How Does Holden Use Violence In Catcher In The Rye

In the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger, violence is used to develop the main character, Holden. To convey a sarcastic tone and to refer to the theme, which is the protection of innocence, throughout the book. Salinger’s use of violence in the novel helps the reader understand Holden’s thought process. Violence is used to expose some of Holden’s main characteristics including his need for attention, his sensitivity and last but not least, his ability to care. Holden would be classified as an attention seeker. Ackley states “ ‘Jesus!’ he said. ‘ What the hell happened to you?’ He meant all the blood and all.” (Salinger 46). Holden’s face is covered in blood, after having gotten into a physical fight with Stradlater, Holden’s reaction
Having blood on his face does not phase him but it worries Ackley, which in turn leads the reader to believe that Holden is an attention seeker, and wants someone to worry and be concerned about him. Close to the middle of the book, with Salinger’s use of violence, Holden’s sensitive side is shown. Holden states “ All of a sudden I started to cry.” (Salinger 103). After having spent the night with Sunny, the prostitute. Holden gets a surprise visitor in the morning, Maurice accompanied by Sunny. Maurice demands that Holden pays him the extra five dollars, the price they had allegedly discussed. Holden refuses, Sunny takes five dollars from Holden’s wallet, and he breaks down in tears. For something so small, Holden sheds his tears, revealing his sensitive side. Salinger’s use of violence proves that Holden is able to care. Holden states “ What I really felt like, though, was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out the window.” ( Salinger 104). After having met Maurice and Sunny, Holden
Holden is a very sarcastic individual, some of the comments made by him can be quite violent. “ ‘This is a people shooting hat,’ I said. ‘I shoot people in this hat.’” ( Salinger 22). Ackley was telling Holden that the hat he is wearing is a ‘ deer shooting hat’ ( Salinger 22). Holden’s response was that it was a hat that shot people. A meaning of what he says maybe that it helps him shoot phonies, and see through to people. Many sarcastic comments are made including “ He probably was scared he’d fractured my skull or something when I hit the floor. It’s too bad I didn’t” (Salinger 45). After Holden demands that Stradlater tells him what happened on the date with Jane and he refuses to tell Holden. A physical fight takes place, and Holden wishes his skull was fractured. The interpretation of what he says could be he said it because, it is better than thinking about what Stradlater could have done with Jane. Jane is perceived as an innocent girl who is pure, Holden would rather not think of her as another easy girl that would fall for Stradlater. Holden goes on to say “ I’d rather push a guy out a window or chop his head off with an ax than sock him in the jaw” ( Salinger 89-90). Holden is explaining how someone had stolen his gloves at Pencey, but he is too sensitive to hit someone, he’d rather push them out of a window. They would obviously be hurt but it wouldn’t be the same pain as though someone was punching