Catcher in the Rye #3

 Note stylistic devices as you read--diction, syntax, tone, plot structure, figurative language, imagery etc--how is this writer using rhetoric to suit his/her purpose?

In this novel, the story is told through the point of view of the main character Holden. I believe that the tone is the most evident and important stylistic device considering Holden's tone is the tone of the story. Throughout the novel, his tone is very judgmental, cynical and sad. However, other times in the novel Holden's tone seems rather humorous and compassionate. Overall though, his tone is mainly depressing and he often feels the need to point out every thing that makes him feel this way. From people who say "good luck" to hotel lobbies, Holden seems to find a depressing aspect about everything he encounters. He is never optimistic and in one chapter even expresses that he can't even find joy in having money. Calling Holden a negative person would be an understatement at best. Although the overall tone of the novel is depressing and sad, there are a few incidents where we find his tone to be a bit humorous and even compassionate. A great example I found of this was an interaction he had with a prostitute. Holden recalls, " I took her dress over to the closet and hung it up for her. It was funny. It made me feel sort of sad when I hung it up. I thought of her going in a store and buying it, and nobody in the store knowing she was a prostitute and all. The salesman probably just thought she was a regular girl when she bought it. It made me feel sad as hell—I don't know why exactly. (13.52)" This excerpt from the story shows Holden sees through Sunny as a prostitute and goes on to make sarcastic jokes about how she is a bad conversationalist. It shows that Holden sees her as a real person and feels compassion towards her. Ultimately, the tone of the story reveals key aspects of Holden's character and further expresses one of the key themes which is his fear or growing up. His depressing tone is best expression the story offers to show that he truly dreads growing up. The slight humorous and compassionate tone makes him seem almost a childish and shows that he is cherishing the years he has before he becomes what he has always feared to be, a mature adult.