Catcher and the Rye 7

Question seven asks what techniques the author uses to engage the audience. I think the author J.D Salinger uses many things throughout the book to keep the reader interested.

One thing he does is make everything very relatable to someone. Through odd events, Holden’s actions and thoughts, and Phoebe’s influence someone is bound to relate.

The odd events in this book make the reader want to know what is going to happen next. There are so many odd things like a student in Holden's school, Penecy, clipping their toenails to hiring a prostitute and just talk to them to having an old teacher petting Holden on his head while he sleeps. It is a really hard book to put down because you really want to know what is going to happen next. By having these odd details the book really stands out and keeps you interested. It makes me wonder how Salinger is able to come up with these events. I think he imaged or dreamed these stories. He also could have heard them from other people.

Holden thinks about the things he sees, about childhood, about the phonies. Most books do not share how the protagonist thinks and sees the world, but this book let’s all of Holden’s thoughts come out. The moment the book starts to the very end you get to know everything Holden in is thinking at the time. One example of this is when he was on his way to the museum that he ends up deciding not to go in.  He talks about him thinking about childhood and gives little details that he remembers.

Phoebe influences Holden a lot. She is the reason he becomes happy again. Holden wants his little sister to look up to him and love him. He also wants Phoebe to be proud of him.

Salinger uses suspense and humor to keep readers interested. The suspense is when Holden leaves Pencey. We don’t know what will happen to him or where he will go with his life. There is humor throughout the entire book with Holden’s sarcastic comments and odd details of his life.

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown, 2001. Print.