Loneliness In Catcher In The Rye

“You could tell they didn't want me around”, Holden constantly displays his lack of self-confidence through bringing himself down in J.D Salinger’s the Catcher in the Rye, which follows seventeen year old, angsty teen, Holden Caulfield as he tells the in depth story of a trip to New York after flunking out of Pencey School. Holden’s loneliness and isolation highlights his inability to recognize his traumatizing past and lack of closure due to his brother’s recent death, establishing his depression and furthering his apathetic attitude towards school, aspirations, and his future entirely.
Holden’s troubles become primarily evident through his apparent loneliness. Although while reading, the audience may be emotionally swayed by sympathy for Holden due to his clear lack of social skills and friends, readers can eventually develop a sense that Holden actually excludes himself in a way. The story begins with Holden not attending the football game, but rather, standing alone watching from afar. In a sense, he seems to almost enjoy being excluded “The whole team ostracized me [...] It was pretty funny in a way.”
Further convincing readers of Holden’s isolation is the evidence, or rather a lack thereof, that
Holden expresses this apathetic trend in everything he does. His carelessness with money is displayed by the end of the book, when he is forced to ask his younger sister Phoebe for money, “You got any dough Peob? I’m practically broke.” He also shows some early signs regarding lack of motivation in school. Holden reveals that Pencey is not the first school he’s had trouble with, he references a couple other places like “Whooton School” and “Elton Hills”. As school is seen as the guiding pathway to young adults’ futures, Holden’s lack of application implies his nonchalant perspective on his forthcoming