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Analysis Of Holden Caulfield In The Catcher In The Rye

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Holden Caulfield, of The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is a teenager struggling to transition into adulthood, which is indirectly affected by his relationships with his family and the people around him. The story is told in any way Holden wants and he chooses what the audience can see making him an unreliable narrator. Some of the aspects that largely affects Holden’s relationship are his superiority and the way he was raised. However much of the drawn conclusions can only be inferred from what Holden chooses to reveal.
While being a middle child does not dictate or predetermine how life will be like, it can play a large role in how a person’s personality is shaped. Holden greatly respects his older brother D.B., which he reveals when he says that his brother is his favorite author. However, there is an underlying resentment from the way he criticizes D.B. by deeming him a “phony” for having a career out in Hollywood. Being the second child it is possible that he is pressured to follow in his brother’s footsteps which only makes Holden dislike D.B.. Having a successful older sibling sets a standard for what his parents expect out of him, and this kind of pressure can put a strain on a person’s self confidence which is evident when he puts himself down by saying things like “in the only dumb one in this family,” (75) this leads to self-destructive coping habits that affect his everyday interactions with people.
To escape from the feeling of inadequacy he stops trying in school and uses lying as a way to protect himself. Because he lies so often, it becomes a habit and he admits,”I’m the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life… if I’m on my way to the store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I'm going, I'm liable to say I'm going to the opera,”(19) which shows that he is aware of his own habits. Lying gives him control and the feeling of superiority. He also receives this “superiority” in anticipating what a person might want to hear, but instead does the complete opposite. His actions come off as rebellious and indicates that he lacks self confidence and social interest.
Holden’s relationship with his younger siblings greatly vary from his relationship with his older brother due

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