Examples Of Phonies In Catcher In The Rye

Throughout the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, Holden points out to the reader that most of the world is full of phonies. However, the author points out that he does not do this because he truly believes it, but because he is having a hard time adjusting to the lies of the adult world. Catcher in the Rye follows Holden Caulfield as he finds his own path after being expelled from Pencey Prep school. The novel also deals with his depression and fears of growing up and disappointing his family. Another big theme in this novel, is Holden struggling to believe people, calling them “phonies” and fakes. Salinger’s point about appearance and reality is that people tend to put up personas that are much nicer and kinder than they truly

At first, Holden first describes him as “a pretty friendly guy,” though he still does call him out on not being a completely honest person, describing him as a “phony kind of friendly,” he still sees Stradlater as a good friend and roommate (30). In the next chapter however, he becomes frustrated with Stradlater when he starts to talk about Jane, Holden’s crush, with very little respect even though he is about to go on a date with her. As he walks out the door to his date, he asks Caulfield to do a homework assignment for him, letting his cruder and less perfect side shine through a bit. Holden ends up doing the assignment, but does not follow the directions, this causes Stradlater to yell at him for not doing exactly what he said, once again letting his less friendly side show a bit. By chapter six, Holden becomes increasingly more annoyed with Stradlater’s fake personality and attacks him after Stradlater refuses to tell him about Jane. At first, Stradlater tries to act like the better person and keeps him pinned to the ground, but after Holden throws endless strings of insults at him, calling him “lousy” and “a crazy bastard,” Stradlater ends of punching him in the face and leaving the room (49). This scene reveals a bit of Stradlater’s true, more violent personality as he is baited into punching his friend after only a few mild

Antolini’s, his old teacher’s, house due to having no other place to stay. By Holden’s account, Mr. Antolini always seemed to be a very compassionate man, having been the only one to approach a student’s dead body after he had commiting suicide. As a result of Holden’s prejudice at the beginning of this scene, Holden believes Antolini is letting him stay over out of the goodness of his heart. After Holden goes to sleep however, he awakes with a start as he feels Antolini’s hands “sort of petting [him] or patting [him] on the goddam head” (211). Although Mr. Antolini acts innocent, claiming he is “simply sitting [t]here,” Holden believes his former teacher is trying to make a sexual advance on him and quickly leaves the apartment (211). As a result of this encounter, Holden becomes increasingly more nervous and overwhelmed as he walks down Fifth Avenue the next day, these feelings become so hard to cope with that everytime Holden steps off the sidewalk curb, he “[has] this feeling that [he will] never get to the other side of the street” (217). This example is perhaps the most prominent one because it proves that even Mr. Antolini, someone Holden has known for a long time, thought to be very real and caring, puts up a nicer persona for his own selfish purposes, making advances on