The Catcher in the Rye

by

J. D. Salinger

The Catcher in the Rye: Dialect 1 key example

Chapter 1
Explanation and Analysis—Phony Slob:

Throughout The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield uses a lot of 1950s idiomatic expressions and slang. This does more than give the novel a sense of color, as these slang words are also windows into his personality and his outlook on relationships. For example, when describing why he likes Selma Thurmer, Holden says:

What I liked about her, she didn’t give you a lot of horse manure about what a great guy her father was. She probably knew what a phony slob he was.

Selma is the headmaster of Pencey’s daughter, but Holden suggests that she doesn’t give “a lot of horse manure” about what her father is really like. By this, he means that Selma doesn’t make excuses for her father or seem disillusioned about his character. Holden calls Selma's father a "phony slob" here, using "phony" to indicate deep insincerity and pretentiousness, as he does elsewhere. The author also uses the word “slob” here in a period-specific way. In the 1950s, “slob” didn’t just indicate physical untidiness, but a kind of moral laxity. Salinger is saying Holden likes Selma because she’s genuine and straightforward, rather than pretentious or “phony” like her father.

Holden also often calls people "old," saying things like "old Spencer" or "old Phoebe." This idiosyncratic habit conveys affection mixed with a sort of world-weary distance. For instance, when he talks about his history teacher, Mr. Spencer, as "old Spencer," he’s expressing a degree of fondness and respect for the man. However, he’s also indicating that he feels a sort of subtle, dismissive detachment. He has other slang words to refer to things he actively dislikes, like “crumby,” a Holdenism for “terrible” or “sloppy.” A lot of Holden’s use of slang is aligned with the sense of dissatisfaction he feels with the adult world, which is why he regularly calls people “phonies.” It’s almost as though there is a language barrier between him and the people he dislikes, which also points to his sense of isolation and loneliness. He’s trying to express himself authentically, but he feels isolated from the people who would understand (his teenage peers) and the adults who mostly cannot.