Catcher in the Rye: Beginning Chapters Analysis
The winter setting in the beginning of the Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger helps establish elements, such as the novel’s mood. Winter’s cold and unfriendly environment introduces the reader to the uncomfortable nature of Holden’s experiences, from being kicked out of every school he ever attended, to his negative inner monologues, the winter setting at the beginning of the chapter establishes a foreboding baseline for the rest of the novel. In the beginning chapter, Holden also describes the weather as extremely icy and cold. Upon arriving at Mr. Spencer’s house, his ears were hurting and he “could hardly move [his] fingers at all.” The extreme weather at the start of this chapter introduces readers into the intensity of plot throughout the rest of the novel. Holden’s obvious discomfort at the cold and his hardships traversing through it is a metaphor for his discomfort in life later down the line. Winter is often an unforgiving season, symbolic of Holden’s experiences with foreboding individuals and agonizing moments. Furthermore, winter is a suitable season for Holden’s character, who often feels lonely and isolated from others around him. Holden struggles to allow others close to him and is purposefully detached from the others around him. At the start of the novel, Holden’s disdain towards socialization is further emphasized through his descriptions of society’s phoniness. Holden evidently voices contempt towards those he considers fake, oftentimes individuals who value and chase prestige and material wealth. As such, the coldness and cynicism Holden holds internally towards others translates into the winter setting, evident at the beginning of the novel, helping establish the novel’s characterization.
Holden looking up at the football game from “way the hell up on Thomsen Hill” emphasizes his isolation by visually transforming his solitude. Holden is distanced, figuratively and literally, from his peers. He often experiences his life in a different perspective than the one he portrays to others. In this way, Holden standing alone on the top of Thomsen Hill symbolizes him hiding his true self away from the rest of society. Throughout the novel, Holden’s inner monologues often conflicts with how he behaves in the real world. One prime example is his interaction with Mr. Spencer. Although Holden often thinks crude, unpleasant thoughts directed toward Mr. Spencer, he never states them to him. In actuality, Holden is rather polite and gentlemanly in his exchange with Mr. Spencer, calling him “sir” and going as far as to console Mr. Spencer for the fact that he flunked out of history. Holden’s inability to voice his true opinions brings to attention his intense isolation from the rest of society. Furthermore, the symbolism of Holden standing right beside a canon from the Revolutionary War showcases his mentality of being stuck in the past. Holden’s constant reminiscence about past experiences, such as his experience with Selma Thurmer, the headmaster’s daughter of a school he onced attended, reveals his tendency to be stuck in time. Holden’s hesitation towards leaving Pency Prep, wanting to remember everything the way it was, adds to this image of him as an individual stuck in his past. Thus, this canon acts as another barrier that separates him from the rest of society. Overall, the image of Holden standing up on Thomsen hill and looking down at the football game highlights the differences he holds between him and his peers, as well as his isolation from them by showing his figurative and literal distance from others, as well as his incapacity to move on from his past experiences.
In Holden’s conversation with Mr. Spencer, Salinger utilizes Holden’s internal monologue, his academic struggle, his previous departure from other schools, and his dislike of fake individuals, to suggest that Holden is about to face an impending crisis. Through Holden’s internal monologue, Salinger introduces a conflict prevalent all throughout the novel: character vs. self. Holden’s character is in a constant battle with himself. His pessimism is often the reason for his introversion and cynical outlook on things, causing him to enter unfavorable situations and isolate himself to the point of a mental breakdown further down the line. Furthermore, in his academic struggle and departure from previous institutions, Salinger showcases Holden’s inability to fit in with society. Holden cannot conform to the standards of school and feels as though he is alienated from his peers, a character vs. society conflict. Thus, his struggle is highlighted through Salinger’s mention of his academic encounters, which contribute to his later problem loneliness, as he feels too ashamed to go home and instead reside within a shady hotel in New York. Lastly, Holden’s aversion to characters he considers fake suggests that he faces trouble to authentically connect with his peers. Holden is currently in a position where he does not value the same things that most people around him values. While many of his peers are at a period of growth and maturity, Holden himself is unable to change and often expresses himself as innocent and immature, like that of a young child. Many things he considers to be phony include elements of growth: socialization, reputation, and wealth. As such, Salinger utilizes Holden’s academic struggle, withdrawal from his previous schools, and his disdain towards phony individuals to showcase his alienation and suggest his incoming struggles with isolation and happiness.
