By Chris D, Sarah and Rebecca Carnivalesque By Chris D, Sarah and Rebecca

Citation Takeuchi, Yasuhiro. “Yasuhiro Takeuchi on the Carnivalesque”. 99-105. Print.

The Rhetorical Situation This is an essay direct towards an audience with advanced reading skills who wishes to analyze The Catcher in the Rye in great detail. It could be read by anyone interested in the examples of the Carnivalesque in this novel.

Purpose The purpose of this essay is to inform the reader of what the Carnivalesque is and where and why it is prevalent in this novel.

Author’s Message The message that the author is trying to get across with this essay is that in the novel The Catcher in the Rye, there are very many examples of the Carnivalesque. The author tries to point out as many of them as possible to get the reader thinking about the metaphorical meaning of many situations in the novel.

Evidence “It is the sense of madness, often expressed in the novel through Holden’s characteristic humour, that-as Mikhail Bakhtin observes in regard to carnival - makes men look at the world with different eyes, not dimmed by ‘normal’, that is by commonplace ideas and judgement.” (Rabelais 39) In addition to madness and laughter, Bakhtin identifies other principles of the carnivalesque that offer liberation from conventional values… These include a “peculiar festive character without any piousness, [and] complete liberation from seriousness” (Rabelais 254).” (100).

Evidence 2 “During Holden’s two year stay in New York, he enjoys “free and familiar contact” with diverse people, regardless of “social estate, rank, age, [and] property”; these people range from nine-year-old (sister Phoebe’s friend) to a married society woman in her forties ( his classmates mother), and from a prostitute to a pair of nuns.” (100) During the final carousel scene, Holden has the following thought in reference to children on the carousel: “ If they fall off, they fall off, but it’s bad if you say anything to them.” (274). (101).

Tone This essay is written in an informative tone, intended to educate.

Language and Style The author uses quite complex vocabulary, using such words as: prevailing, ambiguity, and antitheses. Also Yasuhiro Takeuchi uses many direct quotes in his essay.

Organization This text is organized in a manner that is easy to read, It was written to be an informative piece, therefore, it includes many quotations as evidence to back up the author’s statements.

Opinion In my opinion, this essay was very informative and should definatly be read by anyone who has read Catcher in the Rye and is interested in learning more about the carnivalesque element in the novel.