10/18/2011

          For my latest reading, I was very interested in the narrator himself, Sal Paradise. In the first half of the 20th century, the device of the unreliable narrator distinguished several important milestones of modern literature. These include “The Sound and the Fury,” “One Who flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” “Lolita,” and the definitive American classics “The Catcher in the Rye” and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.” After the last few chapters I was not quite sure if Sal Paradise falls into the category of Holden Caulfield or Nick Carraway. At first, I thought, Sal’s questionable activities and careless lifestyle naturally showed similarities to Caulfield’s constant misbehavior and thoughtlessness. Nonetheless, after deeper thought I discovered that Sal does not show the typical qualities of the unreliable narrator. He, indeed, is euphemistic about the “gang’s” constant drug abuse and Dean’s ecstasies, yet he is honest about pointing out his own mistakes. For instance, as Sal returns to Denver for several months after leaving Dean in Frisco, he admits that his travels did not accomplish anything. Furthermore, as he wonders Denver’s streets he repeatedly wishes to be another person and realizes that he is too easily manipulated. Therefore, the main character does realistically describe his own mistakes and problems.
          However, he never seriously criticizes other characters for their irresponsibility. For instance, as Ed Dunkel’s wife scolds Dean for being immature, deluded and a fool, Sal defends his friend strongly. Sal is so influenced by his companion, that he even disobeys the law to sustain Dean’s plans of traveling around the US. Furthermore, while viewing the husband and father Old Bull Lee injecting drugs into his arm, Sal still plainly depicts the situation. The main character seems fairly objective and does not judge his friend for his undoubtedly immoral behavior. Therefore, Sal’s plain descriptions of himself and other characters do not only demonstrate his honesty, but also his euphemistic attitude towards the corruption of others. Consequently, Sal can be associated with both the reliable and the unreliable narration. The main character is reliable, as he is honest to the reader about himself and does not try to justify himself with excuses. Nevertheless, he is also unreliable, because he does not highlight the mistakes of others and pushes them aside. In my next entry I hope to address this topic again shortly, especially its relation to the narrator.