Although Holden is a reflective individual, he constantly tries to keep himself from ruminating on something too much in chapter 2 in an effort to preserve his emotional wellbeing. When Holden begins to think about Mr. Spencer’s private life, as well as when he’s being questioned about his own, Holden begins to become cynical. His overthinking is often a result of his current worries and depression about his own life. When thinking about others, Holden can’t help but to compare their life to his ideal version of a perfect life. In Holden’s perspective, Mr. Spencer lives a sad life filled with simplicity and naive pleasures, causing him to feel sorry and depressed. Holden discusses Mr. Spencer’s health problems, such as his poor back, to support his argument that Mr. Spencer’s life is immensely sorrowful. However, if Holden doesn’t think excessively about Mr. Spencer’s existence, deeper ruminations about his life are nonexistent and being in his presence becomes easier to bear with. Likewise, when Holden is asked about his own life, his thoughts go directly to his life experiences dealing with insufferable individuals and the unfairness of society’s “game.” Holden attempts to stop himself from thinking about something too much to protect himself from ruminating on cynical ideas. This characteristic contributes to the readers’ understanding of his character by revealing that Holden is a character with great inner turmoil. Due to his inability to make peace with himself, Holden’s thoughts are often damaging to his emotional state and cannot be held for long before he becomes immensely upset. The readers can therefore understand that Holden struggles significantly with his current life and is not content. Furthermore, through this, it’s also revealed that Holden is an emphatic character, often feeling sad about others around him.
In the first few chapters of the novel, Salinger effectively creates sympathy for Holden by describing him as an authentic soul in a sea of phony individuals. For instance, Salinger utilizes the narrative’s first person perspective to generate more sympathy from the readers through Holden’s internal monologue. Holden often recounts ingenuine experiences with other characters in the story. His inner monologue about these experiences, such as stating how the principle purposefully provides the students at Pencey Prep with dry steak in order to boost his reputation, drives the story and introduces him with a genuine, justice-driven personality. Holden’s criticism of the principal's actions reveal to the readers that he values authentic acts of goodness over anything else, inciting immense sympathy for his current situation and his environment filled with supposed phonies. In addition, through inner monologues, Salinger creates intimate moments between Holden and the reader. Holden’s inner thoughts are exclusively known to the reader and are true reflections of how he feels about many things in his life. From his experience at Mr. Spencer’s to his life in Pencey Prep, Holden’s inner monologue boosts the likelihood for them to feel sympathy for Holden. In addition, Holden’s criticism of the people around him serves to portray him as an individual wronged by society and is the first perspective introduced in the story. By being the only perspective shown in the first few chapters of the novel, the reader is more inclined to share sympathy for Holden and emotionally connect with him as a main character. As such, by portraying the narrative in first person, using effective inner monologues, and introducing Holden’s perspective as the first, Salinger effectively creates sympathy for Holden in the first few chapters.
By keeping her kings lined up on the back row of a checkerboard, Jane alludes to the psychological significance of the action. As the story progresses, readers are introduced to Jane’s character and her past. Her experience with her abusive father adds to her nuanced character and relates to her keeping her kings lined up in the back row of a checkerboard. It’s likely that through this action, Jane’s subconscious is trying to keep her safe from any dangers. Jane keeping her kings in the back of the board shows her perspective on life’s game. Kings are often an important piece in checkers and have more control over the board than any other pieces. By keeping the kings in the back, one is able to protect their control and keep dominance in the game. Furthermore, keeping one’s game in the back of the board also shows the anxiety of that person, and in this scenario, the anxious tendencies of Jane. Kings are an extremely important piece. The back row of a checkerboard is the safest place for kings to be. Therefore, Jane does not move her pieces due to her fear of losing control and anxiety about the future. In addition, keeping one’s kings lined up in the back row of a checkerboard also signifies the motif of underdogs in the story, often backed through Holden’s perspective on the world. Such a move is not a frequently seen strategy in chess. However, Holden’s obsession with Jane’s eccentric tendencies show that he is an unconventional character who is charmed by unconventional standards.
Allie’s unfortunate passing on July 18, 1946 fits well into the timeline of Holden’s current state and situation by playing a factor in Holden’s immaturity and inclination towards literature, explaining his actions and childish behavior. At the time of Allie’s death, Holden was still relatively young, aged 13 years old. Due to his impressionable age, Allie’s death evidently affected Holden a great deal and shaped his personality up the novel’s current time period. In chapter 5, it’s revealed that Allie once had a baseball mitt filled with writings of poems and literature. Allie’s obvious talent for writing influenced Holden’s own interest. Holden not only admired his brother for his intelligence, he also highly regarded him for his compassion. Allie was a great positive influence for Holden and contributes to his admiration for innocence and naivety, often found in his younger siblings. Holden’s admiration towards his brother is further emphasized through the fact that English is the only class Holden has not flunked out of in Pencey Prep as well as his actions in choosing to write about Allie’s baseball mitt for Stradlater’s composition. In addition, Allie’s abrupt death could have influenced Holden’s uncomfort with change and sickness, contributing to his immaturity throughout the novel. During Holden’s visit to Mr. Spencer in chapter 2, his unease at Mr. Spencer’s grippe is clear. His inner monologues show a constant train of thought describing his sympathy for Mr. Spencer, being a frail, sick old man who, in Holden’s eyes, has a rather sorrowful life. Holden clearly does not want to be near Mr. Spencer because his sickness and seniority reminds him of the impermanence of life as well as Allie’s untimely death. As such, this date, which shows that Holden was rather young when Allie died, helps to explain Holden’s immaturity and love of literature.