Authenticity
In society, people are judged on their appearance, clothes, how you act, who you hang out with and countless other things. We live in a world where these types of things can shape your whole personality and life, and letting it is easy. Being your own person and denying society's stereotypes is the hard part. In J.D Salinger's “The Catcher in the Rye”, Salinger displays this idea throughout the story. Salinger expresses how the materialistic modern society can turn people into phonies, but in the midst of people you love, you can find authenticity.
In the beginning of the story, Salinger expresses how society can make people into phonies. While Holden was staying at Pencey Prep, we were introduced to his roommate …show more content…
He believes that education is no longer learning to enjoy, but is getting good grades to be able to have a lot of money and show off your wealth. This proves how society wants you to work for this so you can become it's own idea of “successful”. Relating to Holden's schooling, when he was at Elkton Hills, he roomed with a kid named Dick Slagle. Dick had the inexpensive and worn suitcases so he would always hide them in shame. Holden felt bad for Dick so he would hide his more lavish suitcases as well to make him feel less humiliated. To Holden's surprise, Dick took Holden's suitcases and put them back out so people would think Holden's suitcases were his. This shows the type of society we live in where if you don't have something expensive or worthy you are judged and made to feel bad. This kind of pressure to fit in and have the things that make you worthy of people's attention drove Dick to try to hide what he has. He felt the need to display Holden's suitcases to seem more wealthy. This shows a direct correlation between society and their impact of making someone into someone their …show more content…
One of the best things in Holden's life is Phoebe. Towards the end of the book when Holden was planning on going out west, Phoebe was so hell bent on leaving with him. He eventually decided to stay and brought her to the carousel. “I felt so damn happy if you want to know the truth. I don't know why. It was just that she looked so damn nice” (213). Throughout the whole book Holden was never genuinely happy. He spent the whole book looking for something genuine and he found that being with Phoebe. Watching Phoebe made Holden realise that you can find authenticity and be yourself. Being surrounded by someone he loves so much saved him from falling deeper into a society he was so very lost in. While Holden was sitting and watching her in the carousel it began to rain. All of the other parents ran under the roof of the carousel, but Holden decided to stay in the rain. This action displays the idea of Holden breaking away from what everyone else is doing. He chose to stay in the rain because he didn't mind it. The rain signifies the something a lot of other people wouldn't like or would hide from. Holden stays in the rain and allows himself to get soaked by it. He was so content watching Phoebe he wasn't even phased by it. This shows pure joy that overcomes someone in the face of loved ones. This idea continues to show when Holden gave Phoebe money to get more tickets. I
In society, people are judged on their appearance, clothes, how you act, who you hang out with and countless other things. We live in a world where these types of things can shape your whole personality and life, and letting it is easy. Being your own person and denying society's stereotypes is the hard part. In J.D Salinger's “The Catcher in the Rye”, Salinger displays this idea throughout the story. Salinger expresses how the materialistic modern society can turn people into phonies, but in the midst of people you love, you can find authenticity.
In the beginning of the story, Salinger expresses how society can make people into phonies. While Holden was staying at Pencey Prep, we were introduced to his roommate …show more content…
He believes that education is no longer learning to enjoy, but is getting good grades to be able to have a lot of money and show off your wealth. This proves how society wants you to work for this so you can become it's own idea of “successful”. Relating to Holden's schooling, when he was at Elkton Hills, he roomed with a kid named Dick Slagle. Dick had the inexpensive and worn suitcases so he would always hide them in shame. Holden felt bad for Dick so he would hide his more lavish suitcases as well to make him feel less humiliated. To Holden's surprise, Dick took Holden's suitcases and put them back out so people would think Holden's suitcases were his. This shows the type of society we live in where if you don't have something expensive or worthy you are judged and made to feel bad. This kind of pressure to fit in and have the things that make you worthy of people's attention drove Dick to try to hide what he has. He felt the need to display Holden's suitcases to seem more wealthy. This shows a direct correlation between society and their impact of making someone into someone their …show more content…
One of the best things in Holden's life is Phoebe. Towards the end of the book when Holden was planning on going out west, Phoebe was so hell bent on leaving with him. He eventually decided to stay and brought her to the carousel. “I felt so damn happy if you want to know the truth. I don't know why. It was just that she looked so damn nice” (213). Throughout the whole book Holden was never genuinely happy. He spent the whole book looking for something genuine and he found that being with Phoebe. Watching Phoebe made Holden realise that you can find authenticity and be yourself. Being surrounded by someone he loves so much saved him from falling deeper into a society he was so very lost in. While Holden was sitting and watching her in the carousel it began to rain. All of the other parents ran under the roof of the carousel, but Holden decided to stay in the rain. This action displays the idea of Holden breaking away from what everyone else is doing. He chose to stay in the rain because he didn't mind it. The rain signifies the something a lot of other people wouldn't like or would hide from. Holden stays in the rain and allows himself to get soaked by it. He was so content watching Phoebe he wasn't even phased by it. This shows pure joy that overcomes someone in the face of loved ones. This idea continues to show when Holden gave Phoebe money to get more tickets. I