ipl-logo

Examples Of Hypocrisy In Catcher In The Rye

1017 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Holden's major obstacles

In The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, there are minor characters such as Phoebe and Stradlater that resemble the different characteristics that Holden has, and this is presented through their relationships with him suchs the innocence and hope that Phoebe has and gives peace to Holden, and the corruption and falseness that Stradlater maintains while showing his “phoniness” which causes Holden anger, yet it shows his hypocrisy. While he does have a good side to his personality because he wants the best for the future of the younger kids and praises honesty as well as innocence, Holden also has a negative side to his character that shows his loss of hope and corruption through the use of his language and angry nature towards others and …show more content…

In a way, Holden believes that Stradlater is a phony because of the way he wants others to see him such as the rest of the student body, the teachers, and even Holden’s old friend, Jane. Holden criticizes him because of his hypocrisy, pride, arrogance and his lies, which ironically Holden has these traits as well. Stradlater shows to be arrogant when Holden explains that Stradlater “thought he was the handsomest guy in the Western Hemisphere” (Salinger 27). Stradlater resembled the arrogant nature hidden within Holden, although Holden doesn’t want to show it, and yet he does when he believes that he is better than all the “phonies” that surround him. Stradlater also is dishonest and only hopes to please others while making himself look good such as when he is manipulating Holden to do his composition for him by complimenting his hunter’s hat. Another example of his falsehood is when “he’d start snowing his date in this very sincere voice-like as if he wasn’t only a very handsome guy but a nice, sincere guy, too” (Salinger 49). Stradlater was only trying to appeal to the girls he wanted by hiding his true intentions and pretending to be something he is not. This is one of the characteristics that Holden has as …show more content…

Phoebe and Holden have a really close relationship in that they are very understanding of each other and know what each of them likes or dislikes. For her age, Phoebe is actually very mature and knows the troubles that her brother goes through such as getting kicked out of school again. Holden always speaks good things about her and has confidence in what she does. Holden states that Phoebe is really smart and “if you tell old Phoebe something, she knows exactly what the hell you’re talking about” (Salinger 67). This represents how Phoebe is able to understand her surroundings and any situation that she may come across, which is also the same with Holden because he is always able to relate with people in a different form, even if it is through his lies. Even though Phoebe is mature in her intellectual aspect, she is actually still young in an emotional way, in that “she’s very emotional, for a child” (Salinger 68). This shows how Phoebe is still immature and innocent, but that is what Holden truly admires and wishes he could regain. He too is very emotional, but finds it difficult to communicate his emotions to others except for Phoebe. Phoebe brings Holden happiness and peace because he praises her nature and wishes he could still

Show More
Related
708 Words | 3 Pages

Holden and Phoebe are at a carrousel after having an argument with one another as Holden would not allow Phoebe to come along with him when Holden said he wanted to leave. Before this quote Holden was feeling miserable and quite irritated with life and wanted to withdraw from the society by going somewhere far away. However, because of Phoebe’s obstinate personality he agrees to stay and watch her go on the carousel. While watching Phoebe on the carousel he becomes happy just simply by watching her.

Read More
437 Words | 2 Pages

Stradlater is a narcissist and puts on an arrogant air when dealing with people like Holden, affecting an aura of subtle scorn and disinterest. Holden meanwhile, has gone completely insane, which is understandable considering everything that has happened to him. His insanity is very unique in that it yearns and craves stagnation, Holden expresses admiration for the museum on pg. 154 as “it never changes”. He dreams of being the “Catcher In The Rye” towards children keeping them in a state of perpetual childhood to shield them from the horrors of this

Read More
744 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More
1117 Words | 5 Pages

You'd like her. I mean if you tell old Phoebe something, she knows exactly what the hell you're talking about.” This quote shows Holden’s respect and affection for his sister. Holden never praises anything throughout the entire book other than phoebe and Jane. Caulfield’s extreme attachment to phoebe could be a result of how his younger brother Allie died from leukemia, He put phoebe on a pedestal and learned to cherish her.

