Vin Diesel once said, “It's insecurity that is always chasing you and standing in the way of your dreams.” In The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden struggles with insecurity and accepting his own personality and intellect. We get glimpses of these very traits Holden which is insecure about through his observations of certain people he looks up to, namely his brother Allie and his old friend Mr. Antolini. It can’t be a coincidence that the people Holden admires happen to embody ideal traits on which Holden expresses self-doubt. Salinger uses the description of characters that Holden holds in high regard to represent key traits that Holden is insecure about.
Holden admires Allie for his stunning intelligence, which he doesn’t find …show more content…
Right after calling up Mr. Antolini to meet up again, Holden describes his previous experiences with him. Holden says,
He was a pretty young guy, not much older than my brother D.B., and you could kid around with him without losing your respect for him. He was the one that finally picked up that boy that jumped out the window I told you about, James Castle. Old Mr. Antolini felt his pulse and all, and then he took off his coat and put it over James Castle and carried him all the way over to the infirmary. He didn't even give a damn if his coat got all bloody. …show more content…
Holden said “you could kid around with Antolini and still have respect for him,” showing how Antolini could amuse himself and maintain a friendly atmosphere at the same time. Holden tries to crack jokes and strike amusing conversation with others, but instead creates an uncomfortable atmosphere which presents itself in his fight with Sally and the dispute with Carl Luce, which ultimately leads to Holden’s growing insecurity over his own friendliness or lack thereof. When James Castle committed suicide, Antolini didn’t just act as a bystander, he “felt James’ pulse and carried him all the way over to the infirmary” even if “his coat got all bloody.” Antolini’s genuine amiability is extended over his own comfort when he gets bloody. His amiability even extended over the stigma of disgust surrounding James, as Antolini went to pick up James’ body even when“ nobody would even go near him”. Holden on the other hand acts as a bystander, bound to his place by external pressures, despite having previously demonstrated empathy for James on the pain and hardship associated with his suicide. Holden admires Antolini’s genuine amiability, while his own ambitions to be friendly are overshadowed by fearfulness and social
Holden admires Allie for his stunning intelligence, which he doesn’t find …show more content…
Right after calling up Mr. Antolini to meet up again, Holden describes his previous experiences with him. Holden says,
He was a pretty young guy, not much older than my brother D.B., and you could kid around with him without losing your respect for him. He was the one that finally picked up that boy that jumped out the window I told you about, James Castle. Old Mr. Antolini felt his pulse and all, and then he took off his coat and put it over James Castle and carried him all the way over to the infirmary. He didn't even give a damn if his coat got all bloody. …show more content…
Holden said “you could kid around with Antolini and still have respect for him,” showing how Antolini could amuse himself and maintain a friendly atmosphere at the same time. Holden tries to crack jokes and strike amusing conversation with others, but instead creates an uncomfortable atmosphere which presents itself in his fight with Sally and the dispute with Carl Luce, which ultimately leads to Holden’s growing insecurity over his own friendliness or lack thereof. When James Castle committed suicide, Antolini didn’t just act as a bystander, he “felt James’ pulse and carried him all the way over to the infirmary” even if “his coat got all bloody.” Antolini’s genuine amiability is extended over his own comfort when he gets bloody. His amiability even extended over the stigma of disgust surrounding James, as Antolini went to pick up James’ body even when“ nobody would even go near him”. Holden on the other hand acts as a bystander, bound to his place by external pressures, despite having previously demonstrated empathy for James on the pain and hardship associated with his suicide. Holden admires Antolini’s genuine amiability, while his own ambitions to be friendly are overshadowed by fearfulness and social