Word Watcher/Effective Language

Chapters 22-23

• While reading this week, I felt as though one of the most important passages in the novel comes when Holden tells Phoebe he would like to be the catcher in the rye, saving little children from falling off the cliff. This passage emphasizes the novel’s metaphoric title; as the rye field is a symbol of childhood, because the rye is so high that the children cannot see over it- just as children are unable to see beyond the boundaries/borders of their own imaginative childhood. Clearly, Holden wants to protect childhood innocence from the fall into issues that usually accompany adulthood. Trapped between states, with his innocence in jeopardy, Holden wants to be a “catcher in the rye,” or a savior of the innocence missing in the world surrounding him.

"...I’m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff—I mean if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That’s all I’d do all day. I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all." (Pg. 173)

This passage occurs after Holden has went quietly back into his apartment and is speaking with Phoebe. They talk, argue, and then reconcile, and Phoebe asks Holden what he wants to do with his life in the future. Holden responds with this image, which reveals his fantasy of idealistic childhood. His response also re-visits Holden's most known character quality: he prefers to retreat into his own imaginary view of the world rather than deal with the complexities of the world around him. Through the use of metaphoric effective language, Holden's catcher in the rye fantasy reflects his innocence, his belief in the benefits of uncorrupted youth, and his extreme disconnection from reality.


Jenna S.