By definition, the meaning of a phony is an insincere, pretentious, or deceitful person. In the two novels, The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger, both books revolve around a phony. In The Great Gatsby, the book is based on the phony life of James Gatz, more commonly known as Jay Gatsby. In The Catcher in the Rye, the book is centered around a teenage boy who struggles to be truthful with himself and others. Despite the fact that Jay Gatsby is without a doubt a phony, Holden Caulfield is the more phony of the two because he is a liar, a hypocrite, and covers up his true feelings.
Holden Caulfield is seen as a phony due to the fact that he is a liar. Besides Sally, his childhood …show more content…
One of Holden’s biggest flaws throughout the book is a problem of repeating himself, mostly do to the fact that he has poor social skills. However, Holden complains that it is not okay for one to be repetitive. In chapter 2, Holden admits to his disliking of repetitiveness while conversing with Mr. Spencer. Holden says, “That’s something that drives me crazy. When people say something twice that way, after you admit it the first time,” (Salinger 13). One small example of Holden repeating himself is on page 14. While describing the phonies at Elkton Hills, he says, “It drives me crazy. It makes me so depressed I go crazy,” (Salinger 14). He told us once before that phonies drove him crazy and finished his point with the same line of going crazy. This is just what Holden says he hates- repeating something twice after already admitting to it. At the beginning of chapter 3, he says, “I am the most terrific liar you ever met,” (Salinger 16). In contrast, Holden spends a great deal of time explaining how much he despises phonies. Holden contradicts himself through the majority of the book, lying to everyone he talks to. At the very beginning of the book, Holden is describing his older brother D.B. being a successful movie writer in California. Holden says, “Now he’s out in Hollywood, D.B., being a prostitute,” (Salinger 2). By “prostitute”, it is apparent that Holden is comparing his brother is selling his writing for money to a prostitute selling their body, and for a good amount. With this concept, Holden criticizes his brother but likes what money does for him, spending all of his money on his journey home at bars and hotels. Another reason for labeling Holden as a hypocrite can be found in chapters 3 and 7. During the introduction of Holden’s neighbor in Pencey’s dorm, Holden says, “Even without looking up, I knew right away who it was. It was Robert Ackley, this guy that roomed right next to me. There
Holden Caulfield is seen as a phony due to the fact that he is a liar. Besides Sally, his childhood …show more content…
One of Holden’s biggest flaws throughout the book is a problem of repeating himself, mostly do to the fact that he has poor social skills. However, Holden complains that it is not okay for one to be repetitive. In chapter 2, Holden admits to his disliking of repetitiveness while conversing with Mr. Spencer. Holden says, “That’s something that drives me crazy. When people say something twice that way, after you admit it the first time,” (Salinger 13). One small example of Holden repeating himself is on page 14. While describing the phonies at Elkton Hills, he says, “It drives me crazy. It makes me so depressed I go crazy,” (Salinger 14). He told us once before that phonies drove him crazy and finished his point with the same line of going crazy. This is just what Holden says he hates- repeating something twice after already admitting to it. At the beginning of chapter 3, he says, “I am the most terrific liar you ever met,” (Salinger 16). In contrast, Holden spends a great deal of time explaining how much he despises phonies. Holden contradicts himself through the majority of the book, lying to everyone he talks to. At the very beginning of the book, Holden is describing his older brother D.B. being a successful movie writer in California. Holden says, “Now he’s out in Hollywood, D.B., being a prostitute,” (Salinger 2). By “prostitute”, it is apparent that Holden is comparing his brother is selling his writing for money to a prostitute selling their body, and for a good amount. With this concept, Holden criticizes his brother but likes what money does for him, spending all of his money on his journey home at bars and hotels. Another reason for labeling Holden as a hypocrite can be found in chapters 3 and 7. During the introduction of Holden’s neighbor in Pencey’s dorm, Holden says, “Even without looking up, I knew right away who it was. It was Robert Ackley, this guy that roomed right next to me. There