NARRATIVE STRATEGY AND INTERIOR MONOLOGUE IN J. D. SALINGER’S NOVEL “THE CATCHER IN THE RYE”

Abstract

The article presents an extended analysis of the narrative strategy and the functioning of the interior monologue in J. D. Salinger’s novel “The Catcher in the Rye”, one of the key works of twentieth-century American literature. The study focuses on the specific features of the artistic organization of narration, the peculiarities of first-person narrative, and the role of the interior monologue as a leading means of revealing the psychological state of the protagonist, Holden Caulfield. It is established that the author employs a subjective form of narration that creates an effect of immediacy, emotional openness, and maximum proximity of the reader to the character’s inner world. The linguistic and stylistic features of the narrative are analyzed, including the active use of colloquial vocabulary, repetitions, emotionally colored expressions, fragmented syntactic structures, and internal remarks that reproduce the natural flow of the protagonist’s thoughts. It is demonstrated that the interior monologue in the novel performs not only a psychological but also a structural function, as it organizes the composition of the narrative and forms the integral image of the narrator. Such a type of narration allows the author to convey the complex process of the character’s self-reflection, his critical attitude toward social reality, his rejection of the hypocrisy of the adult world, and his painful experience of loneliness. Particular attention is paid to the interaction between narrative perspective and the protagonist’s internal conflict, which is manifested in the constant tension between the desire for sincere human relationships and alienation from society. It is established that Holden Caulfield’s interior monologue reflects the identity crisis typical of adolescence, an intensified sense of injustice, and a desire to preserve moral purity in a world the protagonist perceives as false and hypocritical. In this context, the narrative strategy of the novel contributes to a profound psychological depiction of the character while simultaneously representing broader sociocultural problems of the postwar generation. The study concludes that the combination of first-person narration with elements of interior monologue ensures the artistic integrity of the work and creates the effect of maximum psychological authenticity. Owing to this narrative organization, the image of Holden Caulfield acquires a generalized meaning and emerges as a symbol of a generation experiencing moral search, spiritual uncertainty, and a reassessment of life values. Thus, the narrative strategy of J. D. Salinger’s novel plays a decisive role in shaping its artistic structure and provides a deep representation of the existential issues addressed in the work.