The Catcher in the Rye Foreshadowing
The Catcher in the Rye - ForeshadowingThe use of forshadowing in a novel can help it’s reader get a sense of what is to come in the story without giving away the events themselves. It is a powerful tool which prevents events from being left unexplained, leaving the reader question the effectivness of an outcome. The eventual breakdown of the character Holden Caufield in J.D. Salinger’s controversial 1945 novel “The Catcher in the Rye” was foreshadowed in the early chapters of the book.
The first clue is his negative approach to life. He begins by talking about his “lousy childhood” (p.1) and the first traces of profanity can be seen scattered about the page in the form of “crap”, “hell” and “goddam”. Holden’s first sign of distrust comes when he speaks to Ward Stradlater about his date with Jane Gallagher:
“Listen. Give my regards, willya?”
“Okay,” Stradlater said, but I knew he
probably wouldn’t…
“Ask her if she still keeps all her kings
in the back row.”
“Okay,” Stradlater said, but I knew he
wouldn’t. (p.33-34)
This is seen again when he doesn’t trust Stradlater to stop his advances of Jane in the case that she says no. Holden gives up his faith in people to trust him when he boards a bus holding a snowball. The driver refuses to believe that Holden won’t throw the snowball so he draws the conclusion that “People never believe you.” (p.37). He...
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