A Study Of Modern Characterization Through The Works Of...

Michaela Leung Ms. Jiroch English 9, Period 6 March 9, 2015 It’s All in the Head: A study of modern characterization through the works of Salinger and Woolf During the twentieth century, many writers emerged including, J.D. Salinger and Virginia Woolf. Virginia Woolf helped show that the novel didn’t have to just be about the big and the grand, but also the everyday. Salinger and Woolf’s books often included intimate details from their lives. They broadened the field of what was considered acceptable for writing. For example, in â€Å"The New Dress†, a short story by Virginia Woolf, Mabel struggles with depression and bipolar disorder. Woolf also struggled with depression and bipolar disorder throughout her life. In addition, Salinger used†¦show more content†¦In the works of Salinger and Woolf, the reader first notices that stream of consciousness does not allow for the characters to keep secrets and reveals their hypocrisy as they behave differently than their thoughts. Holden’s hidden sides are revealed in when he talks about those who he cares about such as when he talks about his dead brother: â€Å"My brother Allie has this left handed fielder’s mitt† (Salinger 38). Holden says â€Å"I’m the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life† but shows that he actually cares about people in his life such as Jane Gallagher and his siblings Allie and Phoebe (Salinger 16). In Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, Peter Walsh, a former lover of Mrs Dalloway, visits her and tries to seem detached but we see from inside his mind his true thoughts: â€Å"But it was Clarissa one remembered...Not that she was striking; not beautiful at all; there was nothing picturesque about her; she never said anything especially clever; there she was, however; there she was. No, no, no! He was not in love with her any more!† (Dalloway 76). Peter has been unable to move on from Clarissa and he tries to convince himself and others that he loves another woman, but he cannot lie to himself and therefore we, the readers, see the truth. Stream of consciousness is also used for characterization of individuals because the characters are transparent. An example