To
the average reader, Holden Caulfield will come across as a stuck-up, judgmental
brat. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger orbits around this boy’s take
on his immediate environment, be it Pencey Boarding School or the racy
city-life of New York. In most novels, the development of the plot is the
driving force of the narrative, however in Catcher
in the Rye, J.D. Salinger places a refreshing emphasis on the development
of character. Admittedly, it becomes somewhat obnoxious being inside this
character’s head the entire novel, yet it is an enriching experience
nonetheless. With careful deliberation, we realize that Holden is an
exaggeration of how particularly rebellious teens respond to the coming of age.
As I mentioned earlier, a reader new
to The Catcher in the Rye could accidently slip into the mindset that
Holden is somewhat of a conceited personality. But really he is just like any
teen. Now that’s not to say that every teen is conceited, but Holden does
experience a thought process that many of us can relate to whether we like it
or not. We simply do not want to accept the fact that occasionally dark,
cynical thoughts have flashed through our mind. It is because we experience the
crux of his observations that we taste the darker side of human nature. In any
case, Holden’s issues with the world seem rather extreme. He is quick to point
out people, places, or things he finds “phony” or superficial; he has
comparatively little respect for anything or anyone.
It is because Holden has not yet
found a bounded culture to fit into that the entire novel appears to be him
against the world. He is not particularly passionate about anything but his
younger siblings and smoking. As Phoebe, his younger sister, indicates later in
the novel, he “doesn’t like anything that’s happening” (Salinger 169). Yet deep
inside, Holden longs to find a place. This desire is depicted by his violent
reaction toward what he calls “intellectuals,” or smart people. Holden is
critical of their general personalities right down to the schools that they
attend, stemming from his deep-seated insecurity of appearing too smart, but
knowing inside that he has the academic potential succeed. Even so, Holden does
not act upon this realization because he simply does not possess any academic drive.
By all accounts, he has not yet “found himself,” and he will not ever unless he
opens himself up to the possibilities of exploring the gray areas of life.
Within the scope of this novel, Holden does not achieve this milestone.
Ultimately, adulthood is maturity and
maturity means knowing oneself. Really then, Holden is afraid of maturity,
which explains why he respects little children so much more than many of the adults
in his life. He fears conformity - adjusting to a specific bounded culture - as
it would mean that he has found a place among adults and has surrendered a
carefree childhood. Lying is therefore his go-to method for shielding himself
from adulthood. This method allows him to keep his true self behind a mask, making
him less vulnerable to the manipulative hands of society.
Works Cited
Salinger, J D. The
Catcher in the Rye. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 1991. Print.
I appreciate how you present Holden's character. He is at once both annoying and relate-able. When I first began the novel, I could not bring myself to enjoy the narrative I was presented with. However, once I realized that I did not have to agree with Holden, only understand where his thoughts and observations originate from, did I find the story more enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoy your note regarding Holden's process of maturity. You say that Holden will not find himself until he explores the "gray areas of life." The notion of complexity is so critical to maturing and gaining knowledge. Holden's very rigid interpretations definitely obstruct his ability to perceive in "gray."
You hit upon an interesting observation in the end: that Holden uses lying as a "shield" against the molding hand of society. So, by not portraying his true self to others, Holden is able to mislead and misdirect any possible solidifying of his character. This is a very thought-provoking interpretation that I had not entirely considered.
Marcus, I really like your idea that Holden has not yet been included into the culture he lives in, and as a result feels as if the world is against him. It is important to note how secluded and alienated Holden is which he brings about upon himself. Being so different compared to the world around him, Holden relies on alienation as a form of protection. As the novel moves forward, we the readers see how this alienation is also a double-edged sword which both helps and hurts him. One example is when he goes out on a date with Sally because his sense of loneliness overtakes him. But at the same time, his loneliness causes him to create a shield around him during the date itself leading him to insult Sally and to cause her to leave. In the end, Holden ends up alone once again. Due to his immaturity, Holden seems to stuck in-between two different worlds; Staying a child and becoming an adult. Just like the mask you mention, Holden continues to hide behind alienation and loneliness in a desperate attempt to hinder society's changes. Overall, well done!
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