Holden Caulfield Character Analysis

In his eyes he values youth and innocence, he’s in love with the idea that children tend to have their own world that is much different than adults. Holden is very protective over the youth, almost too protective. Youth is Holden’s only golden treasure that he keeps close to him. “But while I was sitting down, I saw something that drove me crazy. Somebody’d written “F*** you” on the wall. It drove me damn near crazy. I thought how Phoebe and all the little kids would see it, and how they’d wonder what the hell it meant” His mannerisms and thoughts become very angry when he notices anything that will destruct the innocence. Youth is the only positive glow in Holden’s life, therefore he will fight and do anything in order to keep it

One point to mention is that holden feels the need to give himself these fake names to hide himself from the real world. An example of the names that Holden uses is “Rudolph Schmidt” (Salinger, 54). Back when Holden was in the train and a lady, Ernest Morrow’s mother, sat next to him, Holden used Rudolph Schmidt as his name. Rudolph Schmidt is the name of the janitor that worked at Pencey, and of all names, Holden decided to use his. It is interesting because Holden seems to be afraid to say his own name. If Holden had said his real name back when he was talking to Ernest’s mom, he may have felt

I believe a good friend is someone who is honest, non-judgemental, and empathetic. So, would Holden Caulfield, the protagonist in The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger, qualify as a good friend? In some ways he would be a good friend, in some ways he would not. Holden Caulfield is a rebellious teenager, who doesn’t live a stable life. He is judgemental, dishonest, and apathetic. Although at times he can be kind and caring. Overall, Holden Caulfield would not make a good friend.

Holden struggles with growing up and facing reality. There are many examples of Holden’s immaturity that are displayed in many forms such as facing responsibilities, his speech, his actions, and etc. Holden’s outlook on adult life is that it is superficial and brimming with phonies, but childhood was all about looking pleasing and innocent. He wants everything to stay the same and for time to stop. As Holden progresses in age, he will discover more about becoming mature in the

In The Cather in the Rye Holden is indeed a hypocrite. Throughout the story Holden does many things that would define him as a hypocrite. He is immature and rebellious and wants people to treat him like an adult even though he isn’t one. Holden’s actions often contradict his words, which would make him a hypocrite.

Holden Caulfield has trouble connecting with everyone but when it comes to women, he views them as objects to admire or protect. He doesn’t feel that they’re smart, nor hold any depth of character. Although, he holds a very intense love for some such as his younger sister Phoebe or his childhood friend, Jane Gallagher. Holden seems to be attached to them and they’re the only people that Holden is psychologically connected to.

Throughout “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D Salinger, Holden Caulfield shows great difficulty making long and meaningful connections with other people. Holden believes he is the normal one but it is actually the other way around. He holds on to a deep emotional road block of the death of his innocent brother Allie. Holden keeps this dragging around with him which causes him to veer from connecting and having a long term relationship with others. Holden 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.

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

Even though Holden lies about his name that's not the only thing Holden lies about. Holden makes a big ordeal on how he hates how people repeat themselves and how people say things over and over again, which makes him a

Adulthood is when we mature into a person that continues to live life in reality as we let our childhood and adolescence become a faint memory. The memories, however, taught us lessons of acceptance as we cannot always shape the future. Holden Caulfield in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye takes a journey through the rite of passage by experiencing the innocence of youth and the phoniness of adulthood.

Throughout one’s life it becomes evident very early on, that “nobody's perfect”. No matter the circumstances one is bound to need some sort of mischief in their life. This statement is also true for the following texts, whether it’s the subtlety of Catchers main character, Holden Caulfield or the obvious scheming ways of Odysseus in The Odyssey, tricksters play a crucial role in the plotline of the texts. However, being a trickster is not always considered to be a bad thing. It all depends on the intentions it is based upon and the way one goes about carrying it out. If both of those things correspond with inner kindness or positivity it is likely that the act will be perceived much better with less punishment also. The role of trickster characters throughout

By the age of twenty-five about eight percent of the population has lost a sibling, according to The United States National Library of Medicine. The loss of a sibling is extremely crucial to the surviving, in certain events The U.S National Library of Medicine stated that the loss of the sibling can cause the surviving to act out and has even caused depression. In the book, The Catcher in the Rye by Jerome David Salinger the main protagonist Holden Caulfield has lost a his older brother Allie which really affected his mindset and his teenage years.Holden is a young boy who does not have the support of his parents and are also not present in his life. Instead they send him off to private schools and show no interest in

Holden's attitude towards the way he thinks people really are is very prominent in the book. He uses the word phony countless times as a way of describing a person. Anytime anyone tries to have a conversations with someone he blocks them out because he feels as though they are just liars who are bragging about things that aren't even

Holden Caulfield is a phony because he often pretends to be a different person than who he really is. Holden regularly tries to change his persona for the people around him. He routinely goes to bars and orders alcoholic beverages even though he is only sixteen. When he is in the Lavender Room, Holden states “I ordered a Scotch and soda, and told him not to mix it. . .if you hem and

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. He lies intensely throughout the course of the novel, starting from lying to Ackley at the very beginning of the book. From his sarcastic tone in his conversation with other people, readers can denote his own cynical view on the world. Holden views adulthood as phony, hypocritical and fake while childhood in his mind is a world of innocence, honesty, and joy. That is the main reason why he wants to be a “catcher in the rye” to protect and save all the children from falling into the phony adult world. Holden Caulfield’s despise of fakeness causes his resistance of growing into a more mature person, with the lack of ability to interact with other people, make him a