Cited: /b><br><li>Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye, Little Brown and Company. Boston, 1951
Cited: /b><br><li>Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye, Little Brown and Company. Boston, 1951
The author’s main purpose was to introduce the persona of the character Holden Caulfield from his perspective. He reveals his dominant trait by refusing to mention his early childhood that involves personal details about his parents. Instead, he focuses on his experience in Pencey Prep and discusses its impact on him.…
When Holden is in the presence of the better; such as his sister, his teacher Mr. Antolini,…
Holden Caulfield--a character from Catcher in the Rye--can only be described as a sympathetic character. Although Holden acts in a way sometimes that will make you feel unsympathetic towards him, we know he has mental problems causing him to end up in a hospital. Holden tends to lose his temper occasionally giving him the feel of an unsympathetic character; when you find out his condition it makes you feel otherwise.…
In J.D Salinger’s book The Catcher in the Rye, the protaginist Holden Caulfied, struggles with life, one of the factors being his unstable state of mind due to the death of his brother. After his brothers death his perspective on life was shaken, culminating to his use of anger and trivial decisions to mask his emotions. We see his rapid choice of judgment evidently when he destroyed his parents garage windows. Holden holds his brother dear to his heart, because of his authenticity and humbleness; traits that arent seen anywhere else in his life.…
Holden's expectations in people tend to be unreasonably high. He complains about the most trivial things, for example how his roommate has "one of those very piercing that are practically never in tune" and how he selects "some song that is hard to whistle even if you're a good whistler." (27) He even had high expectations for the prostitute he hired. In his mind, everyone else is held to utopian standards, while it would seem he isn't held to any. Obviously this leads to a lot of disappointment for Holden. Whenever everyone fails to meet your standards then everyone seems lacking, something he isn't opposed to saying.…
Trivial and interesting are the personality traits that come to mind when thinking of the character, Holden Caulfield. The title of the book by JD Salinger reveals much about the personality of Caulfield. Holden Caulfield, the main character of The Catcher in the Rye, is explained in great detail with the title. The life experiences of Caulfield have shaped him in each and every way. Holden Caulfield’s personality is revealed to be protecting, childish, and at the same time very confused.…
Holden Caulfield is a teenager who is struggling to fit into adult society. This is evident from very early on in the book when Salinger immediately characterises Holden as a very judgmental and cynical person. Examples from the very first page include when Holden refers to his brother D.B as a prostitute because he writes scripts for movies. He then continues “I there’s one thing I hate, it’s the movies. Don't even mention them to me”. He doesn’t even give his brother the benefit of the doubt over his occupation, and it is through phrases like this where Salinger creates the characterisation of Holden as a judgmental and stubborn personality. This is further continued throughout the novel where Holden continually uses the phrase “phony”, to refer to other people. He perceives the world as superficial, whereas it is his views on society that are lacking depth. This immediate characterisation of Holden by Salinger…
Constantly alternating between conflicting feelings of superiority and inferiority, Holden Caulfield’s unachievable dreams, delusional fantasies of grandeur, and erratic behaviour all lead to his slow decomposition over the course of the novel. Thus it is clear that his wide array of character flaws, including his cynical, depressive, and often unreasonable attitude and thoughts are rooted in some underlying emotional and mental health issues. Holden takes on a journey that transforms him from a dreamy romanticising idealist to a…
Holden purposely alienates himself from others and doesn’t hold many close relationships. He displays lack of interest in his education. It is not straight forward, but Holden believes he has no future, does he even want one? Detachment is also represented when he fails out of every school he is sent to. He rebels against those who wish for him to have a decent life. Mr. Antolini was one of those who cares and stated “ the mark of an immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one” which Holden takes advantage of . Holden is particularly introverted (Salinger 188). He wanders the city, passing hundreds of by standards, he is still all alone. Sure he wants to talk to people but he doesn’t know how to hold a proper conversation. He is a constant critic of others actions although his actions make him come off as an arrogant pest, therefore Holden isolates…
Holden Caulfield is a very sensitive character where the smallest things can set him off. He’s also a very judgemental person, anyone he meets he describe as being a “phony”. Holden is in his own little world where he’s the only perfect one. Holden cannot go anywhere with first pointing out the flaws of something or someone. I mean Holden gets to the point where I think if you breath too loud he’ll…
Holden Caulfield is a phony. Even though the story is being told from his point of view we can conclude that he is fake. Not only is he an impulsive liar but he is a great hypocrite. He has no remorse about any of his actions towards people, and everything and everyone he meets is a phony in his eyes. Holden Caulfield can never say anything truly good about anyone, he always has something to bring them down. Even little things upsets him, like when Mr. Spencer, Holden’s old teacher at Pencey Prep, “started going into this nodding routine”, he said “You never saw anyone nod as much in your life as Old…
Holden Caufield, either mentally unstable or too morally advanced for society, misses the innocense of his childhood. Holden's mentality, although confused and seemingly unstable, show the effects of exposed innocence. He becomes frustrated that he does not belong where ever he goes. He travels away from his school with no logial direction for a more internal desire to find his place. Holden has trouble understanding why he does not fit in anywhere and implies mental deterioration from stress. Holden Caufeild struggles with the contrast of society's standards of innocence, change and affection to his own intuitive values.…
In this novel Holden not only demonstrates dishonesty by repeatedly lying in various occasions but also shows to be confused as of what he really is. It is also proven that he is a hypocritical person that is just looking to keep his image well even if he has to lie. It is also shown that this character seeks pity from other people in order to make himself feel better.…
Patient Holden Caulfield demonstrates signs of depression brought out by Allie and drinking, isolation brought out by phonies and lack of social skills, and lying tendencies brought out by his determination to protect his reputation and the innocence of children. The death of Allie promotes Holden’s depressive states, while his drinking behaviors attempt to cover it up but make it worse. Also, Holden’s isolation is enhanced by his hatred towards people who are phonies in society and his lack of communication skills. Lastly, lying is induced by the need to enhance his self esteem and make him look good, as well as his determination to protect children from losing their innocence. By Holden experiencing depression, isolation and lying tendencies,…
In J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield exhibits the use of pathetic and weak excuses to avoid an undesirable situation. This ties in with his unmotivated personality. Often times Holden simply “does not feel like it”, so often that it becomes evident that he is simply using it as an excuse that the reader can spot a mile away. Whether hiding from a sexual encounter, mentioning more detail about his sickness, or something as simple as a phone call, Holden Caulfield is simply too mentally weak to deal with it.…