Holden Caulfield Isolation

Through the morals and values illustrated in texts, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger effectively demonstrates significant ideas. Using the protagonist, Holden Caulfield, notions of alienation and belonging in a conservative society, the awareness of aging and transition into adulthood and the different forms of grief and depression are expressed.
Alienation through isolation is a recurring ideology in Catcher in the Rye. Within the span of four days, the sense of belonging in a traditional and guarded era is present as Holden begins an adventurous journey after expulsion from his fourth high school. Feeling victim of a school full of “phonies”, Holden finds difficulty conforming to his peers’ lifestyle, repulsed at his previous Headmaster …show more content…
Holden’s determination to maintain his innocence manifests from a young age, evident while still in Pencey Prep High School. Unlike his friends, Holden struggles with reaching a different age group, torn between their contrasting behaviours since “horsing around all over the place” is considered “very childish”. He references the changing seasons of nature, “wondering where all the ducks went when the lagoon got all icy and frozen over”, a euphemism for his fear of change into the adult world. Taking enjoyment from his constant need to deceive strangers, he attempts to court older women at a pub, and after obvious rejection, explains that he is “only twelve” and is “big for [his] age”, ironically contradicting his child-like actions with more experience women. Mentioned numerously, Holden grasps at his hunting hat, metaphorically shielding himself from maturity after seeing “[the red hunting hat] in the window of the sports store…just after I noticed I’d lost all the goddam foils”. He later uses his hat to gain a sense of security through uncomfortable situations, slowly accepting his defeat against age, finally “not giv[ing] a damn about how he looked”. Symbolic of his fearfulness, Holden eventually gives it to his sister, Phoebe, representing his surrender to adulthood. Told that his “mind is immature”, his response shocks his friend- “It is. It really is. I …show more content…
As a misguided youth, Holden believes he is falling from reality, “[not] permitted to feel or hear himself hit bottom…[giving] up before [he] really even got started”. His cynical tone mirrors greatly on his attempt to understand his situation, lost in an issue he is unsure of solving. After his brother, Allie’s death, Holden is struggles with a range of emotions, “[breaking] all the windows in the garage” to relieve his turmoil. Symbolic of his life shattering to pieces, he becomes semi sadistic, explaining his actions as done “just for the hell of it”. His illness suddenly escalates, his passionate distaste towards military men due to his older brother’s service bringing out a suicidal conscience, making note to the atomic bomb, wishing to “sit right the hell on top of it. I’ll volunteer for it, I swear to God I will.” Holden’s cracking self-esteem breaks, comparing himself to “handsome guys” and the superficiality of them “combing their hair then beating it down on you”, the warped concepts of ‘normal’ he had been exposed to, making him cry and “feel so damn depressed and lonesome”, negatively connoted from avoiding direct confrontation of his depression, spiralling him downwards. As Holden moves along a darker path, he gradually becomes hysterical, pleading with Allie to “stop [him] from disappear[ing], his repetitious practise driving him