Shaheen Chapter 17

Holden is at the Biltmore waiting for Sally Hayes, his date, to arrive but whilst he's doing that he's judging all the girls' legs standing outside the BiltmoreHolden then starts rambling on about this boy, Harris Macklin, at his old school Elkton HillsSally then arrives and Holden thinks she looked fantastic and "all of sudden I felt like I was in love with her and wanted to marry her."Holden and Sally travel in a cab to go and watch the Lunts perform a play. In the cab Holden tells Sally he "loved her and all. Holden and Sally go outside at the end of the first. Sally then says she has seen someone who she used to knowThis person, according to Holden, is "George". Whilst George is talking, Holden is criticising everything that George says and doesHolden and Sally then proceed to Radio City to ice-skatingHolden and Sally dont really know how to ice-skate so Holden suggests "to get a table inside and have a drink or something?"Holden asks Sally if she likes school but then starts talking about his own life with random and verbose topics until Sally finds it incomprehensible to follow Holden's conversationHolden then suggests going to Vermont and Massachusetts and then settling down with Sally but Sally has a bit more common sense and tries to talk Holden out of itHolden gives up and tells Sally she gives him a "royal pain in the ass"Sally gets angry at Holden, cries and tells him to leave her alone so Holden leaves without herHolden then doesnt know why he asked Sally about going with him to Massachusetts and Vermont.
TECHNIQUES:
italics: It was a lie, of course, but the thing is, I meant it when i said it." The effect of this is that it shows Holden's immature nature even though he tries imitate an adult but his lack of control and impetuosity over his words and his inability to weigh up the outcome mark his failed attempt to try and be like the "adult" which society portrays around himhyphens: "he'd be making his bed, or hanging stuff up in the closet-he was always hanging up stuff in the closet-it drove me crazy-". The excess use of hyphens highlights his impetuosity and verbose speech giving extra information then required, similar to a child.dialogue: "take cars...a horse is at least human, for god's sake". Through his speech and others similar to it, we can see even his speech to others in his personal life is impetuous and verbose, yet again highlighting his childlike manner.