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Holden's Phonies In Catcher In The Rye

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Throughout The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, many things trouble the book’s main character , Holden Caufield. Holden is at a point in his life where life isn’t going too well, which is pretty evident, as he’s telling his life story from a mental hospital laying on a bed. His main difficulties include his annoyance with phonies, depression, and loneliness. Holden is a very short tempered kid. He got kicked out of two schools and left one. He always seems to put the blame on others, but the problem may actually be himself. Holden claims, “One of the biggest reasons I left Elkton Hills [the first school he attended] was because I was surrounded by phonies” (19). Clearly, he is the one who seems to be bothered by something he cannot control. Speaking of phonies, Holden cannot stand them. To him, everyone is a phony, and the smallest of things bother him.”…the razor he shaved himself with. It was always rusty as hell and full of lather and hairs and crap… He was a secret slob” (35). The fact that he mentions something so little and unnoticeable just shows how easily he gets annoyed and that he is sick of these phonies. …show more content…

When he gets a last look at Pencey, the school he got kicked out of, he reminisces, “…took a last look down the goddam corridor. I was sort of crying”(68). The fact that he is crying just shows that he will miss Pencey and he is saddened by the fact that he gets kicked out. Another thing that Holden is depressed about is when he arrives to New York and has nobody to speak to after getting off of the train. Holden sighs, “I couldn’t think of anybody to call” (77). Besides even that, he doesn’t have a place to stay in New

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The Catcher In The Rye is a book about Holden Caulfield’s physical breakdowns and his self-centeredness. People in his life have cause this to be relevant, his family, his teachers, and friends. He is also greatly effected by the events that occur in his life. The people with the biggest impact on Holden are the people who have taught him something.

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He always felt that people were being phoneys and not understanding what his struggles were. From losing his brother to being confused as to what he wanted relationship wise it was a long hard struggle that even the person reading the book could understand how hard it was for Holden. He has peculiar behavioral tendencies, his emotions that are building up inside of him prevents him from interacting with the world and the people around him. The way that holden speaks throughout the novel one can tell that holden shows signs of depression. He relay a deep feeling of sadness that i do not believe he knows he is showing.

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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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Novels, books, and storytelling in general are known for their specific concepts in the lives of many people, teaching us how to live life to its potential, or not; however, songs carry the same principles stories do. A song of this caliber is presented in the song “Mad World” sung by Gary Jules, written by Roland Orzabal. The lyrics of “Mad World” clearly depict the Holden’s struggle with phonies and the dilemmas he encounters when facing adulthood embodied in J.D. Salinger’s first-person narrative novel The Catcher in the Rye. The lyric, “All around me are familiar faces/

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New York City is the city that never sleeps. There are bustling people, all having a place to be at, small coffee shops, and don’t forget about the city lights. You can easily be swept away with the city's aura and forget about your worries. In the novel The Catcher In The Rye, the protagonist Holden Caulfield explores the city over a span of 3 days after fleeing his private school Pencey prep.

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He is trying to find meaning in his life but the “phoniness” around him keeps him depressed. Due to the death of his little brother and his past experiences he is able to see more flaws in society compared to the average teenager. He never seems to accept that everyone has flaws including him. If poor Holden isn’t able to

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“They’re nice and all-I’m not saying that-but they’re also touchy as hell” (1). Holden’s very careless, almost aggressive tone shows how little respect for his parents. Although at the start, it seems as if he does not have many emotional feelings attached to his parents, due to the fact that he only refers to them as being nice- then following it with a negative statement, it is later shown in the novel that Holden does have some bond with his parents, specifically his mother, and cares about their opinions towards him. It may seem that Holden has this tone of “not caring” due to the time period being a time where rebellion was rising amongst teenagers and respect for authority was declining. “ “I know he’s dead!

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The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger in 1951, is the story of an angst-ridden sixteen year old Holden Caulfield as he learns to deal with growing up. The story follows Holden through his three day experience through New York as he learns about the truth about innocence, sex, and mortality, making The Catcher in the Rye one of America’s most notable coming-of-age stories. One of the largest influences on Holden’s life was his younger brother Allie who died from leukemia at age eleven when Holden was thirteen. The death of Holden’s brother had a profound effect on Holden emotional state, which eventually caused his complete mental breakdown by the end of the novel.

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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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He talks to his brother as if he 's there searching for help from him. This novel is about him moving through New York and witnessing this and not wanting to be a part of it, yet knowing he has to fit in there somewhere. Holden grows a very dangerous drinking problem. In the novel The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger, Holden is a lost and depressed boy looking for a purpose in life. Holden believes that growing up is going to cause him to lose all innocence in himself.

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Throughout The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield has abnormal tendencies. Although he could just be a typical teenager, dealing with difficult situations, after analyzing his behavior it is believed that he is suffering from a mental ailment of some sort. Events from Holden’s past are still currently haunting him and it is evident that he is struggling. He needs the guidance of those around him in order to help himself through these tough time.

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