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Catcher In The Rye Hypocrisy Analysis

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There comes a period of time when everyone starts to assume that they are surrounded by phoniness. This usually occurs during teenage years, when people are trying to figure out where they belong. The definition of a hypocrite is a person who contradicts his or her stated beliefs or feelings and a phony is a person or thing that is considered fake. The theme of hypocrisy and phoniness is evident through the actions of Holden Caulfield in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. When Holden is thrown into the real world after being thrown out of Pencey Prep, he finds himself surrounded by a world of “phony.” Holden uses the word “phony” to describe anything that he doesn’t approve of and continues to accuse everyone except for his sister, Phoebe, and his dead brother, Allie, of being one. This is hypocritical because Holden exemplifies his own phoniness during numerous occasions. Holden’s description of himself as “the most terrific liar you have ever saw in your life” reveals his enthusiasm for lying. When Holden runs into his classmate’s mother, he starts to deceptively and enthusiastically ramble to her about her son’s shortcomings, revealing his dishonest identity: …show more content…

Perhaps you know my son, then, Ernest Morrow? He goes to Pencey.’ ‘Yes, I do,’ I said. Her son was doubtless the biggest bastard that ever went to Pencey, in the whole crumby history of the school...Then I started shooting the old crap around a little bit…’Old Ernie,’ I said. ‘He’s one of the most popular boys at Pencey. Did you know that?’...Old Mrs. Morrow didn’t say anything, but boy, you should’ve seen her. I had her glued to her seat. You take somebody’s mother, all they want to hear about is what a hot-shot their son is...’That’s Ernie. He wouldn’t. That’s the one fault with him-he’s too shy and modest. You really oughta get him to try to relax occasionally. (Salinger

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322 Words | 2 Pages

Preposterous lying is a trait that Holden shows forth throughout the novel. In chapter 3 he warned the readers that he loves to lie and he does a good job at doing it (22). Holden would tell lies over and over again just to protect himself from any hurt or rejection. Another flip side to why Holden lies is because he tends to get bored with certain conversations he has with his peers so lying helps him to check out of reality for a while and in doing this, he tries to impress people and let them feel sorry for him. This makes him feel extremely superior.

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747 Words | 3 Pages

1.In the previous past chapters and Holden acts more like child than an adult. Holden seems to call adults phonies and doesn’t really call children phonies. It 's immaterial to me," she said. "Hey—how old are you, anyhow?"That annoyed me, for some reason. "

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404 Words | 2 Pages

Holden prefers to stay as a kid rather than “grow up”. When Holden talks about phonies they were most of the time adults and never kids. He dislikes the idea of growing up and becoming a phony himself. He even says this when he talks about his cabin, “ I might come home when I was about thirty-five. ”(pg.213)

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613 Words | 3 Pages

Jess C. Scott once said that “Hypocrites get offended by the truth”. Hypocrites are people who always hide the truth and contradict themselves to make sure they are never shown the truth. A person who exemplifies the most is the main character of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield. Throughout the book he shows that he is a hypocrite.

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569 Words | 3 Pages

In terms of Holden, phony means people who acts fake and are hypocrites. This supports the central claim because Holden confessing that he misses people shows that he has become more honest and learned the impossibility of becoming the catcher in the rye. Out of all the reasons given in the book, the realization during the carousel scene, the talk with his psychoanalyst, and the confession of desiring certain people’s presence stood out the most. It also shows how much Holden has change as a character.

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714 Words | 3 Pages

While reading this book, one may notice that the main character Holden calls almost every character that we meet phonies. Never once in the book did Holden call himself a phony. The word phony was used 48 times throughout this entire novel making it one of the top 5 words used in this book. The Catcher in the Rye is a novel written by J.D. Salinger. This book is narrated by the main character Holden Caulfield.

