The Catcher in the Rye: Paradox 1 key example

When Holden claims, "I’m quite illiterate, but I read a lot," he’s creating a contradiction. This is because the word "illiterate" typically means someone who cannot read. Holden's paradoxical assertion here reflects his damning self-perception and insecurities. When Holden says he’s "illiterate," he’s not actually saying that he can’t read; it’s a misuse of the word. He thinks it means he’s not very literary, as he doesn't know a lot about literature. This mistake is also implied by the qualifier “quite,” which itself intensifies the paradox: one usually can read or cannot.

When Holden says he’s “illiterate,” he’s implying that he knows he lacks the cultural sophistication he wishes to get. It’s a self-deprecating comment addressed to his audience, a moment where he shows both his internal struggle with feeling inadequate and his tendency to downplay his own intelligence. The paradox Holden creates here also reveals his complex relationship with reading itself. Despite feeling uncultured, he finds solace in books. He also knows that it’s likely he’ll gain cultural capital by reading. Given this, his huge appetite for books demonstrates his desire to connect with the world, even if he doubts how smart he really is.