Free Essays,College Free Essays,Free College Essays at Anti Essays

training 12 till 2 rolans

Both novels are written in the first-person. Salinger's narrative is a trail of thought that induces the reader to follow his protagonist on a rather rough journey of the body and mind. Holden is a subjective narrator, his opinion of himself often contradicts those of other characters within the novel. He feels he looks undoubtedly old yet he is frequently questioned about his age or refused drinks. He is also a hypocritical narrator, he continuously mentions how he hates movies yet he often watches them or talks of ones he has seen. 'I hate the movies like poison, but I get a bang imitating them.' Due to this ever evident hypocrisy and contrast the reader quickly learns that Holden is very disillusioned.
Fitzgerald makes use of the first person in a different way. The Great Gatsby takes place over a longer period of time but only some of that time is displayed. Fitzgerald uses a subjective narrator whom has all the wavering perceptions of a human being. For example Nick Carraway continually perceives Gatsby's house in a different light. He calls it a 'failure of a house'. Also Nick's perception of Gatsby himself alters as the novel progresses. Through the ever developing opinions of Nick, Fitzgerald creates a shady and uncertain world, in which all is not seen for what it really is. There is a 'quality of distortion' that emphasizes Nick's disillusionment.
Holden is often spending money, he has well off parents and continuously offers to by people drinks. Yet Holden claims that he detests commercial things 'I don't even like old cars. I mean they don't even interest me. I'd rather have a goddam horse.'
Holden dislikes vanity and those who flaunt themselves to persuade others to like them. 'He finished combing his Goddamn gorgeous hair.' Salinger uses oxymoron to express the contradictory and confused thoughts of his narrator. Stradlater's beauty and obsession with...