An Analysis Of Holden's Roommate Stradlater

One theme that can be observed throughout the novel The Catcher in the Rye is the idea that oftentimes people are not what they seem on the outside. This lesson is illustrated in many of Holden’s encounters throughout the novel. One person that shows this clearly is Holden’s roommate Stradlater. Stradlater is a stereotypical, slick, “Year Book kind of handsome guy” (Salinger 27). He is extremely vain about his appearance because, as Holden says “he was madly in love with himself” (Salinger 27). At first glance, Stradlater seems a cool, if slightly sleazy, ladies-man. However, Stradlater’s true self is symbolized quite clearly by his razor blade. Holden describes it as being “always rusty as h*** and full of lather and hairs and c***” (Salinger

Holden says the man who dressed up like a woman looked like a distinguished, older man. However, as soon as he believes himself out of sight, he is parading about in an evening dress, something that would have been both extravagantly odd and unaccepted in the time of the novel. On the outside he is just an ordinary man, but out of sight he give in to his inner self, who is very different from what society might expect. Both Holden’s experience at the hotel and his association with Stradlater demonstrate the theme of the novel. The idea that people are often different on the inside than how they appear on the outside is also illustrated by the novel’s protagonist, Holden Caulfield himself. On the outside, Holden can seem cynical, arrogant, and even childish at times. This is evidenced in Holden’s sense of humor, which tends towards mocking and jeering even when that ends badly for Holden. He is often sarcastic to the point of contempt, mocking his friends, strangers, and himself. It is also shown in Holden’s life philosophy; he seems to believe that almost everyone is a phony. The movies are phony, every headmaster he has ever had was phony, his brother’s ex-girlfriend is a phony, Ernie, the piano player, is a phony, and the list only goes

He is incredibly cynical about almost everyone he meets, seeing them all as false. For instance, he will walk into Ernie’s bar, and he immediately assumes everyone around him is a phony, just because they are applauding for Ernie, who is also a phony is Holden’s mind. This cynicism also lends Holden a little arrogance, as he sometimes assumes himself above those around him who he considers to be phony. Sometimes, resulting in a combination of his arrogance and his mocking humor, Holden can come across as a little childish. This trait can be seen clearly in his mocking of Stradlater in the bathroom; Holden tap dances across the tiled floor just to entertain himself, and then proceeds to jump Stradlater, clinging to his back until Stradlater, in a fit of irritation, throws him off. It also shows when, later in New York, Holden meets up with an old school friend who immediately inquires if their talk is “going to be a typical Caulfield conversation” and repeatedly asks when Holden is going to grow up (Salinger 145). Thus, Holden seems to be a somewhat childish, cynical, and arrogant person. However, this is only on the outside. On the inside, it is clear that Holden is a much softer, more caring