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736 Words | 3 Pages

The word "phony" was used occasionally by Holden Caulfield, a main character in the novel The Catcher in the Rye by Jerome David Salinger. This word is used to describe a person that appeared fake for the advantage of others. Although he would label certain people as "phonies'', there were some who he would not. There were also a few moments where Holden was guilty of being a phony and sometimes recognized it. I believe the author wants us, the readers, to judge ideas on phoniness as a word to characterize people who change themselves or grow up to fit in society's expectations.

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1107 Words | 5 Pages

The effects of Holden constantly isolating himself can be seen especially through his improper speech and how he speaks to others. For example in chapter two Holden says “One of the biggest reasons I left Elkton Hills was because I was surrounded by phonies (pg 14).” In this Holden is exhibiting his poor vocabulary and shows how he does not put thought into the things he says. When he uses the word phonies to describe the boys at Elkton Hills in reality he means he thinks they are boys whom he is not friends with and does not like. In many other cases Holden appears to immediately result to the word phony when describing something or someone he does not like.

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156 Words | 1 Pages

‘Holden is just as phony as the phonies he criticizes.’ This statement is predominantly true as Holden disconnects from his ideals by acting in a certain way. Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, seems to be infatuated with the phonies he comes across. He calls his schoolmates, principal, teachers, actors, girlfriends, and people he meets along the way all phonies. As the story continues, Holden proves himself to be the biggest phony of all the characters in Salinger's novel.

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1308 Words | 6 Pages

Holden Caulfield lives his life as an outsider to his society, because of this any we (as a reader) find normal is a phony to him. Basically, every breathing thing in The Catcher in the Rye is a phony expect a select few, like Jane Gallagher. What is a phony to Holden and why is he obsessed with them? A phony is anyone who Holden feels is that living their authentic life, like D.B. (his older brother). Or simply anyone who fits into society norms, for example, Sally Hayes.

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843 Words | 4 Pages

If you want to stay alive, you have to say all that stuff, though.” Holden calls everyone a phony. He calls Pencey prep phony because they are suppose to be filled with honest and proper intellectuals, but he thinks everyone there are liars and slobs. Even the prostitute, Sunny, he hired. He believes

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915 Words | 4 Pages

In The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Mr. Antolini gives Holden Caulfield advice when he is at one of his lowest points. Already aware of Holden’s mental state and position on school, he quotes Wilhelm Stekel, a psychoanalyst, “The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.” (Salinger 188). Although Holden fails to grasp Mr. Antolini’s message, the quote applies directly to his life because of his relationship with death as a result of his younger brother, Allie’s, death. Mr. Antolini uses this quote specifically because he wants Holden take a step back and try to live for a noble cause instead of resorting to death.

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1378 Words | 6 Pages

The only motivator that Holden has to continue living is his younger sister, Phoebe, who is extraordinarily intelligent for her age. After he gets kicked out of Pencey, Holden is lost in life. He speaks to many people, seeking advice and comfort, but they are not able to help him find a human connection. Holden’s depression increases throughout the novel, almost to the point of suicide. He criticizes many people and ideas, labeling them as ‘phony’.

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1746 Words | 7 Pages

Discoveries are often significant as they challenge the individual to reconsider what they previously believed in order to theorise about their world and make new connections surrounding themselves and others, such reevaluation can often lead to the development of a greater understanding regarding morality. This concept is exemplified through J.D Salinger’s ‘Catcher in the Rye’, were a young teenager, Holden Caulfield is constantly reaffirming his passion for preserving the innocence of the youth from “phonies”. The value that he places on morality is illustrated by his persistent quest to stop transgression. However, Holden does not realise he is a phony himself, “Her son was doubtless the biggest bastard that ever went to Pencey... "

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1002 Words | 5 Pages

Holden knew Ackley was lying about his summer, so, he called Ackley a phony. In The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger, Holden Caulfield 's perspective on people give the reader a different and unique point of view. What is phoniness? According to the Merriam Webster dictionary a phony is a person who is not honest or sincere who says things that are meant to deceive. Therefore, phoniness is someone who doesn 't act as themselves, they deceive people by acting like someone they aren’t, even themselves.

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