The Catcher in the Rye #2

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

"I didn't know thta the goddam hotel was full of perverts and morons... In my mind, I'm probably the biggest sex maniac you ever saw" (Salinger, 61-2).

As Holden has progressed from being and Pencey to being in the city, he seems to be a character that molds to situations at hand. Early on in the novel, it seemed that Holden was cussing more frequently at Pencey than he does once he reaches the city. It seems as if Holden's actions are influenced by those around him most likely because he is self-conscious. I once believed that Holden was most likely homosexual or having a mental disorder. From the end of the first half of the book, Holden does not seem that way anymore. Instead of having an issue of those sorts, Holden seems to just be lost in his identity in the world and therefore conforms to the situation that he is in. After seeing all of the people that he noted as perverted, Holden then reflects on his views in that way noting how he is like them yet he disapproves of them and their actions. Furthermore, Holden acts and wants to be independent of everyone yet when he is lonely, he caves in his loneliness and wants to have a companion after leaving all of them behind when he left Pencey. Clearly, Holden is having issues with identifying who he is in the world and how he interacts with those around him.

The Catcher in the Rye #1

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

"'May I ask your name, dear?'

'Rudolph Schmidt,' I told her. I didn't feel like giving her my whole life story'" (Salinger, 54-5).

Throughout this entire first half of the novel, Holden has made it clear that he does not appreciate or respect people he believes to be phony. There seems to be an irony in what Holden expects out of other people and what he does. After complaining of phony people, Holden lies himself to the people around him. The phoniness that Holden dislikes is coming from himself as he is phony to the people around him when he lies. To follow up Holden lying about who he is, he lies about having a tumor. Holden's complaints of phonies do not seem reliable as he is doing the same to the people around him and then later to the prostitute. Holden seems to be having an issue with himself in the world he is in. He seems to be in denial that he is growing up and becoming just like everyone else. The irony in what he says shows the battle he is having internally with growing up and externally with dealing with the phony world he lives in.