Holden's Phony

In the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, Holden is a potentially psychotic teenage boy who has been expelled from four schools. Holden does not care about anything except for his siblings. Holden’s sadness starts with the death of his brother, Allie, due to Leukemia. Holden feels that a part of him is missing which sparks extreme depression inside of him. Holden is even more at risk for a meltdown when he goes to boarding to school, which separates him from his sister, Phoebe–and his older brother D.B., is also out of the picture, writing books in Hollywood. Holden would give anything to be with all of his siblings again. Holden’s brother Allie’s death, coupled with his separation from his siblings, causes Holden’s life to spiral …show more content…
Holden tells the reader that everyone is a phony, whether or not that is true, it certainly pertains to his parents because they are neglecting him. Holden says that everyone is a phony because he feels no one in the entire world is willing to help him.Traumatized by the loss of Allie, Holden and his decision making are greatly impaired, and the adults who should help are not even trying to help him. Holden’s sister Phoebe says “‘You did get kicked out! You did!’... ‘Daddy’ll kill you!’ she said” (182). Their parents are going to punish Holden and be disappointed in him for being kicked out of yet another school. By the fourth time that an event occurs one would think parents would know something is wrong with their child. Holden’s parents have created an atmosphere where their child is scared to come home because he knows he will be in trouble with his parents for something that his emotions caused. Holden is emotionally scarred and his parents do not even want to talk to him about …show more content…
Holden feels alone in life, and sadly, family members who love him are far away. His loneliness brings him to asking random strangers for distraction from his suffering. Holden says, “‘Would you care to stop on the way and join me for a cocktail? On me. I’m loaded.’ ‘Can’t do it, Mac. Sorry.’ He certainly was good company. Terrific personality” (68). Holden does not only ride in taxis because they are faster than walking, but because he has someone to talk to inside of them. He invites the drivers to have drinks so he has someone to keep him company. Unfortunately for him, even taxi drivers are letting him down and leaving him in solitude. Holden has no choice but to find a place that serves alcohol to minors without asking questions and become inebriated to wash away his depression. On the rare occasion that a stranger is willing to keep him company, Holden has to them. Holden says to the reader, “I certainly felt peculiar when she did that. I mean she did it so sudden and all… ‘Don’t you feel like talking for a while?’ I asked her...She looked at me like I was a madman. ‘What the heck ya wanna talk about?’ she said. ‘I don’t know. Nothing special. I just thought perhaps you might care to chat for a while’” (106). Holden originally wants to have sex with Sunny, the prostitute, because he wants to hide that fact that he is entirely alone, from himself. Sunny takes her dress off almost immediately