Catcher in the Rye Essay
Bernice Ramos
Mrs. Corradi
ENG4UE
Friday April 12, 2013
The Hidden Faces of Holden Caulfield
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger does an exemplary job in showcasing humanity’s crime through Holden Caulfield. Humanity is guilty of masking their inner selves, displaying an entirely different person for the world to see. People often commit this crime subconsciously as a form of protection. Holden is said to be hypocritical because he consistently acknowledges the phoniness of his surrounding society without looking in the mirror. He is no better than the ones he has accused because he, too, is guilty. He excessively smokes, drinks and takes a great interest in sex, deluding himself into thinking that these are acts that would make him an adult, but truthfully, becoming an adult is his greatest fear. Holden’s insolence is a facade that masks his true self, a person who is sensitive, compassionate and moral. One fragment of Holden’s alter image is a person who is indifferent about everything he sees, but Holden’s inner sensitivity shines through his moments of vulnerability. Holden despises the schools that he has attended, including Pencey Prep. These schools had said that they shape young boys into “clear thinking men”. He opposes this statement because he believes that schools like Pencey Prep are actually filled with “crooks” and people he felt that he could never connect with like Ackley and Stradlater. However, it is ironic that no matter how much he loathes this school, it is one of the few places where he can find people who he can talk to. When he decides to leave early to go to New York City, he is crying right before he leaves, “When I was all set to go, when I had my bags and all, I stood for a while next to the stairs and took a last look down the goddamn corridor. I was sort of crying. I don’t know why” (Salinger 52). This sign of vulnerability is a fine indication of how much companionship Holden requires. Before he embarks on his
Mrs. Corradi
ENG4UE
Friday April 12, 2013
The Hidden Faces of Holden Caulfield
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger does an exemplary job in showcasing humanity’s crime through Holden Caulfield. Humanity is guilty of masking their inner selves, displaying an entirely different person for the world to see. People often commit this crime subconsciously as a form of protection. Holden is said to be hypocritical because he consistently acknowledges the phoniness of his surrounding society without looking in the mirror. He is no better than the ones he has accused because he, too, is guilty. He excessively smokes, drinks and takes a great interest in sex, deluding himself into thinking that these are acts that would make him an adult, but truthfully, becoming an adult is his greatest fear. Holden’s insolence is a facade that masks his true self, a person who is sensitive, compassionate and moral. One fragment of Holden’s alter image is a person who is indifferent about everything he sees, but Holden’s inner sensitivity shines through his moments of vulnerability. Holden despises the schools that he has attended, including Pencey Prep. These schools had said that they shape young boys into “clear thinking men”. He opposes this statement because he believes that schools like Pencey Prep are actually filled with “crooks” and people he felt that he could never connect with like Ackley and Stradlater. However, it is ironic that no matter how much he loathes this school, it is one of the few places where he can find people who he can talk to. When he decides to leave early to go to New York City, he is crying right before he leaves, “When I was all set to go, when I had my bags and all, I stood for a while next to the stairs and took a last look down the goddamn corridor. I was sort of crying. I don’t know why” (Salinger 52). This sign of vulnerability is a fine indication of how much companionship Holden requires. Before he embarks on his