Holden, as the main character, also the narrator of the book has appeared to be an unreliable narrator. Personally, I think how Holden sees things effect on how he describes things. Because in the book, it’s not hard to see his negative attitude since he always thinks everything is phony. I think, that, in some ways, has affected the way he views other things. Also, I think things that happened to him have affected him as well. For instance, the death of Allie, made him even lonelier, so sometimes, he can’t see things really clearly. In the book, I’ve read something that makes me feel like Salinger is trying to say that Holden isn’t totally honest to us and there’s more to the story. For instance, the way he acted after he heard about Stradlater is dating Jane, tells me that there’s more to the story. According to Salinger’s description, Holden basically was furious about the whole “Stradlater dating Jane” thing. If Jane really is just an old friend, Holden wouldn’t be so overreacted about this, and he wouldn’t pick a fight. And Holden doesn’t really say much about Jane and him except for telling us they are old friends that make us wondered. Another thing, Holden doesn’t really talk about his parents for some reasons that he didn’t say so I think there’s definitely more to the story, which means Holden isn’t being a reliable narrator.
I think the reason that Salinger tells Holden’s story in first person is because Holden is the one that experienced everything. He, as a teenager, views things differently as adults. Telling story in his perspective can attract more young readers since the language and the thoughts in the story are similar to what teenagers used to say. Also, I think telling story by the person who experiences it can make the story more vivid. If the story was told through third person or from another character like Phoebe, I don’t think the story will be as interesting as now. Because other characters or people didn’t experience Holden’s life so he can’t possibly tell Holden’s story and if the narrator is really being changed, I think lots of part will be left out since other people won’t see what Holden sees. Thus, the story will be changed, as well as those thoughts about things.
I think the reason that Salinger tells Holden’s story in first person is because Holden is the one that experienced everything. He, as a teenager, views things differently as adults. Telling story in his perspective can attract more young readers since the language and the thoughts in the story are similar to what teenagers used to say. Also, I think telling story by the person who experiences it can make the story more vivid. If the story was told through third person or from another character like Phoebe, I don’t think the story will be as interesting as now. Because other characters or people didn’t experience Holden’s life so he can’t possibly tell Holden’s story and if the narrator is really being changed, I think lots of part will be left out since other people won’t see what Holden sees. Thus, the story will be changed, as well as those thoughts about things.