Hypocrisy in J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye: An Analysis of the Maxims of Conversation: Hypocrisy in J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye: An Analysis of the Maxims of Conversation

Abstract

The Conversational Principle is one of Paul Grice’s major achievements in the field of pragmatics. It plays a very significant role in different fields among which is the field of literature. The effective employment of maxims of conversation makes the process of communication successful. The objective of this research paper is to analyze the maxims of conversation in J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye and examine how the use of the maxims reflects the writer’s intention to communicate certain thoughts such as hypocrisy and disinformation. The manipulation of maxims of conversation enriches the meanings in the novel and makes the process of communication between the characters effective. It also helps the readers understand the nature of the relationship among characters through the comprehension of hidden messages. Violations of the maxims of the conversation throughout the novel reflects that Holden lives in an ambiguous, disorderly, irregular, false and hypocritical world. And such a world that shows no respect to the maxims and values of speech is possibly a world that lacks moral values and falsely claiming high principles.