Effective Language

Chapters 5-6

• Throughout Chapter 5, Holden continues to complain about Ackley; however, the sympathy he feels for his next-door neighbor is evident when he convinces Mal Brossard to let Ackley join them at the movies. It is clear that Holden’s actions are inconsistent with his opinions, but instead of making him seem like a hypocrite, this makes him more likable: for example, he is kind to Ackley without commenting on it, and he shows himself capable of going to the movies with his friends like a normal teenager.

• In the following chapter, Holden says that he slept in the garage on the night of Allie’s death and broke all the windows with his bare hands, “just for the hell of it.” He tried to break the car windows as well, but could not because his hand was already fractured from smashing the garage windows. Throughout the novel, it becomes increasingly clear that Allie’s death was one of the most traumatic experiences of Holden’s life and may play a major role in his current "mental" breakdown.

I have observed that the structure of Chapter 6 is based off of an Angered side of Holden; as every other sentence, uses the word "Hell" in it-- I don't believe this is full anger caused, however, but possibly one of the strategies Holden uses to come off as one with a strong armor on the outside. Sentences such as "Cold as hell," Sore as hell," How the hell...," Who the hell...," "My chest hurt like hell..." were used frequently within the structure of pages 40-45.

Secondly, when Holden states “just for the hell of it,” through effective use of tone, it is clear that Holden seems to feel increasing pressure as he moves toward leaving school; and Salinger manipulates the details of Holden’s physical environment to match his protagonist’s feelings. Therefore, through Holden's tone, I can state that the cynicism in which Holden uses to avoid expressing his feelings may result from the effects of Allie’s death. Most importantly, though, Holden's voice clearly tries to hide the soft/delicate interior of himself which is constantly overshadowed by his hard-cover exterior. This quotation attempts to hide the sympathetic, hurt character of Holden with one whose "rough" and "tough."

While reading this week, I came across an unfamiliar word...

• Unscrupulous (Pg. 40) - adj. - Devoid of scruples; oblivious to or contemptuous of what is right or honorable.
Ex) Thieves are always unscrupulous characters.


Jenna S.