The Catcher in the Rye Question 1

            One thing I have noticed about J.D. Salinger’s way of writing is that he repeats in his novel, The Catcher in the Rye constantly.  He repeats himself so excessively that it gets annoying.  Novels are not usually annoying; they tend to be boring or scary.  I first started to notice the repetition of sentences and words when the characters would converse with each other.  One character that tends to say the same thing over is Robert Ackley or “Ackley”.  Ackley uses the word, “Chrissake” at least three times in the course of a chapter (Salinger 20, 22).  Not to mention, he continually says this word throughout the remainder of the novel.

The next example I am going to use to show J.D. Salinger’s repetition is not the most appropriate example but it stood out to me.  When I said it stood out to me, I meant that I could have gone reading it only once, not five times.  “I can’t stand that sonuvab****” and “He’s one sonuvab**** I really can’t stand” (Salinger 23).  As I said before, this sentence is not appropriate and that is why I used the asterix symbol instead of actually saying the word. 

The Catcher in the Rye reveals to the readers that J.D. Salinger values applying yourself in school and having friendships.  Holden Caulfield keeps failing out of school because he does not care enough to try.  People should apply themselves in school because it will get them farther in life.  At all the schools Holden has been to and later kicked out of, he has made friends.  You need those certain people in life to boost your confidence and keep you going forward. 

The Catcher in the Rye is written in first person where Holden Caulfield is the narrator.  He is narrating from a psychiatric facility a couple of months after the events described in the novel.

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown, 1951. Print.