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Holden's Alienation In Catcher In The Rye

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Holden’s alienation is a result of his need for some type of reassurance regarding his authenticity.Throughout the chapters he subtly mentions the hardships he had faced in his 16 years of life.Between his brother’s death at a young age, he alludes to being a victim of assault after Mr.Antolini's strange behavior and his strained relationships regarding his parents and romantic interests.According to Freud A. Strachey in his introductory lectures on psychoanalysis states that regression is an unconscious defense mechanism in which one reverses back to acting as if they are emotionally back in the mindset of a child.Holden’s innocent manner therefore is caused by the impression that his brother’s death left on him.His unknown sense of identity …show more content…
He particularly has a penchant for lying as demonstrated on his train ride after he gets kicked out of Pencey.A mother of his peer recognizes the Pencey marking and asked him about her son and if he knows him.holden for no apparent reason lies and says his name is Rufus and that her son is very well liked. This however is not true because he describes her son is being as sensitive as a toilet seat.he lives in order to protect her ego. Where he lies while at the club to two older women.as he regularly states his faults through the book stating that he is a madman and an awful liar.he claims these faults as his own due to him not really knowing if those are his personal traits. He is fearful that his

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