The way that Holden has been raised has forced him to grow up quickly from a child to an

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