A door slams. A muffled scream echoes through the house. Someone shouts, “This is so unfair!” No one gets hurt, but no one remains unscathed. A typical scenario in the house of a teenager, but why? Throughout life, people only see the world from their point of view, and many never attempt to view their actions in any way but their own. J.D. Salinger penned the auspicious novel, The Catcher in the Rye. This classic tells the story of a mentally disabled teen that grew up too fast. Holden, the aforementioned teen, distances himself from personal connection after his younger brother, Allie, dies. By cutting himself off from the love of those around him, he feels lost and misunderstood. Holden begins to hate the world, and soon gives up on attempting He meets a lot of “phony” people, and uses their duplicity to justify his irrational distaste. Early in the story, Holden talks about a Pencey alumnus named Ossenburger. After graduating from Pencey, Ossenburger made his living in the undertaking business (Salinger 16). When providing this description, Holden says that Ossenburger “probably just shoves them in a sack and throws them in the river” (Salinger 17). While the man may pinch pennies, Holden's response seems a bit exaggerated. Later, he meets an acquaintance of Sally Hayes at a play. He describes the man's apparel as “Strictly Ivy League” (Salinger 127). Just in case the audience might miss the sarcasm dripping from his voice, Holden adds, “Big deal” (Salinger 127). As the conversation continues, Holden summarises the stranger's feelings about the production. The “Ivy League” guy felt the plot could improve, but the actors “were absolute angels” (Salinger 127). A short while after he watches this play, Holden sees a movie. As Holden already made his opinions on movies clear, the negative - and sarcastic mood of this commentary surprised no one. He uses words like “putrid” and “phony” to describe the movie itself along with those around him (Salinger 137-139). The lady sitting next to Holden cried throughout the entire film, but refused to take her young son to the restroom (Salinger 138). Upon noticing this Holden compares this lady to “a He changes his mind when he sees Phoebe carrying suitcase, wearing his hat on her head (Salinger 252). She wants to run away with him, and he realises he can't go. She already lost one brother to cancer, and another moved to the opposite end of the country. She can't lose another because of him. Salinger includes this to show how the world could begin to change if everyone started listening, processing, respecting the struggles of others. Holden, an unreliable narrator, represents everyone. Each individual on this earth has a part of Holden in them. The phonies symbolise various evils, and Phoebe represents the catalyst. Everyone deals with the phonies, but Phoebe still runs in that red hunting hat. She tries to draw nearer to the people running away. No, the bias and selfishness will never stop, but she might catch up if everyone works
In J.D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in The Rye Salinger writes about the main character Holden Caulfield and his life. Holden is a teenager who comes from a wealthy family, he loves his family and lives very happy until the death of his brother Allie. After his brother died Holden becomes troubled, being kicked out of school again and again developing a negative view of the world. Holden throughout the book shows anger,denial, and acceptance over the loss of his brother.
...eir thought processes are flawed or not. But this unwillingness to conform was what caused James’ jump out the window. Although Holden does admire James’s integrity, he also realizes that if he does not change his ways, he could end up like James. But Holden would not have someone like Mr. Antolini to help him out and cover his body. Holden must find a driving force within himself that wants to make him change. He must find a new outlook on life, and he cannot be afraid of growing up. He must set an example for Phoebe, and show her that running away or flying away from her problems are not an option. Ducks can only fly for so long. And Holden must realize that he cannot progress when he is judging all of the phonies of the world. The Catcher in the Rye must find a balance between becoming an adult, and flying away.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is an enthralling and captivating novel about a boy and his struggle with life. The teenage boy ,Holden, is in turmoil with school, loneliness, and finding his place in the world. The author J.D. Salinger examines the many sides of behavior and moral dilemma of many characters throughout the novel. The author develops three distinct character types for Holden the confused and struggling teenage boy, Ackley, a peculiar boy without many friends, and Phoebe, a funny and kindhearted young girl.
