Student Examples

Salinger uses Stradlater as a symbol of the phoniness of the adult world. Stradlater only cares about what revolves around him. When Stradlater gives off te impression that he and Jane Gallagher , who was a childhood friend to Holden , had a sexual encounter , Holden gets very angry because he knew “ … he’d start snowing his date in this very quiet , sincere voice-like as if he wasn’t only a very handsome guy but a nice, sincere guy , too . “ (Salinger 49). Because of this, Holden fears that Jane’s innocence is at risk .

Salinger not only uses symbolism, but also diction to elucidate the effects of isolation on Holden. The appliances of crude language in The Catcher in The Rye may serve as a form of protection for Holden, but it also serves as a catalyst for his ongoing isolation. For example, Holden frequently uses hanging words like “and all” to explain an indefinable feeling like“..they’re nice and all” or “What do they do, the fish and all..”. Holden has trouble explaining his feelings to others and has a hard time getting others to understand him, so he critique’s them. This doesn’t help Holden at all and he begins to become angry with everyone. While his language may serve to satisfy his need to act out on his anger, it only serves to isolate him (Miller). Holden often calls others “phonies” when they do not fit into his world of innocence. Holden thinks that society, especially adults, are cosmetic and superficial. For example, when Holden goes to Ernie’s and watches Ernie play the piano he believes that Ernie was being phony. According to the novel, Ernie turned around and gave “a very phony, humble bow,” almost as if “he was a helluva humble guy, besides being a terrific piano player” (Salinger 84). To Holden, it was very phony, since Ernie’s such a “big snob and all”. Holden does not believe that he belongs in this phony world and begins to think he’s going mad. He mistakes something spontaneous in his actions for madness: “But I’m crazy, I swear to God I am”; when he acts on impulse he feels guilty, though also bumptious: “I’m the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life” (Jones 76). Holden’s language is an indication of his disturbed state, as his isolation deepens. Holden soon sees this and begins to realize that he cannot live in isolation and that he needs to reach out to someone before he does indeed become mad.