Read More
1123 Words | 5 Pages

Holden admired Phoebe who is someone not his age. He never admired anyone else that is anywhere near his age. Holden is growing up and wants to go back to his younger days. Talking to Phoebe brings back those times. Talking to people that are older than him, does the

Read More
1308 Words | 6 Pages

Shouldn’t someone who acts tough and often brags know that they will never become a phony? The answer would be yes if Holden wasn’t so insecure. Holden’s childish ways cause him to never mature and figure out who he is as a person. We see many signs of Holden insecurities throughout the book, like the fact that he contradicts himself. An example of this would be when Sally and Holden are in the taxi and he tells her he loves her, he then counties to say, “It was a lie, of course, but the thing is, I meant it when I said it” (Salinger 139).

Read More
1365 Words | 6 Pages

Phoebe symbolises everything that Holden wishes to protect from the world, youth and innocence. He speaks fondly of her often, assuring his readers that “[they’d] like her” (67). At the end of the novel, Holden and Phoebe go for a walk and Holden suggests she ride on the carousel (210). Phoebe says she’s too big, but Holden convinces her otherwise and watches her, since he is definitely too big - another sign of how he is reluctantly growing up (211). After the ride is over and Phoebe goes to her brother again, it starts to rain and Phoebe takes Holden’s red hunting cap and places it on his head (212).

Read More
942 Words | 4 Pages

He tries to deny the fact that he likes Ackley’s company because at first, he did. For example, after fighting with Stradlater, Holden goes to Ackley and still tries to act as though he is annoyed even though he was the one that approached Ackley. A flaw that Holden has is that he is so afraid of getting hurt that he is always trying to convince himself that he dislikes everybody and their

Read More
342 Words | 2 Pages

Before leaving his friends and family forever, Holden decides to meet up with Phoebe one last time. Many things followed that incident and perhaps the best way to interpret all of this is to see what it describes of Holden’s character, how Holden has changed, and what he will do in the future. The first thing that we can learn is that Holden is unable to control his emotions. When Phoebe appears with her suitcase and she begs Holden to take her with him, it is solid proof that there is a strong bond between Phoebe and Holden. As see on pg.

Read More
1020 Words | 5 Pages

He probably was scared I fractured my skull or something when I hit the floor. It 's too bad I didn 't. (pg.45) The quote shows how Holden and Stradlater got into a fight. It connects to the claim because Holden is childish for a fight. Holden fought him because of Jane but Stradlater didn 't know that Holden liked her.

Read More
1418 Words | 6 Pages

It is the “phoniness” he wants to blame. Salinger used “phony” this word many times in the book and is one of the most famous word from “The Catcher in the Rye” and it accurately describes the human nature of most adults’. During Holden’s three-day-trip in New York, he has met and encountered with many characters who are pretentious and fake, from Mr. Spencer to Luce and Sally. In society people have to lie or be “phony” just to socialize, or impress someone. Holden is a judgemental person who keeps observing other people’s phoniness but never notices them in himself.

Read More
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’.

Read More
668 Words | 3 Pages

Holden cannot handle accepting blame for his shortfalls. This is evident in the way he retells his story. Holden repeatedly tells the reader outrageous claims about his character. However when he ends up coming short on these expectations, he backtracks his previous statements in order to shift the blame away from himself. When he first discusses his fight with Stradlater he says, “All I know was I

Read More
1433 Words | 6 Pages

Though Holden believes the world around him is phony and wicked, and while he wants to be the catcher in the rye, catching those who will fall over cliff; Holden does not only want to save those children but he also wants to save himself. Holden displays his desire to be the catcher in the rye by expressing his wish to protect the kids from falling off the cliff. Throughout the novel, Holden often states that everything around him seems to be phony; however, there is one thing in which Holden believes is real, and that is the children he encounters in the novel. Quite often does Holden show his desire to protect children from the corrupted adulthood that he

Read More
693 Words | 3 Pages

Catcher in the Rye In the book Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger, the narrator and protagonist Holden Caulfield a sixteen year old junior undergoes a series of changes. Holden learns multiple life changing lessons; one of them is you must grow up. In the beginning of the novel, Holden starts out as “that kid”; the one with the parents who expect him to get into an ivy league school, and end up with a kid with no intentions of doing so. At the beginning of the book it is very apparent that Holden lacks motivation; he also has hit rock bottom.

Read More

More about Examples Of Hypocrisy In Catcher In The Rye

Related Topics

Open Document