Examples Of Holden Caulfield Anti Hero
Diego Mercado
Mr. Vechionne
World Literature II
19 November, 2014
Holden Caulfield, the Anti-hero
In the novel “The Catcher in the Rye,” the protagonist Holden Caulfield, does not have the most “heroic” attributes a protagonist should have. Instead of being a hero, we can best identify Holden Caulfield as an “antihero.” We can characterize Holden as a compulsive liar, a craven individual, and having a unique self-inflicted loneliness through being judgmental. Despite these character flaws, Holden has many strengths such as being noble, sympathetic, and having an unstoppable desire to protect those close to him as revealed to us in the true meaning of “Catcher in the Rye.”
One major character flaw that Holden shows us is him being a pathological liar. An example of the character flaw is displayed when he meets a classmate’s
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Throughout the novel, Holden constantly complains about his loneliness. Unlike others that would normally stay away from other people due to their shyness, Holden does the exact opposite. He constantly reaches out to other people getting together, planning dates, etc. in attempt to fill his desperate desire for human-companionship/interaction. Holden fails to fulfill this desire (excluding Phoebe) as everyone he meets falls under the category he created we know as “Phonies” as Holden describes. Holden sets up dates with a girl Sally Hayes, but in the end, he classifies her as a “phony.” Holden also goes into bars and talks with random girls and dances with them. These actions contradict his ideas as in the beginning, Holden wanted nothing to do with people other than the few exceptional people he lifts onto his shoulders. However, these actions clarify Holden’s desperate need to find somebody he likes. A hero would not be so judgmental, rather he would be understanding and open. This again reveals Holden to be an anti-hero as Holden lacks understanding and
Who Is Holden Caulfield's Phony
910 Words | 4 PagesThe “Phony” In Holden Caulfield In The Catcher In The Rye by J.D Salinger, the character Holden Caulfield shows his dislike towards other characters in the novel by characterizing them as “phonies”. People who are dishonest when self representing themselves for their own self interest are usually judged by Holden. Holden has high standards for other people especially adults and often characterizes other characters who do not meet his standards as “phonies” but he often behaves similarly to them.
How Is Holden Caulfield Depressed
1030 Words | 5 PagesOn his date with Sally, for example, during a break in the movie, Sally sees someone she met a while back, and they end up talking, in a way as if they had known each other for a long time. This irritates Holden to a great extent due to his perception of the conversation as insincere. (Salinger 141). We see that, even though the conversation doesn’t have anything to do with Holden and is of supreme unimportance, it still irks him, so much so that he seemed to be bordering on hating Sally, not to mention the other person, whom he never bothered getting to know. Such is the effect of the meaningless on Holden’s relationships, and since there is no end to the meaningless and the small talk, Holden would be unable to like anyone if he ended up hating them after a single conversation.
First Impressions Of Holden Caulfield
428 Words | 2 PagesHolden Caulfield in the novel “The Catcher In The Rye” is a scrawny teen who loves his red hunting hat and can’t relate with anyone. His personality is reason he can’t relate, his personality sucks, it’s depressing, judgy, and sensitive. My first impression of him was that he sure complained a lot, and he says goddamn way to much, and he doesn’t care about himself. Holden is always talking about depression, every chapter he talks about being depressed, mostly when he remembers something that someone said. He gets depressed over the simplest things, he thinks to much about things, and he exaggerates situations.
Examples Of Thematic Essay On The Catcher In The Rye
1107 Words | 5 PagesThe effects of Holden constantly isolating himself can be seen especially through his improper speech and how he speaks to others. For example in chapter two Holden says “One of the biggest reasons I left Elkton Hills was because I was surrounded by phonies (pg 14).” In this Holden is exhibiting his poor vocabulary and shows how he does not put thought into the things he says. When he uses the word phonies to describe the boys at Elkton Hills in reality he means he thinks they are boys whom he is not friends with and does not like. In many other cases Holden appears to immediately result to the word phony when describing something or someone he does not like.
