Each society has inherent faults. Though some insightful individuals living in the society could occasionally interpret and distinguish the faults, the majority cannot, and the few ignorant fails to even live in it. Despite differences in the understanding, everyone who lives in the society is affected by the faults, which become embedded permanently in his/her character. In the Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caufield is both among the insightful and the ignorant: he sees and understands the faults, but cannot find out how he is supposed to live. In an attempt to resist the social faults and change the society, Holden ultimately destructs himself. Through multiple one-sided stereotypical characters and Holden’s own character
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This fault of society, to some extent, traps Holden’s alienation in a cycle of reaching out, getting confused, and alienating those around him. For example, when Holden goes to Mr. Spencer to say goodbye to him, Mr. Spencer, portrayed as a stereotypical teacher, persuades Holden that “life is a game and one plays by the rules” (8). Holden detests his lecture and immediately thinks, “game, my ass” (8). Although Holden begins with a feeling of hating the society, he constantly tries to find human contact and solace in those around him; however, those reached out—stereotypical teachers like Mr. Spencer--exemplifies the society’s attempt to behave according to the social conventions of an adolescent, which in turn horrifies Holden, making trap himself in his protection even tighter. Salinger explores this fault of society again when Holden talks about his Oral Expression class, using another stereotypical teacher, Mr. Vinson. Mr. Vinson tries to make his students’ speech conventional by staying on topic the whole time, which goes exactly against Holden’s need to express individuality and creativity, as he embraces digression as more interesting (183). The society’s blinded attempt for social conformation, without consideration of individuality or Holden’s feelings, has led Holden to deeper alienation and distrust of the people around him, as epitomized by Salinger’s use of Mr. Spencer and Mr.
This fault of society, to some extent, traps Holden’s alienation in a cycle of reaching out, getting confused, and alienating those around him. For example, when Holden goes to Mr. Spencer to say goodbye to him, Mr. Spencer, portrayed as a stereotypical teacher, persuades Holden that “life is a game and one plays by the rules” (8). Holden detests his lecture and immediately thinks, “game, my ass” (8). Although Holden begins with a feeling of hating the society, he constantly tries to find human contact and solace in those around him; however, those reached out—stereotypical teachers like Mr. Spencer--exemplifies the society’s attempt to behave according to the social conventions of an adolescent, which in turn horrifies Holden, making trap himself in his protection even tighter. Salinger explores this fault of society again when Holden talks about his Oral Expression class, using another stereotypical teacher, Mr. Vinson. Mr. Vinson tries to make his students’ speech conventional by staying on topic the whole time, which goes exactly against Holden’s need to express individuality and creativity, as he embraces digression as more interesting (183). The society’s blinded attempt for social conformation, without consideration of individuality or Holden’s feelings, has led Holden to deeper alienation and distrust of the people around him, as epitomized by Salinger’s use of Mr. Spencer and Mr.