Holden Caulfield Unreliable Narrator

A Warped Perception An unreliable narrator is a narrator in any story whose perspective is biased or questionable. In Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield can be described as such. The unreliable narrator often focuses on what others do wrong and glide over their own faults. Holden definitely falls into that category. The fascinating thing about a story with an unreliable narrator is that the reader must figure out for themselves what is going on, because what the narrator is telling may be skewed or open to interpretation. Holden often behaves as if he has been sent onto Earth to point out the wickedness or phoniness of others, but then makes excuses when he behaves [deviant]the same way as the individuals he deems morons. This shows a lot about Holden’s own mental disorders and the mindset he is perpetuating. Holden is a seventeen year old boy who has flunked out of countless schools. After failing out of another one called Pencey, he decides to go to New York for a little while, before winter break starts and he can go home. Catcher in the Rye chronicles his adventures and the gradual deterioration of his mind. The story is told

A man was dressing in women’s clothes and a couple were spitting water at each other. Upon watching them, he deems that “the hotel was lousy with perverts” (Salinger 62). He does not take into account that he himself is spying on people through their windows, even justifying himself by saying that “that kind of junk is sort of fascinating to watch” (Salinger 62). This type of instance occurs in many different cases. Even though he hates “phonies” he prides himself on being “the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life.” (Salinger 16) This behavior clues the reader into his possible mental