Holden has several insecurities that are displayed throughout the book that hint at his condition. The protagonist’s insecurities are demonstrated in his judgment of others. He criticizes adults on their flaws as he thinks he is the only rational adult in the world, describing all adults as superficial and more importantly “phony.” Holden once referred to his headmaster as a phony when he was talking about his daughter Selma, “She probably knew what a phony slob he was.” (p. 3) Phoebe, Holden’s sister points out, that he does not only hate adults, he hates everything. Holden cannot name one thing he enjoys to satisfy his sister, indicating that he is dissatisfied with his life. Phoebe notes, “You don’t like anything that’s happening.” (p. 169) As Holden attempts to prove her wrong, she realizes something, “You can’t even name one thing.” (p. 171) Holden’s insecurities are a shining example of his mental condition.
After spending some time at Mr. Spencer, his history teacher's house and getting lectured regarding his poor efforts in school, Holden fabricates a story to leave his teacher’s house without seeming rude. On his way to his dormitory at Pencey, Holden claims that he is an exceptional liar, and would lie even about the most insignificant facts, such as where he is going. He then goes into detail about whom his dormitory is named after, and how much of a phony the man is.
The Catcher in the Rye has been described, analyzed, rebuffed, and critiqued over the years. Each writer expresses a different point of view: It is a story reflecting teen-ager's talk--thoughts-emotions--actions; or angst. I believe it is an adult's reflection of his own unresolved grief and bereavements. That adult is the author, J.D. Salinger. He uses his main character, Holden, as the voice to vent the psychological misery he will not expose -or admit to.
Holden uses the word phony to identify everything in the world that he rejects. He always sees something wrong with everybody. People are too talkative, too quiet, or just weird. He thinks that he is the perfect person but no one believes that he is. With this, Holden believes that he is surrounded by "phoniness." Holden lives in Ossenburger Hall, which is named after a wealthy Pencey graduate who made a fortune in the discount funeral home business. Ossenburger went to the chapel and made a speech that lasted about "ten hours." Holden goes on to say that he cracked about fifty corny jokes and then Ossenburger emphasizes that "he talked to Jesus all the time, even when he was driving his car." Holden thinks this is a load of crap and asserts, "'that killed me. I just see the big phony bastard shifting into first gear and asking Jesus to send him a few more stiffs" (17). Holden can't believe what he just heard. He sees this big "phony" praying to Jesus to send him some...
that he is trying to hide his true identity. He does not want people to know who he really is or that he was kicked out of his fourth school. Holden is always using fake names and tries speaking in a tone to persuade someone to think a cretin way. He does this when he talks to women. While he is talking to the psychiatrist he explains peoples reactions to his lies like they really believe him, when it is very possible that he is a horrible liar and they are looking at him with a “what are you talking a bout?” expression. Holden often lies to the point where he is lying to him self.
Irony is a big part of the novel, and Holden is the victim of dramatic irony. Holden’s idea of a phony is someone who is not genuine and fake because they want to seem appealing to the public, rather than being themselves. However, in a twist, Holden is the real phony, as he is hypocritical and fails to see his true image. When he takes Sally to the movies, he admits that he does not really like her. He is clearly being a phony to her, because he is not telling her the truth. Holden also uses verbal irony that makes him seem phonier. When he meets up with Luce at the bar, he engages in a conversation about women. Holden, who has not had sex, exclaims: “I regard [sex] as a physical and spiritual experience…it depends on who the hell I’m doing it with” (162). The humor behind Holden’s phoniness is apparent throughout the novel, as he constantly reminds the reader of his hypocritical attitude. With reminders to the reader that he is a “tough guy”, Holden is adding to his ironic idea that everyone around him is a phony. When examining the novel, irony is the main source of humor and makes Holden a more fallible character; a teenage boy confused about
