‘50 Novels’ Catcher in the Rye: Afterthoughts

Holden Caulfield’s ongoing struggle to fit into the adult world is superbly realised by his creator, it truly is. Again and again Mr. Salinger thwarts Caulfield’s attempts to rise into the realm of adulthood. Caulfield nonchalantly speaks of drinking alcohol as though it were the same daily ‘matter of fact’ activity for him, as it was for an adult. However in reality, the reader sees that he is almost always turned down in his requests for ‘booze’. Additionally, and most eloquently, the author further indicts Caulfield’s failure at ‘being a man’, by detailing Caulfield’s numerous failed attempts to ‘amplify’ his maturity, by connecting with women of the more mature variety.

I also loved how Caulfield’s attempts at acting as an adult were often betrayed by his inherent juvenile behaviour. His habit of continually exaggerating things, of coming up with ‘on-the-spur’, unfeasible notions of escape to a ‘better’ life, and his critical bemoaning of everything and everyone around him, belied, rather magnificently, the true immaturity of his personality. Caulfield may not admit it himself but it’s evident that under his grown-up veneer, he was still very much the boy.

Another wonderful thing I enjoyed following through the novel was Holden Caulfield’s serial hypocrisy. He spends much of the time criticising everyone around him, labeling almost everyone as ‘phoney’, and questioning their moral values. However Caulfield shows himself to be just as ‘phoney’ as they are – if not more so – through the endless yarns he spins, and the use of multiple pseudonyms. Ultimately though, how can anyone question somebody else’s moral values when they themselves agree to spending time with a prostitute?

All in all I really did enjoy this novel. I stick by my opinion that the story itself is largely  dull and without plot, but Mr. Salinger’s depiction of teenage angst, and the challenges faced in the ‘coming of age’ is truly applaudable.

Rating:

Favourite quote: “[the fish] live right in the goddam ice…[…]…They get frozen right in one position for the whole winter…[…]…Their bodies take in nutrition and all, right through the goddam seaweed and crap that’s in the ice”

Favourite scene: When Holden sneaks home to visit his little sister Phoebe. I love the tenderness of the scene and the obvious connection that Holden has with his sister and vice-versa. If I have to be honest I much more preferred the character of Phoebe. She’s a much more endearing character than Holden, and hugely charismatic. Every time she came up in a scene I couldn’t help but think that Phoebe would make a great sister.

What this novel has taught me about writing: Probably the importance of building your characters as comprehensively as possible, and to use a language for their direct speech that truly reflects them. I think Mr. Salinger nails his character’s voices perfectly, ‘breathing’ a high degree of  believability into them.