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Catcher In The Rye Holden Character Analysis

549 Words3 Pages

Throughout the entire novel Holden claims that all adults are phonies and of course that includes his parents. His parents seem to teen many elements of Phoniness as holden puts it. Though it is not physically shown in the book we can imply it through the few interactions that has had with his parents and the information that we currently have. One example is how his parents are trying so hard to act like a true happy family acting like nothing is wrong even though Allie is dead and we can assume that their marriage is struggling. They are trying to put on the persona of a happy typical family yet they are pushing all the children away forcing them in the boarding schools and avoiding any emotional connection. That sentiment seems to be one …show more content…

and Mrs. Caufield are trying their best to prepare their children for adulthood specifically throughout the novel we see Holden and his struggles to escape his childhood. It seems virtually impossible for Holden to grow up and meet his parents expectations knowing that he rarely sees them. How could hold and be prepared for a high-class life He's expected to to act like a member of high class society. Through all this we can assume that his parents have high expectations on Holden specifically because of the expectations that have been shown on this other family members for example Allie Allie is portrayed as the perfect child sitting to be good at anything he tries. Holden can honestly try his very best but always live in the shadow of his brother Allie. This is another thing that could cause some serious stress and force different social expectations on him. The pressure of matching another sibling in various skills it's a horrible feeling it soul crushing and can really take a toll on you and your personality. It is a difficult life when living in the shadow of a sibling and living in the expectations of your parents. But all of these expectations could cause Holden to create a persona to match what his parents expect. The Holden we know would never do something like

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There are two reasons he is doing this, one being to make sure she feels unique and leads instead of follows and he feels that by giving her this it will prevent her from maturing. As he states towards the end of the book, he wishes he could be everyone's “Catcher in the Rye” and prevent them from falling off the cliff. The cliff being all the mistakes the children will make and Holden wants to stand on the edge and save all of them from falling off just as he did. Holden feels that the process of maturing is brutal and he wants his sister to cherish the moments she has while she is young.

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796 Words | 4 Pages

Another way that Holden is a typical teen is that he feels all these emotions that he can't hide because he’s a kid. Holden has felt depressed, hopeless, and stressed by having to grow up too fast, like most teens. Holden desires good connections with his siblings, proving that he feels love and compassion, even a bit of romance; he is just a teen that has grown up too fast. " About all I know is that I sort of miss everybody" (214). Holden in the book shows emotions and can't hold them back because he is like everyone else.

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747 Words | 3 Pages

I think Holden dosen 't mind children becuase they are not as complex and "lousy" as adults. Children mostly go where the wind takes them and that 's Holden 's mentallity. Adults think things too much through and make clear-cut plans, where Holden and children tend to just make it up as they go. Much more carefree. This shows Holdens mentallity

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1032 Words | 5 Pages

Sadly, Holden’s support system completely contrasts with an ideal support system. His mother and father are secretly invested into their personal issues his mom smoking cigarettes living in anxiety, his father working long hours and investing in unsuccessful broadways plays. Holden constantly feared making mistakes as his parent’s would either yell him or send him away to another boarding school. His oldest brother D.B in a sense abandoned him to work for Hollywood which is why he mentions Hollywood in such a scornful way as it stole his older brother from him. Because his support system is less than Ideal he doesn’t use it he’s often afraid of using it.

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707 Words | 3 Pages

Holden Caulfield’s early loss of innocence causes him to fiercely guard the innocence of others, resulting in pain for him when he realizes that his attempts are futile. Holden’s negative experiences with the adults in his life lead to his valuing the idea of innocence. Despite his bad role models, Holden clings to the concept that integrity is the most important quality in a person. While reflecting on one of his old boarding schools, he expresses his dislike for its “phony” headmaster, Mr. Haas. He complains, “[O]ld Haas went around shaking hands with everybody's parents when they drove up to school.

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1050 Words | 5 Pages

He thinks he can do whatever he wants just because he's a kid until he realizes it doesn't last forever. Another instance of this is when Holden explains to the reader where he says “You take a really smart girl, and half the time she's trying to lead you around the dance floor, or else she's such a lousy dancer, the best thing to do is stay at the table and just get drunk with her. ”(Salinger PDF 44). Holden messes around in things he shouldn't do or even care for but it affects him.

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This hindered Holden’s way to communicate and relate to others, this affected his relationships that he already has with his family. Holden’s relationship with Allie is one of his strongest relationships we see in the novel and one time we see it is when Phoebe asks him, “Name one thing you like?” and later Holden responds, “I like Allie” expressing his relationship with him and also how he doesn’t like anything except Allie and Phoebe (Salinger 169 and 171). It highlights that he likes innocent kids and also his relationships with others aren’t very good. Holden's good relationships are only with his younger siblings which isn't good in the adult world.

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When he wandered the city, he attempted to make “friends” with prostitutes, cab drivers, and random people. He stayed at hotels and never communicated with his parents. When he was missing his sister, he snuck into their house to see her, a thing he wouldn’t have to do if he’d told his family in the first place. Holden didn’t give care much for the future, and this shows in the last chapter when he states he might not want to return to school once he is well. Holden’s only desire or career plan was to be a lowly farmer; not exactly a great career choice when your parents prompt you to attend boarding school after boarding school to ensure you have a good career and future.

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Holden says that all he want to do is be the catcher in the rye protecting children from falling. The whole novel Holden makes observation around him that are taking away from children's innocence. This is what upsets him the most the fact that everyone will eventually have to grow up. While he is trying to go get Phoebe he is reminded this in the following quote. “I went down by a different staircase, and I saw another "Fuck you" on the wall.

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Holden was reading a book because he liked books and books are mature activities. Books usually don’t relate to immaturity unless they are used for purposes other being read. Which I can infer Holden has a younger sibling which he had to act immature for to please the younger

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Because they have money for private schools, they send Holden to one, and can’t be bothered to properly raise him themselves. When his younger brother, Allie dies of leukemia at age eleven, Holden in a state of rage, breaks all the windows of his garage with his fists, leading to his hospitalization. His parents wanted him to be psychoanalyzed because of this, instead of taking their time and trying to help him personally and each other through their

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Holden wishes that people could keep their good qualities by “sticking them into glass cases and leaving them alone.” (Chapter16). While he realises that this is just a fantasy, it does not stop him from wanting to protect the children from falling into the emotional and mental distress of personality changes that occur in the journey from childhood to adulthood. This ties into the

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837 Words | 4 Pages

Holden struggles with growing up and facing reality. There are many examples of Holden’s immaturity that are displayed in many forms such as facing responsibilities, his speech, his actions, and etc. Holden’s outlook on adult life is that it is superficial and brimming with phonies, but childhood was all about looking pleasing and innocent. He wants everything to stay the same and for time to stop. As Holden progresses in age, he will discover more about becoming mature in the

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767 Words | 4 Pages

Throughout the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield is a deep character that shows(possesses) many personality traits. His character is what connects many readers to him and helps in understanding him. Some character traits Holden possesses are that he is generous, kindhearted, usually honest, very intelligent, makes quick judgements, speaks his mind, is anxious about change, and likes kids. Considering his many character traits, it is easy for the reader to understand and relate to Holden. There are many character traits that I share with him.

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