Holden Caulfield Honesty

While life may offer an abundance of opportunities, love and happiness amongst those, it does not offer the opportunity to last forever. Through his emotional roller coaster across Manhattan, Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of The Catcher in the Rye, refuses this and insists on obtaining something that is impossible. He is unable to understand or conform to the phoniness of adulthood and is stuck in the past. Through overcoming the death of his younger brother and holding on to feelings for a childhood friend, Holden is desperately clinging on to every ounce of innocence he has left. While speaking to his younger sister, Phoebe, he admits he wants to stand in a field of rye where children play and catch them as they near the edge of a cliff.

Salinger’s ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ Eric Lomazoff argues that Holden Caulfield is merely “a good guy stuck in a bad world.” Holden values honesty and stability, often admitting how much he dislikes change. Already being an incredibly emotional person, the added pressure to let go of his innocence and transition into the adult world, which favors suspense and lies, is nearly too much for Holden to handle. Lomazoff explains further that although Holden tries to make the best of his situation, it is ultimately a losing battle. “It is a testament and decent spirit that Holden would place the safety and well-being of children as a goal in his lifetime.” says Lomazoff, which reinforces that Holden is sympathetic character that has high moral value, but is possibly incapable of pulling himself out of a dismal

Strauch explores the topic of Holden Caulfield’s childhood crush, Jane Gallagher in a study titled Kings in the Back Row: Meaning Through Structure. A reading of Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye.” When Holden discovers that Stradlater, his “sexy bastard” roommate is going on a date with Jane, he is made uneasy by this to say the least. Danger becomes eminent as Holden comments that he “nearly dropped dead” or “went right on smoking like a madman.” According to Strauch’s interpretation Stradlater has “violated a symbol of innocence” in Holden’s world by going out with Jane. While Stradlater is getting ready to go out, Holden recalls how Jane would keep her kings in the back row as they played checkers when they were children. Perhaps overlooked at first, Holden recalling something as specific as Jane keeping her kings in the back row holds volumes of meaning. Holden later requests Stradlater to ask Jane if she still keeps her kings in the back row. Strauch believes this to be “The symbolism of this imagery, portraying defense against sexual attack…” Strauch also elaborates on Holden’s intentions with this request, arguing he meant to send a secret message to Jane, warning her of the sexual advances that Stradlater may make. Strauch states that this gesture could indicate, “…that Holden is unconsciously preparing for his subsequent role as a catcher in the