Tone in Catcher and the Rye

I think the main tone in the novel The Catcher in the Rye is depressed. Although there are some sub-tones.

Holden complains throughout the whole story. He is always complaining about how annoying people or he complaining about how horrible he feels. He tells the reader that he is worried or he is depressed. He finds a lot of things that make him sad and in a bad mood. So of course a tone of the book would be sad. He is a sixteen year old boy on his own in one of the biggest cities in the world and is too scared to go home. However there is another tone to the book that is quite surprising due to the character’s attitude. This tone is compassion. Holden really cares about one person in the book, which would be his younger sister Phoebe. She is possibly the only person that can make Holden truly happy. She makes him laugh a lot. They can also have great conversations together. There is one more person Holden shows compassion towards. That person is Jane Gallagher. He gets upset when she goes on a date with his roommate. Holden knows Jane deserves better. He thinks about her multiple times throughout the book. Holden thinks about how they would hold hands and how he would kiss her. He remembers random details about her like how she played checkers. This shows his compassion for her.

Unfortunately the tone can also be judgmental. Holden judges just about everyone he meets. He can barely tolerate people and he finds flaws with everyone. Holden thinks bad things about everyone. Of course, everyone has their flaws but Holden takes it to the next level. He hates when people talk too much or don't talk enough. He hates movies and how actors are phony, even though it is their job to act as someone else. Holden thinks just about everyone is phony and he can't stand it. He judges everyone.