Discusses the Importance of Truth in The Catcher in the Rye

From the very beginning of the novel, Holden decides what you want to hear, and what hes going to tell you. He refuses to talk about his parents past because that stuff bores me, and his parents would have about two hemorrhages apiece if I told anything pretty personal about them.(page 1) Throughout the novel, he avoids telling the truth about anything too personal or boring. This suggests he thinks nothing of being economical with the truth for his own convenience. He certainly seems eager to decide for himself how much hes going to tell you. Im not going to tell you my whole goddamn autobiography or anything. Ill just tell you about this madman stuff that happened to me.(page 1) He also informs us that he hasnt†¦show more content†¦Another truth that Holdens casual attitude might distract us from, is whom hes really talking to. There are a few vague references to his location in the opening pages. Just before I got pretty run down, and had to come out here and tak e it easy. That isnt too far from this crummy place, and he comes over and visits me practically every weekend. But these references dont indicate who hes talking to exactly. We already assume that hes told his brother something similar to the story hes about to tell, and its a fair assumption that he was in the same location at the time, since his brother often visits. It doesnt seem important to know the truth about whom Holdens really talking to. The books casual tone helps the reader relate to Holden, and since they dont know who hes talking to, the casual reader may assume that Holdens talking to them. This is responsible in part for the books status as a cult classic. Since most of the novel takes place in the recent and distant past, the truth about Holdens current location seems unimportant. It is more important, in certain instances, during the text to imagine the location or scene that Holden is describing. Its more useful to picture the museum, for example, to relate to the way Holden feels about it, especially when he finally enters. Its important to picture this scene to understand why it upsets Holden so much. Picturing theShow MoreRelatedHow Salinger’s Holden Caulfield Relates to Teenagers Throughout Time1412 Words   |  6 PagesHow Salinger’s Holden Caulfield Relates to Teenagers Throughout Time In 1951, J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye was #1 on the New York Time’s bestseller list. Since then, the American Literary Association claims The Catcher in the Rye is a â€Å"favorite of censors.† The use of harsh language and profanity has been a long time debate of educators causing the novel to be pulled off bookshelves and propelling J.D. Salinger and his protagonist, Holden Caulfield, into reluctant fame. TheRead MoreLanguage Catcher in the Rye4730 Words   |  19 PagesThe American Dialect Society The Language of The Catcher in the Rye Author(s): Donald P. Costello Source: American Speech, Vol. 34, No. 3 (Oct., 1959), pp. 172-181 Published by: Duke University Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/454038 . Accessed: 30/01/2011 11:19 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of JSTORs Terms and Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp. JSTORs Terms and Conditions of Use provides, in partRead More Oppression and Depression: The Effects of White Masculinity2725 Words   |  11 Pagesattractive, or whether men just prefer these traits in each other and themselves, the standards of beauty are still predetermined on their behalf. A tall, handsome, muscular male is physically and visually considered a man. In the book Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger admires these traits in the character of Stradlater through Holden Caulfield’s perspective. Caulfield is amazed at what a â€Å"very sexy guy† Stradlater is, and how â€Å"handsome† he is. Holden is obviously personally impressed by his