In the second paragraph on page 85 of The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger’s
diction, syntax, and imagery create a mocking tone which demonstrates Salinger’s
message that physical appearance determines one’s status.
J.D. Salinger’s word choice in this paragraph demonstrates that appearance
determines status. When Holden describes the unattractive girl on his left, he does so in a
contemptuous manner, saying that he feels “sorry” for her, and that “sometimes [he] can’t
even look at [her]” (Salinger 85). When he describes the attractive girl on his right,
however, he uses complimentary words such as “terrific looking” (Salinger 85).
Furthermore, Holden implies that the unattractive girl deserved the bad date she was
having, while he sympathizes with the attractive girl for her unfortunate companion. This
juxtaposition of Holden’s different attitudes towards attractive versus unattractive people
creates Salinger’s tone, which mocks the irony of how two people are judged differently
just because of their looks. Holden’s views also contribute to the notion that in society,
status is determined by physical attractiveness.
The syntax within this paragraph also illustrates appearance and social standing
are inextricably linked. When Holden talks about the unattractive woman, he goes into
great detail about her unfortunate features. He says that “real ugly girls have it tough”
and that by virtue of her ugliness, the girl “had to listen” to those who are more attractive
(Salinger 85). When he describes the other, more attractive, woman, Holden’s sentences
are short and few, saying simply “boy, she was good-looking” (Salinger 85). This
contrasting length in description reveals Holden’s attitude that ugliness must be
lampooned and elaborated upon, whereas beauty is the greatest compliment a woman can
have and thus needs no further elaboration. The resulting tone is one which pokes fun at
society’s unfair emphasis on those who are ugly. The one demonstrates that ugly people
have a lower social status than attractive ones.
Salinger’s imagery also shows that appearance determines one’s place in society.
When Holden describes the unattractive girl’s date, he uses imagery with negative
meanings. For example, Holden talks about how the man speaks of nothing except for
“every single goddam play in [a football] game” (Salinger 85). Holden also tells us that
he is “funny-looking” and “dopey” (Salinger 85). The attractive girl’s date, on the other
hand, is a “very Joe-Yale looking guy, in a gray flannel suit and one of those flittylooking Tattersall vests” (Salinger 85). These images imply a man who is probably
wealthy and educated, two traits which are generally looked upon favorably. These
examples of imagery contribute to a mocking tone because Holden ridicules both couples
to a certain extent. More importantly, it shows that appearance determines status because
the unattractive girl has a boring, “dopey” boyfriend, while the pretty one ends up with
one who is rich and educated (Salinger 85).
The second paragraph of page 85 in The Catcher in the Rye contains diction,
syntax, and imagery which Salinger uses to illustrate how appearance determines status.
Cordero’s comments:
What works about this timed writing is the author purpose of appearance determining
reality and the use of many short quotes throughout the body paragraphs. It is generally a
better choice in passage analysis to use shorter quotes more often than to use a long
quote. I also appreciate the word choice throughout the essay, although it is repetitive in
some spots.
The following essays were written in a time when we didn’t expect author purpose, but
the stylistic analysis is good.
Essay 1
In The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger uses many literary techniques to create Holden’s
critical attitude. In this passage, Holden describes the people surrounding him in a bar.
Holden starts off by saying, “I was surrounded by jerks,” without giving any real reason.
He does this very often; Holden likes to jump to conclusions about people, instantly
labeling them as jerks. Next, he goes on to describe “this funny looking guy and this
funny looking girl!” Here the author shows that much of what Holden judges others by is
their looks. One also senses that Holden is a sarcastic person when he says that the
situation “was funny.” Listening in on their conversation, Holden realizes that the funny
looking guy is “the most boring person [he] even listened to.” Here, Holden criticizes the
superficiality of the guy, who is talking about “some pro football game.” He dislikes
“phonies” who act like something they are not, or who say things that they do not really
mean. Holden then shows pity for the girl by saying that “real ugly girls have it tough.”
Once again, he judges others by their looks, and believes that people also are funny
looking have to put up with more than those that do not, which is true, most of the time.
Holden then describes what is on his right, a “Joe Yale” looking guy. His choice of words
here makes us feel that these “Joe Yales” are phonies and are a dime a dozen. They hide
behind their suits and vests, and Holden despises them for that. He also says that he “had
a terrific looking girl with him.” Here, again, is the criticism based on looks. By now, the
reader senses hypocrisy, because Holden is being a phony himself by judging others
purely on looks. One immediately senses the change in tone, when Holden describes this
couple, which reveals that he favors good-looking girls over the funny looking ones.
Instead of one using a hateful tone, Holden sues a lighter tone. He tells us that the guy
“was giving her a feel under the table, and at the same time telling her all about some
guy” that had “nearly committed suicide.” Instead of criticizing what they are doing, he
just says that, “they killed me.” The author provides an interesting contrast between the
way Holden reacts to the two different couples.
J.D. Salinger, through the use of details and word choice, creates Holden’s critical
attitude. By showing how differently he reacts towards good looking girls and funny
looking ones, he also allows us to criticize Holden.
Essay 2
J.D. Salinger criticizes the shallowness, phoniness, and stupidity of modern American
society in his novel The Catcher in the Rye. He accomplishes this through a unique use of
literary devices such as detail, diction, and syntax.
The passage takes place in a bar where Holden, an underage boy, is listening to
conversations around him. On his left, a “funny-looking guy and his funny-looking girl”
who “was even funnier-looking than he was” are on a date. Salinger’s syntax in this case
the repetition of the word “funny,” reflects his opinion of ugly couples. His description of
them, emphasized several times, shows how he is critical of their appearance. Salinger
goes on to describe the man as the “most boring guy I ever listened to,” telling his date
about a game she “wasn’t even interested in.” Salinger goes into great detail while
analyzing this exchange. He suggests the couple’s phony conversation has to do with
their funny looks, nothing that “real ugly girls have it tough,” and “sometimes I can’t
even look at them.” His syntax is in the form of simple sentences, which creates the
impression that Holden is a semi-innocent youth who’s “telling it like it is,” or bluntly
explaining who stupid it is for ugly girls to pretend to enjoy a guy’s company because
they can’t find anyone else. Salinger ends the description of this side of the room with a
subtle tinge of shallowness.
On Holden’s right, another “Joe Yale-looking guy” and “a terrific-looking girl” are
talking. Holden notices how “he was giving her a feel under the table’ while she kept
trying to get him to stop. Again, the detail Salinger goes into highlights his critical view
of American society. The “Ivy Leagues bastard” is only interested in sex, not meaningful
conversation. Salinger must feel that you should really like a girl before getting intimate.
While the guy is feeling her up, he’s “telling her all about some guy in his dorm that had
eaten a whole bottle of aspirin and nearly committed suicide.” Not only does Salinger
criticize the subject topic of the conversation, but he also hints at the shallowness of the
guy who’s only pretending to be worried about his friend, so he can give his date a feel.
Holden sarcastically says, “They killed me,” a perfect tone for the phoniness the guy
demonstrates and the gullibility of his date for allowing it.
Salinger’s selection and presentation of details, diction, and syntax all help emphasize his
critical attitude towards the blatant phoniness of American society. His description of the
two couples is an outstanding example of the shallowness we wallow in.