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Examples Of Hypocrisy In Catcher In The Rye

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In The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, there are minor characters such as Phoebe and Stradlater that resemble the different characteristics that Holden has, and this is presented through their relationships with him suchs the innocence and hope that Phoebe has and gives peace to Holden, and the corruption and falseness that Stradlater maintains while showing his “phoniness” which causes Holden anger, yet it shows his hypocrisy. While he does have a good side to his personality because he wants the best for the future of the younger kids and praises honesty as well as innocence, Holden also has a negative side to his character that shows his loss of hope and corruption through the use of his language and angry nature towards others and …show more content…

In a way, Holden believes that Stradlater is a phony because of the way he wants others to see him such as the rest of the student body, the teachers, and even Holden’s old friend, Jane. Holden criticizes him because of his hypocrisy, pride, arrogance and his lies, which ironically Holden has these traits as well. Stradlater shows to be arrogant when Holden explains that Stradlater “thought he was the handsomest guy in the Western Hemisphere” (Salinger 27). Stradlater resembled the arrogant nature hidden within Holden, although Holden doesn’t want to show it, and yet he does when he believes that he is better than all the “phonies” that surround him. Stradlater also is dishonest and only hopes to please others while making himself look good such as when he is manipulating Holden to do his composition for him by complimenting his hunter’s hat. Another example of his falsehood is when “he’d start snowing his date in this very sincere voice-like as if he wasn’t only a very handsome guy but a nice, sincere guy, too” (Salinger 49). Stradlater was only trying to appeal to the girls he wanted by hiding his true intentions and pretending to be something he is not. This is one of the characteristics that Holden has as …show more content…

Phoebe and Holden have a really close relationship in that they are very understanding of each other and know what each of them likes or dislikes. For her age, Phoebe is actually very mature and knows the troubles that her brother goes through such as getting kicked out of school again. Holden always speaks good things about her and has confidence in what she does. Holden states that Phoebe is really smart and “if you tell old Phoebe something, she knows exactly what the hell you’re talking about” (Salinger 67). This represents how Phoebe is able to understand her surroundings and any situation that she may come across, which is also the same with Holden because he is always able to relate with people in a different form, even if it is through his lies. Even though Phoebe is mature in her intellectual aspect, she is actually still young in an emotional way, in that “she’s very emotional, for a child” (Salinger 68). This shows how Phoebe is still immature and innocent, but that is what Holden truly admires and wishes he could regain. He too is very emotional, but finds it difficult to communicate his emotions to others except for Phoebe. Phoebe brings Holden happiness and peace because he praises her nature and wishes he could still

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