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Catcher In The Rye Holden's Character Traits

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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. Three examples of such traits are that I like to speak my mind, I get anxious when things change and I am kind-hearted.
Holden stood out to me because like myself, he likes to speak his mind. It is clear in the story that Holden is the type of character that says what he think. For example, when Holden says, “Lawyers are alright, I guess — but it doesn't appeal to me", I said. "I mean they're alright if they go around saving innocent guys' lives all the time, …show more content…

When people ask me a favor and I have the ability to do it I just can’t say no. This is seen in the story when Holden helps a little girl tighten her skates, “She was having a helluva time tightening her skate. She didn't have any gloves on or anything and her hands were all red and cold. I gave her a hand with it” (Salinger 132). A personal life experience is when my church goes to feed the homeless (every other saturday) my mom and I make food and take it along with us. It feels good to help people who are less fortunate.
Finally, after reading the novel The Catcher in the Rye I have been able to relate to Holden in many ways. Just like Holden, I say what comes to my mind, I get anxious when things change and I have to deal with things I am not used too and I like being around kids. I am also a teen just like Holden who is trying to live in this world full of

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There are two way I can identify with Holden: the struggle of holding on to my innocence and growing up. In Catcher in the Rye, Holden has issues with growing up and protecting not only his innocence, but others’ innocence too. As Holden makes his way towards the the principal’s office to give a note to Phoebe, his kid sister, he gets dizzy and sits down. While sitting, he notices something and says, “I saw something that drove me crazy. Somebody’d written ‘F*** you’ on the wall.

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The Real Holden What is the real Holden? In the short novel “Catcher in the Rye” By J.D Salinger is about Holden is in the mental hospital telling the story about himself at Pencey Prep, New york and with Phoebe. As the story goes on, it shows Holden’s characteristic in three different ways. He is a typical teenager, he behaves different from a normal teenager and he is lonely. As most teenager’s characteristic, include Holden, would be the desire of independent.

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In The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield is a peculiar character portrayed as a skeptic living in “a world of phonies” in circa 1950. These personality traits can be seen through his doubts of society as well as his way of thinking and acting toward others. He also demonstrates a lack of responsibility adding to his role as a slacker. Holden flunks out of school repeatedly and has no desire to confront his parents. He mopes around the city for days, delaying the inevitable punishments he’s sure to get.

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Holden’s mannerism, his personalities, reinforce the novel’s

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Closed off, no stable relationships, no will to maintain having friends how are we supposed to see what Holden feels? In the Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger, Holden is afraid of being open with people and not willing to reveal his true thoughts. Throughout the story, Holden’s fears are revealed using strong figurative language. Salinger uses powerful symbolism to show Holden’s inner thoughts and fears of death and change. Holden is afraid of death and also afraid of change

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Not many people realise that people come from different backgrounds and experiences, and therefore, people act stubborn. Many people fail to think through things and also fail to think through the possibilities. In the book, The Catcher in the Rye, it is heavily enclosed on regarding a 16-year-old boy, Holden Caulfield. The book goes through the memories he has, as many things are revealed about him and how he critiques, specifically, society. Holden is not an easy character to understand, which forces the reader to use clues and moments throughout the book to open up Holden.

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Holden Caulfield, in the book The Catcher in the Rye, goes through many different emotions on his journey, and consistently tries to be an adult, even though he is only 16. He starts at school, like most kids go through, but soon leaves and tries to act like he is older than he really is. Holden, being only 16, itches for adulthood by leaving school, trying alcohol, and trying to protect little kids from something he should be protected from. School is tough, and no one wants to go through it. Some kids suffer through it, and some rebel and rarely do work, or even try.

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Many teenagers from previous generations may sympathize with the feelings Holden expresses many times throughout the book—feelings that often are too provocative to be spoken aloud in society. The sympathetic nature of Holden has not translated to the latest generation of teens. And many would argue, that it is simply because Holden Caulfield is not a very relatable character. Many would never be able to picture themselves in his shoes. When describing the situational problem that Holden experiences, a critic states, “This is surely the differential revolt of the lonesome rich kid, the conspicuous display of leisure-class emotions” (Geismar 198-199).

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Throughout the novel Holden Caulfield contains personality traits only explained through the use of Freud's

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My first impression of Holden is that he doesn’t like to give exact explanations or reasons for any of his actions. In the beginning of chapter one, he doesn’t give the reader a lot of information about himself. He likes to keep all of his thoughts to himself. Holden puts up a front that shields his true feelings about certain situations. We can see this when he goes to visit his teacher Mr. Spencer.

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We see him as a compassionate soul, who is willing to read to a person that has just been kicked out of the school. Because Holden says that he reads a lot, we can infer that he may be an introvert and may love to spend time with himself. This quote can be related to my life because when I was younger, I used to spend my weekends reading and book that I could get my hands on. “I mean he was mostly a Year Book kind of handsome guy. I knew a lot of guys at Pencey I thought were a lot handsomer than Stradlater, but they wouldn’t look handsome if you saw their pictures in the Year Book” -Holden

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down but instead try to bring people up even if they were down and in return they might have their mood/ actions turn from down to up. Holden avoids facing his low self-esteem by attacking other people. His so called “lousy” childhood gives him an excuse to use when things go wrong. Also Holden takes his insecurities and tries to convince his little sister that none of his short falls with school were his fault. He also takes his insecurities and either talks bad or good about himself depending on who he’s around.

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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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He has trouble growing up and accepting life as it is. Holden thinks adults are "phony" which makes him hate the fact of growing up and staying innocent as much as he can while he is old enough to become an adult. He is frustrated with the world and people which makes him act with anger. His innocent childish dream is to be the Catcher in the Rye, to catch the kids before they become phonies like Holden says about adults. The moment he realizes that he cannot keep kids from falling or in other words, from growing up and becoming adults, he, reaches adulthood, and takes a big step towards it at the end of the novel.

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Although Holden is a very intelligent character he finds the hypocrisy and ugliness in the world around him and quickly associates it with the adult world. Holden is a very introverted character who hesitates throughout the book to share information about his life . J.D Salinger makes sure to portray Holden that way to

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