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Definition of Tone
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical, and so on. For instance... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical... read full definition
Tone
Explanation and Analysis:
The tone of The Catcher In the Rye is strongly influenced by the attitude of Salinger's first-person narrator. Holden Caulfield's cynical and critical teenage view of the world seems unblinkingly negative at the start of the novel. From the beginning, Holden's narrative voice shows his disillusionment with all of the "phoniness" he perceives in people, especially "sellout" adults like his older brother D.B. Following societally prescribed attitudes of good behavior and success feels hollow for Holden, and he protests that he loathes all the privilege that surrounds him. This attitude reflects his struggle to find authenticity in a world he sees as hypocritical and superficial. It’s also hypocritical, as Holden is very privileged himself.
Holden's cynicism and general distaste for everyone older than himself are rooted in his experiences of traumatic loss. The death of his brother Allie is a turning point for his negativity, and the novel suggests that Holden has not fully processed this grief. When Holden talks about Allie, the narrative tone becomes tender and nostalgic. When Holden describes his interactions with women, they’re also sometimes pleasant and not judgmental, but are most often as self-centered as the rest of the story. First-person narratives are always told from a narrator’s individual perspective, but Holden’s, especially at first, is especially self-absorbed.
The parts of Holden’s encounters he “chooses” to recount are often complaints about not fitting in and about how he has been treated. This critical narrative tone often acts as a defense mechanism against a world that he feels doesn't truly see or hear him. Again, however, there are moments where his tone softens and becomes dreamy and nostalgic—like when he’s first describing the Museum of Natural History or the duck pond in Central Park, or when he's talking about holding hands with Jane Gallagher. By the end of the novel, Holden's tone has become slightly more mature and hopeful. His experiences and reflections have provided him with some perspective, which the narrative tone echoes. The general tone of the book reflect its protagonist’s journey from self-absorption and grief to gradual acceptance of the imperfect realities of adulthood.
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