Holden Caulfield Lies In Catcher In The Rye
1378 Words | 6 PagesThe only motivator that Holden has to continue living is his younger sister, Phoebe, who is extraordinarily intelligent for her age. After he gets kicked out of Pencey, Holden is lost in life. He speaks to many people, seeking advice and comfort, but they are not able to help him find a human connection. Holden’s depression increases throughout the novel, almost to the point of suicide. He criticizes many people and ideas, labeling them as ‘phony’.
Catcher In The Rye Holden's Struggles Essay
830 Words | 4 PagesBeing rather isolated, Holden Caulfield struggles with the challenges involved with relationships as he fails to balance his desire for isolation with his desire for companionship. Although Holden constantly searches for new possible relationships,
Examples Of Grief In Catcher In The Rye
417 Words | 2 PagesHolden Caufield exhibits symptoms of both teen grief and antisocial personality disorder. However, Holden definitely suffers from prolonged grief disorder, rather than being antisocial, because Holden expresses aversion to solitude and a need to be around others. In both the desolate hallways of Pencey as he is leaving, and the empty streets of New York as he is wandering them, Holden feels "lonesome and depressed". The patient is clearly not antisocial. Holden demonstrates a prominent symptom of prolonged grief disorder: he avoids reminders of deceased loved ones.
Holden Caulfield Isolation
894 Words | 4 PagesHolden makes this very clear with his actions towards other characters he encounters throughout the novel. Although Holden’s behavior demonstrates his desire for meaningful connections with others, his actions display a hypocrisy of what he truly wants. Holden likes relationships and wants to be in one but he also wants to be isolated at the same time to protect himself from others. Even going out of his way to lie just to avoid
How Does Holden Caulfield Change Throughout The Novel
693 Words | 3 PagesAlthough Holden is a very intelligent character he finds the hypocrisy and ugliness in the world around him and quickly associates it with the adult world. Holden is a very introverted character who hesitates throughout the book to share information about his life . J.D Salinger makes sure to portray Holden that way to
Essay On Phony In Catcher In The Rye
714 Words | 3 PagesHe takes the reader on a journey over a few days from him leaving the school to roaming the streets of New York. The question is Holden a Phony often pops into the minds of the reader. Holden is a phony because he is a hypocrite who does things that he criticize others for. He is a phony because he pretends to be someone that he is not,
How Does Holden Connect With Others
734 Words | 3 PagesHolden is unaware of his problem. When people try to help him he tells them there is nothing wrong with him. Holden wonders why he cannot connect with others. He blames it on other people when the source of his problems is himself. Holden’s past holds him back from connecting with others, but his fear of letting go of his past has him limited and scarred from making new relationships and connections.
Lack Of Responsibility In Catcher In The Rye
744 Words | 3 PagesIn 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.
Examples Of Holden Caulfield Anti Hero
374 Words | 2 PagesSome of the reasons I believe that Holden is an anti-hero are because he got kicked out of school because of his grades, he attacks his roommate Holden tends to dream of being a hero in certain situations, but when it is the time, Holden backs down, gets beat up, or avoids it altogether. For example, in chapter 13, Holen was walking back from
Theme Of Maturity In Catcher In The Rye
837 Words | 4 PagesIn The Catcher in the Rye, the author J.D. Salinger, introduces the protagonist; Holden Caulfield. Holden feels the sense that he cannot choose between the two worlds. For example, he makes it seem as both of them are complete opposites from each other. In the book, Holden wants to keep his innocence, but he also wants to grow up and toss that innocence away. He still keeps his childhood personality by constantly obsessing over things that shouldn’t matter.
Catcher In The Rye: A Psychological Analysis Of Holden Caulfield
824 Words | 4 PagesThroughout The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield has abnormal tendencies. Although he could just be a typical teenager, dealing with difficult situations, after analyzing his behavior it is believed that he is suffering from a mental ailment of some sort. Events from Holden’s past are still currently haunting him and it is evident that he is struggling. He needs the guidance of those around him in order to help himself through these tough time.
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