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Catcher In The Rye Language Analysis

Decent Essays

The young man’s speech, uneducated and unscrupulous upon a cursory listen, juxtaposes the content as he fluidly edits his words to remain true to his ruse. A compulsive liar cannot divulge his true feelings aloud, so a glimpse of his innermost thoughts is bound to intrigue. In J.D. Salinger’s first person narrative this is infuriatingly truthful, as opinions change and disagreements ensue regarding the book’s merit. At its core, The Catcher in the Rye evokes a plethora of emotions from the readers, making it a truly timeless tale for individuals in transitory periods. The informal tone of the book, while initially unimportant, is an essential factor in naming this book a classic. Slang and profanity are used liberally throughout the text …show more content…

But, just as he eventually allows Phoebe to reach for her goal despite the chance of her making mistakes, the readers learn they must allow themselves and others to grow, undeterred by fear. Had Salinger not built that foundation of oneness with these readers through informal language this breakthrough would likely be nonexistent, with the book largely forgotten after publication. As one of these readers paralyzed by my own fear, I can attest to Holden’s appeal as a martyr. In forcing me to consider that the barriers I created to shield myself from the outside world were, in fact, great contributors to my loneliness and depression, Salinger made me feel something, albeit perhaps not what he intended. I hated accepting responsibility for my condition, certain the world was simply unfair to me. I projected this hatred upon the book, although I reluctantly recanted this after much introspection. This book catalyzed a personal revolution, as I transformed from wishing to be the catcher in the rye to now allowing grace to myself and others. This journey taught me to embrace the actualities of life, to see the beauty among life’s

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