The period of coming of age is always an uneasy time, due to the fact that it is marked with significant psychological change, which includes learning conformity with societal rules and norms, independence, often in both psychological and economic senses, as well as responsibility for one’s own actions. In the novel entitled “The Catcher in the Rye”, J.Salinger actually describes the pain of maturation and reluctance to leave the magical world of childhood. The present paper argues that the author uses a number of literary devices in order to address the central themes of his novel which include alienation, distress, rejection of the corruption of the adult world and loss of innocence.
The central conflict is presented in the novel as the main character’s rejection of societal rules, norms and conventions which turn gradually make the personality behave in a “phony” (Salinger, 1952, p.170), way, or pretend, tell lies and behave in an unnatural or superficial way. The protagonist challenges the necessity of attending the school, which fails to realize its mission, stated as: “Since 1888 we have been molding boys into splendid, clear-thinking young men” (Salinger, p. 7). Holden Caulfield, the main character, reflects to this statement in a following way: “They don’t do any damn more molding at Pencey than they do at any other school. And I didn’t know anybody there that was splendid and clear thinking and all. Maybe two guys. If that many. And they probably came to Pencey that way” (Salinger, p.7). Holden is equally critical about career, as he believes his older brother agreed to work in Hollywood, in whose films the reality is misrepresented, only for financial benefit. Relationships and social interaction like doing out with a girl and socializing with a roommate seem to aggravate Holden, as people around him appear to the protagonist excessively compliant to and dependent upon the others’ opinion: for instance, Holden’s roommate Stradlater wins a reputation of a popular and sexually active young man by dating girls considered “prestigious” (Salinger, p.10). The important literary device used to depict Holden confronting the pressure of the society and the corruption of the adult world is characterization, as the main character calls people he meets “phony” and refers to them as “slobs” (Salinger, p.12), meaning that he is not willing to have anything in common with them. However, the narrator also includes a more comprehensive description of the personalities of people around him: for instance, he clearly points out that Ackley’s is distinguished by the lack of social competence, so he is a lonely and psychologically isolated person, whereas his deceased brother Allie and younger sister Phoebe are described as indigenous, caring and sincere.
Motifs are symbols refers to the features and situations which allow elucidating the central themes. Paradoxically, the two central motifs of the literary work are close interpersonal relationships and loneliness. Due to the fact that the main character is not capable of reconciling himself to the necessity of joining the adult world of falsehood and deception, he feels lonely even when in the company: for instance, Sally, the girl he meets in New York, fails to understand his psychological and emotional problems by answering in a formal way when he offers to leave the city together, as she indicates that they are not yet entitled to act in such an “adult” way as they are still immature. At the same time, Holden desperately seeks psychological intimacy: for this purposes he even dares to take a prostitute, believing probably that physical closeness will unite them psychologically. However, facing the unfamiliar woman, who is simply performing her work, Holden appears to be incapable of realizing his intentions, partly due to the fear of the loss of innocence and purity, and also due to the already existing alienation from people, which implies keeping certain physical and psychological distance. As he attempts to clarify that he is willing merely to have a sincere talk with her, the woman charges an extra fee and calls her pump when Holden refuses to pay. Thus, sex, one of the romantic aspects of human life, is used in the adult world as a means of profit-making, so Holden feels to great extent disgusted by this tendency to capitalizing on the intimate relationships, which should stem from true feeling. In this sense, the symbol of red hunting hat conveys the message about authenticity, indigenousness and sincerity the main character has, and he seems to express himself be wearing it; this symbol is obviously opposed to the regular style of clothing which does not allow individuals to show their mood and emotions and can be referred to as an element of the “corrupt world”. The protagonist’s loneliness is also associated with the fear of responsibility for his hypothetical friends, as he is obviously not able conscientiously manage his life: in particular, Holden reveals he was guilty of failing the school football match as he carelessly lost the necessary equipment; moreover, he criticizes the schools he attended without any idea of what he is going to do in the future.
Allusion is used when the main character reflects upon the text of the song “Comin’ Through the Rye” : mishearing it, the main character believes the song is about catching children in the rye so that they do not fall down from the cliff (Salinger, p.172). This reference to the verse can be viewed as a symbol of Holden’s desire for protecting himself, his younger sister and other children from joining the adult world and becoming “phonies”. Irony is used to show that the main character is also learning to deceive, as he often hides his true identity and refers to religion first with hatred and further with admiration so that his relationships with God are not clear.
As one can conclude, the literary devices including motifs, symbols, conflict, characterization, allusion and irony are used to depict the main character’s estrangement from the corrupt society, the insincerity of the adult world and the fear of coming of age is terms of the loss of innocence and taking responsibility for one’s own actions.
Works cited
Salinger, J. The Catcher in the Rye. Little, Brown & Company, 1952.