In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield is a teenager who is in alienated in society due to its pretentious values. Holden suffers from loneliness and alienation because he is unable to associate with the phonies in society. Holden also plays a crucial role in depicting the judgmental values of society in which he chooses to not take part of.
Early into the novel Holden faces the alienation in the culture he is surrounded in. When planning on meeting his former history teacher Mr. Spencer, Holden decides to watch the last football game of the year prior to his visit. When up on top of the Thomsen Hill, Holden states “The game with Saxon Hall was supposed to be a very big deal around Pencey” (Salinger, 4). Holden degrades the significance …show more content…
He’d already told me about it about a hundred times. Each time he told it, it was different” (Salinger, 42). Prior to this event, Holden had depicted Ackley as an annoying unhygienic outcast which gave the reader a lousy appearance of Ackley. However, by Holden claiming that he heard his story so many times and how it varied, Holden begins to see how Ackley wears it as some sort of badge of honor. In addition to Ackley, Stradlater also annoys Holden in which Holden’s is furious of Stradlater’s seductive capabilities and carelessness in terms of having a respectful relationship. Holden says “What’d you do? I said. Give her the time in Ed Banky’s goddam car?”(Salinger, 49). By Holden having contradicting values from that of society’s he is bothered by the fact that Stradlater could had already had become intimate with someone he barely knew. Holden claimed “The trouble with me is, I stop. Most guys don’t. I can’t help it” (Salinger, 103). When Holden stops he begins to differ himself from rest of many people …show more content…
Despite other things that had bother Holden, being phony in attempt to impress others was one of his most peeves. When talking to Mr. Spencer the discussion of why he had left his other pervious schools had occurred. Holden decides to ignore his question and does not bother to explain to him the phonies he saw in that school. As seen with Holden’s school and once Elkton Hills, Holden cannot tolerate phonies. Holden gives a specific example of how Mr. Haas was the phoniest person he had encountered by stating “On Sundays, for instance, old Haas went around shaking hands with everybody’s parents when they drove up to school.”(Salinger, 17) This act of a seeming sympathetic gesture shows how society seems to be very judgmental. The deceiving appeal that Mr.Haas had put on to impress the parents of the students in the school reveals the image of playing according to the rules of society and that is to avoid being judge. Holden had not only seen this tactic in Elkton but in Pencey Prep too. Holden recalled “We always had the same meal on Saturday nights at Pencey. It was supposed to be a big deal, because they gave you steak” (Salinger, 40). In this phrase Holden clearly explains how such a food item gives the connotation of being highly elite or appealing to society’s likings/standards. Holden then explaining how by having the image without any real image society pictures Pencey Prep to
Early into the novel Holden faces the alienation in the culture he is surrounded in. When planning on meeting his former history teacher Mr. Spencer, Holden decides to watch the last football game of the year prior to his visit. When up on top of the Thomsen Hill, Holden states “The game with Saxon Hall was supposed to be a very big deal around Pencey” (Salinger, 4). Holden degrades the significance …show more content…
He’d already told me about it about a hundred times. Each time he told it, it was different” (Salinger, 42). Prior to this event, Holden had depicted Ackley as an annoying unhygienic outcast which gave the reader a lousy appearance of Ackley. However, by Holden claiming that he heard his story so many times and how it varied, Holden begins to see how Ackley wears it as some sort of badge of honor. In addition to Ackley, Stradlater also annoys Holden in which Holden’s is furious of Stradlater’s seductive capabilities and carelessness in terms of having a respectful relationship. Holden says “What’d you do? I said. Give her the time in Ed Banky’s goddam car?”(Salinger, 49). By Holden having contradicting values from that of society’s he is bothered by the fact that Stradlater could had already had become intimate with someone he barely knew. Holden claimed “The trouble with me is, I stop. Most guys don’t. I can’t help it” (Salinger, 103). When Holden stops he begins to differ himself from rest of many people …show more content…
Despite other things that had bother Holden, being phony in attempt to impress others was one of his most peeves. When talking to Mr. Spencer the discussion of why he had left his other pervious schools had occurred. Holden decides to ignore his question and does not bother to explain to him the phonies he saw in that school. As seen with Holden’s school and once Elkton Hills, Holden cannot tolerate phonies. Holden gives a specific example of how Mr. Haas was the phoniest person he had encountered by stating “On Sundays, for instance, old Haas went around shaking hands with everybody’s parents when they drove up to school.”(Salinger, 17) This act of a seeming sympathetic gesture shows how society seems to be very judgmental. The deceiving appeal that Mr.Haas had put on to impress the parents of the students in the school reveals the image of playing according to the rules of society and that is to avoid being judge. Holden had not only seen this tactic in Elkton but in Pencey Prep too. Holden recalled “We always had the same meal on Saturday nights at Pencey. It was supposed to be a big deal, because they gave you steak” (Salinger, 40). In this phrase Holden clearly explains how such a food item gives the connotation of being highly elite or appealing to society’s likings/standards. Holden then explaining how by having the image without any real image society pictures Pencey Prep to