Phoebe first contradicts Holden’s views when she asks Holden what he likes and the only answer he can come up with is Allie. Phoebe is incensed by Holden’s evasive answer and bluntly replies, “Allie’s dead” (189). Until this point, Allie has been the primary foundation of Holden’s views—the hypothetical Jesus of his religion—and Holden’s image of Allie was not as dead but as eternally youthful, innocent, and, most importantly, alive. To have that image stripped away by Phoebe, a child just like Allie, rattles Holden’s beliefs to the core. Holden attempts to redeem himself and make Phoebe understand by sharing his dream of being “the catcher in the rye” (191), inspired by the line: “if a body catch a body comin’ through the rye” (191), from the poem, Comin thro' the Rye, by Robert Burns. As the catcher, Holden imagines himself as a protector, saving the children of the world from falling off a cliff. This fantasy is a manifestation of Holden’s romanticism concocted by his subconscious in which saving the children from falling is a metaphor that represents saving them from experience, adulthood, and death—the things he could not save Jane, D.B., or Allie from. By saving the children, Holden hopes to atone for not being able to save his loved ones from the same fates. Yet Phoebe again
Lies, failure, depression, and loneliness are only some of the aspects that Holden Caulfield goes through in the novel The Catcher in the Rye written by J.D. Salinger. Salinger reflects Holden’s character through his own childhood experiences. Salinger admitted in a 1953 interview that "My boyhood was very much the same as that of the boy in the book.… [I]t was a great relief telling people about it” (Wikipedia). Thus, the book is somewhat the life story of J.D. Salinger as a reckless seventeen-year-old who lives in New York City and goes through awful hardships after his expulsion and departure from an elite prep school. Holden, the protagonist in this novel, is created as a depressed, cynical, and isolated character and he expresses this attitude through his dialogue, tone, and diction.
Also, Caufield, describes Ossenbuger as phony because of what Holden perceived he did for a living. The wing where the central character lived at Pencey was called the “Ossenbuger Memorial Wing” named after a men who went to Pencey and later donated a substantial amount of money to the school. Ossenburger makes this income by the “business of undertaking”. Next, according to our youthful character, Ossenburger is phony because “he probably just shoves the dead bodies in a bag and throws them in the river”. As a result, Caufield feels that Ossenburger is phony because of his profession in undertaking.
Many young people often find themselves struggling to find their own identity and place in society. This search for self worth often leaves these young people feeling lonely and isolated because they are unsure of themselves. Holden Caulfield, J.D. Salinger's main character in the book The Catcher In the Rye, is young man on the verge of having a nervous breakdown. One contributor to this breakdown, is the loneliness that Holden experiences. His loneliness is apparent through many ways including: his lack of friends, his longing for his dead brother, and the way he attempts to gain acceptance from others.
“All of a sudden, this girl came up to me and said, “Holden Caulfield!” Her name was Lillian Simmons. My brother D.B. used to go around with her for a while. She had very big knockers”(Salinger 96). Salinger portrays Holden as a whiny teenager that slacks off on his homework and performs illegal acts such as drinking and purchasing prostitutes.
J.D. Salinger presents Holden Caulfield as a confused and distressed adolescent. Holden is a normal teenager who needs to find a sense of belonging. All though Holden’s obsession with “phonies” overpowers him. Dan Wakefield comments, “The things that Holden finds so deeply repulsive are things he calls “phony”- and the “phoniness” in every instance is the absence of love, and , often the substitution of pretense for love.” Holden was expelled from Pencey Prep School not because he is stupid, but because he just is not interested. His attitude toward Pencey is everyone there is a phony. Pencey makes Holden feel lonely and isolated because he had very few friends. Holden’s feeling of alienation is seen when he doesn’t attend the biggest football game of the year. His comments on the game: “It was the last game of the year and you were supposed to commit suicide or something if old Pencey didn’t win” (2, Ch. 1). This also hints to Holden’s obsession with death. Holden can’t find a since of belonging in the school because of all the so-called phonies. Holden speaks of Pencey’s headmaster as being a phony. Holden says that on visitation day the headmaster will pay no attention to the corny-looking parents. Holden portrays his not being interested by saying, “all you do is study so that you can learn enough to be smart enough to buy a goddam Cadillac someday, and you have to keep making believe you give a damn if the football team loses”(131, Ch. 17). Holden does not care for school or money. He just wants everyone to be sincere and honest.