B. Phony of The 1950s’ America
After World War II America entered a new period that was marked by several significant events like the Cold War, Korean War, Civil Rights Movement. The decade following World War II was characterized by affluence in much of American society and it causes high levels of consumption and a boom in population. 1950’s America was the period of conservatism, conformism and wild consumerism. It can be seen that there are many things which discomforts Holden Caulfield throughout the novel. “Phoniness,” which is probably the most famous phrase from The Catcher in the Rye, is one of Holden’s favorite concepts. This word describes the absurdity and artificiality that Caulfield encounters in the world around him. Sanford
Throughout the novel of Catcher In The Rye the readers can pick on Holden's way of thinking because it feels as if the reader is listing to Holden talk and thus this reinforces the novel’s themes. Themes like youth, phoniness, loneliness and innocence are present due to Holden’s use of character and the way he presents himself out in the story. Holden’s thoughts and diction reflect all of the themes in the story because his thoughts often become reality in which he puts out on himself. Holden is always complaining about people being fake to the point where it makes the reader feel like as if Holden is calling the reader fake. “One of the biggest reasons I left Elkton Hills was because I was surrounded by phonies” Holden views almost everyone as phoney.
Yareimy Patrocinio Section A Trying to Save the Future Generation You see at least one adult everyday in your life. The thing is, do you know if they are phony? Well in Holden’s perspective, almost every teenager and adult he has ever met is “phony”. “How would you know you weren't being a phony?
He doesn't want people to conform so much to everything, he even wants to be the catcher in the rye when he grows up, keeping kids safe from falling off of a cliff that he views as growing up, he doesn't want people conforming so heavily to everything around them. Holden is correct in thinking as such; phoniness is a trait that goes along with lying, cheating and otherwise being
“What I liked about her, she didn't give you a lot of horse manure about what a great guy her father was. She probably knew what a phony slob he was.” (Salinger 3) Throughout the novel, The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield is a sixteen-year-old boy living in a world full of ‘a bunch of phonies’. As he feels a lingering sense of loss over his life; he does not want to grow and be a complicated adult, acting like everyone else.
In every aspect of society, there are social norms, a regulation or expectancy that dominates people’s morals, beliefs, actions, attitudes and behaviors. In J.D. Salinger’s 1951 novel, Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield defy societal norms, becoming an outsider who is searching for his place and meaning in the world. His world is full of what he calls, “phonies,” a person who is not genuine, will do whatever it takes to make themselves look good, and change their personality to fit into a certain group. Throughout the novel, the audience is taken on a journey with Holden through post-World War II New York. During that time period, the United States of America was an other-directed society; a society based on one’s ability to conform to societal
From the outset, I have to say that “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger has been one of the most important and influential pieces of literature I have ever read. At its core, the book is a superb coming of age novel which discusses several extremely powerful themes such as the difficulties of growing up, teenage angst and alienation and the superficiality, hypocrisy and pretension of the adult world. These themes resonated deeply with me and were portrayed excellently through the use of powerful symbolism and the creation of highly relatable and likable characters. One such character is Holden Caulfield whom the story both revolves around and is narrated by.
He gives it a very pessimistic and cynical attitude. Since Holden sees everything in such a negative manner, he refers to almost everyone except for his sister, Phoebe, as a phony. He instantly gives everyone he meets the title of a phony. As he is on the topic of an all boys school, he refers to it as “full of phonies” (page 131). Salinger has given Holden such a negative outlook that almost everything that comes out of Holden’s mouth is negative.
While reading this book, one may notice that the main character Holden calls almost every character that we meet phonies. Never once in the book did Holden call himself a phony. The word phony was used 48 times throughout this entire novel making it one of the top 5 words used in this book. The Catcher in the Rye is a novel written by J.D. Salinger. This book is narrated by the main character Holden Caulfield.
The postwar setting in J. D. Salinger The Catcher in the Rye influenced the main character Holden Caulfield feelings of disillusionment during a time when conformity left many postwar adults fearing communism in a growing postwar economy. The novel illustrates the main characters’ experiences from the time he is expelled from boarding school over a period of three days. Upon his premature departure from the school, due to a fight with his roommate, Holden makes his way to New York City, where he meets various people in hopes of gaining a form of acceptance and understanding from them to help his troubles (Kirkwood 29). As a result, his needs are deprived, as Holden feels he does not fit anywhere; believing that all the people around him are
In The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield is a peculiar character portrayed as a skeptic living in “a world of phonies” in circa 1950. These personality traits can be seen through his doubts of society as well as his way of thinking and acting toward others. He also demonstrates a lack of responsibility adding to his role as a slacker. Holden flunks out of school repeatedly and has no desire to confront his parents. He mopes around the city for days, delaying the inevitable punishments he’s sure to get.
The book, The Catcher in the Rye, takes place in the years of the 1940s-1950s of New York City. Author J.D. Salinger expresses in the book about the struggles and the countless amount of stereotypes and establishments of the American society. Holden Caulfield, J.D Salinger’s protagonist, gives perspectives of society’s conflicts and facets of society. Holden addresses that would should not change, but should be preserved within a glass case at a museum. Now explore the varieties of encounters and how the give an example of the theme of conflict between control and independence that the protagonist confronts in the book, The Catcher in the Rye.
Holden knew Ackley was lying about his summer, so, he called Ackley a phony. In The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger, Holden Caulfield 's perspective on people give the reader a different and unique point of view. What is phoniness? According to the Merriam Webster dictionary a phony is a person who is not honest or sincere who says things that are meant to deceive. Therefore, phoniness is someone who doesn 't act as themselves, they deceive people by acting like someone they aren’t, even themselves.
Holden’s obsession stems from his fear that he may become a phony one day. So, he spends the book running from adulthood by doing childish things and struggling to keep his life from changing. We see Holden’s fear of phonies shine throughout The Catcher in the Rye. Why does he have this fear?
In The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Mr. Antolini gives Holden Caulfield advice when he is at one of his lowest points. Already aware of Holden’s mental state and position on school, he quotes Wilhelm Stekel, a psychoanalyst, “The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.” (Salinger 188). Although Holden fails to grasp Mr. Antolini’s message, the quote applies directly to his life because of his relationship with death as a result of his younger brother, Allie’s, death. Mr. Antolini uses this quote specifically because he wants Holden take a step back and try to live for a noble cause instead of resorting to death.
It is the “phoniness” he wants to blame. Salinger used “phony” this word many times in the book and is one of the most famous word from “The Catcher in the Rye” and it accurately describes the human nature of most adults’. During Holden’s three-day-trip in New York, he has met and encountered with many characters who are pretentious and fake, from Mr. Spencer to Luce and Sally. In society people have to lie or be “phony” just to socialize, or impress someone. Holden is a judgemental person who keeps observing other people’s phoniness but never notices them in himself.