Holden Caulfield is the main character in The Catcher in the Rye, a novel by J.D. Salinger. The book follows Holden’s journey after he is kicked out of boarding school and runs away from home. Throughout the story, Holden struggles with depression and anxiety, and his views on life are often pessimistic.
Holden is a complex character, and his actions can sometimes be hard to understand. However, his vulnerability and humanity are always evident. He is a lost soul searching for meaning in a world that often doesn’t make any sense. In the end, Holden learns that even though the world can be full of pain and suffering, it is also full of beauty and hope.
The theme that the world appears beautiful and perfect but is in actuality “phonies.” This is reflected several times throughout his trip through New York, as well as before he leaves. The period is in the 1950s; thus I’m confident that he didn’t run into any transvestites, lesbians, or anything close to it.
On the other hand, he could have liked them for being a “none conformist,” as Elmemson suggests. But I doubt it; he appeared to enjoy children more than anything. His duty, as he believed, was to safeguard them in their purity; of which I will speak later in my second topic.
The second theme would be Holden’s state of mind. The kid is messed up, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. The events of his life have caused him to view the world in a cynical way and he doesn’t really try to hide it.
Holden Caulfield is one of the most iconic anti-heroes in American literature. The Catcher in the Rye follows Holden’s adventures as he runs away from boarding school and attempts to reconnect with his family. The novel is narrated by Holden in a first person perspective, and readers are privy to his innermost thoughts and feelings.
The main theme of The Catcher in the Rye is Holden’s disillusionment with the world around him. Holden is constantly disillusioned by the phoniness of the people around him, and his cynicism is on full display throughout the novel. The second major theme of The Catcher in the Rye is Holden’s mental state. Holden is a troubled teenager, and readers can see this through his thoughts and actions. He is often depressed and suicidal, and he does not have a positive outlook on life. Despite his flaws, Holden is a relatable character that many readers can empathize with.
The first scenario that springs to mind is the one in which Stradlater prepares for his second date while Holden watches him. Stradlater was a secret slob when it came to public appearances: he always looked fantastic and got all the ladies, but he was a slob in private. His razor, which made him seem so attractive, was “rusty as hell and full on lather and hair and crap,” demonstrating that he is a slamp to never clean it or anything.” That’s even worse than Old Ackley, if you think about it.
The next example is when Holden tries on Allie’s baseball mitt. The mitt is to small for him, but he still wears it because it reminds him of Allie. The mitt “smells just the way he used to smell.” This makes Holden feel close to Allie and not so alone. The last example I can think of is when Holden goes to see Phoebe on the merry-go-round. He feels sick but he gets on anyway because he doesn’t want her “to stop going around.” He does this even though he knows it will make him sicker. This shows how much Phoebe means to him and that he would do anything for her.
These are just a few examples of how Holden Caulfield is a unique character. He is someone who is not afraid to show his true self, even if it means being different from everyone else. He is also someone who is willing to do anything for the people he cares about, even if it means sacrificing his own wellbeing.
Ackley at least realized he had a problem and that he needed to take action; but Stradlater thought Straddler was an excellent guy. He genuinely believed there was nothing wrong with never cleaning his razor. I think it’s what really enraged Holden, in other words, when he went out all GQ after using that filthy razor and called himself “phony.”
Another example is when he calls that New York girl, Faith Cavendish, who Eddie Birdsell had taken to a dance at Princeton. Anyway, he called her and she was about to hang up until Holden dropped the name of Eddie. Then “she was getting really friendly.” The same person remarked “if you think I enjoy being awakened in the middle of the night with an English accent suddenly”-correction as stated previously -“I’ll have your phone number.” I believe Holden caught her face down.
The part that says “all of a sudden” implies this. The next sentence is the proof, which states: “I think Holden caught her with her face down.” The word “think” means that it’s not sure, but it’s evident that he did. The fact that he used the word “catch” also adds to this. The use of “think,” Eddie Birdsell, and “catch” all suggest that Holden has some sort of homosexual tendencies. Another possibility is that perhaps Holden was asexual and/or aromantic.
And one I almost overlooked is an event that occurs before the conversation with Faith. I believe J.D. Salinger had Holden look out of the window while he was writing Catcher in the Rye, and it’s a very significant moment. It’s quite possible that Holden didn’t drive all the way to New York just to select a run-down hotel. So when he drove up, I’m assuming it appeared nice on the surface.
Holden Caulfield is a teenager who is trying to find his way in the world. He is also struggling with mental health issues. Holden is incredibly introspective, and he spends a lot of time thinking about his own thoughts and feelings. He is also very sensitive, and he often feels like he doesn’t fit in with the world around him. Holden is incredibly intelligent, and he is able to see through the hypocrisy and phoniness of many people and institutions.
The Catcher in the Rye is set in the 1950s, and it tells the story of Holden’s journey from California to New York City. Holden is trying to find his way in the world, and he is also struggling with mental health issues. The novel follows Holden’s interactions with other characters, as well as his own thoughts and feelings. The Catcher in the Rye is a coming-of-age story that explores themes of identity, innocence, and maturity. The novel has been banned due to its frank discussion of sex, drugs, and alcohol.
