Is Holden Caulfield a phony? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines phony as something not true, real, or genuine, and something intended to make someone think something that is not true of a person. This definition coincides with Holden’s definition of a phony: a hypocrite and a fake person. I also agree with these two definitions. In my opinion, a person who resembles something that they are not defines a phony. Essentially, a phony is a liar. For example, in The Catcher in the Rye, Stradlater resembles a phony because he seems handsome, yet he truly is a dirty slob. He lies to those around him by making them assume that he is handsome when he is not. With these definitions, Holden can be analyzed to see if he is a phony or not. It seems that Holden is not a phony because he can define a phony. He can tell a phony from a genuine person, so he could obviously know that he himself isn't a phony. Holden would obviously know that he was a phony if he was one. Also, he could just be very analytical.
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Morrow on a train, he tells her good things about her son and how he fits in well at Pencey, even though he says “Her son was doubtless the biggest bastard that ever went to Pencey, in the whole crumby history of the school.” He also tells her his name is Rudolf rather than just telling her his real identity. Holden has no reason to lie to Mrs. Morrow, but he decides to do so anyway. Also, Holden assumes that everyone he knows and sees is a phony without ever meeting them. He thinks that actors are phonies and says “In the first place, I hate actors. They never act like people. They just think they do.” How would Holden know if the actors acted like people if he had never met them? These constant false assumptions about people make Holden seem
Morrow on a train, he tells her good things about her son and how he fits in well at Pencey, even though he says “Her son was doubtless the biggest bastard that ever went to Pencey, in the whole crumby history of the school.” He also tells her his name is Rudolf rather than just telling her his real identity. Holden has no reason to lie to Mrs. Morrow, but he decides to do so anyway. Also, Holden assumes that everyone he knows and sees is a phony without ever meeting them. He thinks that actors are phonies and says “In the first place, I hate actors. They never act like people. They just think they do.” How would Holden know if the actors acted like people if he had never met them? These constant false assumptions about people make Holden seem