Studies in Contemporary Literature
Strauch, Carl F. "Kings in the Back Row: Meaning through Structure-A Reading of Salinger’s ‘The Catcher in the Rye’." Wisconsin Studies in contemporary Literature . 12. (1980): 30-5. Print.
In the essay “Kings in the Back Row: Meaning through Structure-A Reading of Salinger’s ‘The Catcher in the Rye’” by Carl F. Strauch, the purpose was to explain Holden’s use of language and symbolism through out the novel, to understand The Catcher in the Rye. Strauch point out Salinger’s use of “slob speech” and literate idioms as a writing technique to covey the characters personalities and social statuses (1).
Strauch addresses the situation in chapter five in which the relation of Holden and his deceased younger brother, Allie. Allie’s outfitters mitt is discovered. This glove symbolizes his love for his brother and his uniqueness. Because Holden feels so sensitive about the glove and Stradlater’s decline of his paper, Holden becomes less social to the world. On page two Strauch wrote, “Stradlater’s crude rejection to the theme is itself a symbolic gesture, and a final one, shutting off all hope of communication.” This rejection led to the fight between Holden and Stradlater and ultimately led to Holden’s departure from Pencey Prep. Another example of symbolism in The Catcher in the Rye, occurs when Holden and Phoebe visit Central Park. Phoebe and Holden are searching for the ducks that live in the Central Park lagoon, and when they discover that the ducks are gone for the winter, Holden relates this situation to his personal life. The ducks in the lagoon symbolize Holden’s childhood and in this pivotal point of his life he realizes that he is growing up in a sense of maturity, and “rejects the materialism of the adult world” (5). The ducks are in a transitional state in between seasons, just as Holden is transitioning into adulthood.
Strauch points out that Salinger’s use of diction also plays a major role in understanding The Catcher in the Rye. Holden’s use
In the essay “Kings in the Back Row: Meaning through Structure-A Reading of Salinger’s ‘The Catcher in the Rye’” by Carl F. Strauch, the purpose was to explain Holden’s use of language and symbolism through out the novel, to understand The Catcher in the Rye. Strauch point out Salinger’s use of “slob speech” and literate idioms as a writing technique to covey the characters personalities and social statuses (1).
Strauch addresses the situation in chapter five in which the relation of Holden and his deceased younger brother, Allie. Allie’s outfitters mitt is discovered. This glove symbolizes his love for his brother and his uniqueness. Because Holden feels so sensitive about the glove and Stradlater’s decline of his paper, Holden becomes less social to the world. On page two Strauch wrote, “Stradlater’s crude rejection to the theme is itself a symbolic gesture, and a final one, shutting off all hope of communication.” This rejection led to the fight between Holden and Stradlater and ultimately led to Holden’s departure from Pencey Prep. Another example of symbolism in The Catcher in the Rye, occurs when Holden and Phoebe visit Central Park. Phoebe and Holden are searching for the ducks that live in the Central Park lagoon, and when they discover that the ducks are gone for the winter, Holden relates this situation to his personal life. The ducks in the lagoon symbolize Holden’s childhood and in this pivotal point of his life he realizes that he is growing up in a sense of maturity, and “rejects the materialism of the adult world” (5). The ducks are in a transitional state in between seasons, just as Holden is transitioning into adulthood.
Strauch points out that Salinger’s use of diction also plays a major role in understanding The Catcher in the Rye. Holden’s use