Holden Caulfield Character Analysis

In the beginning of Catcher in the Rye, Holden was extremely selfish and didn’t ever consider other people’s opinions and how they might feel. As the story has gone he has continued to move along he has failed to realize that not all people are phony and mean. He goes on the date and as they are going in to a cab he thinks, “I sort of hated old Sally by the time we got into the cab, after listening to phony Andover bastard for about ten hours” (140). Holden is trying to be friends with Sally, but realizes that it’s not going over well. Holden is beginning to realize that the people he is trying to be friends with are not working out for him because he does not allow himself to blend with people. He is getting himself deeper into isolation and

He does not have many friends because he chooses not to make any. He also has a total lack of interest for his studies and for his school. Holden feels that school work is unnecessary and he doesn’t even try to succeed. In the beginning of our session, Holden mentions his old teacher Mr. Spencer. He then talks about a letter he wrote to Mr. Spencer and it said, “It is alright with me if you flunk me though as I am flunking everything else except English anyway. Respectfully yours, Holden Caulfield (The Catcher in the Rye).” From that point, I can already observe that he doesn’t care about any of his studies. In addition to this, Holden doesn’t seem to want to grow up. The fact that he’s failing every school he attends, drinks underage, and rebelling against every grown up, shows this detachment. Everyone just wants Holden to grow up and live a decent adult

In J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, the character of Holden Caulfield does not convincingly embody a compassionate and caring character. Holden, after having a difficult year at school, finds comfort in his memories of his brother Allie. Another instance of Holden finding comfort, is when he spends time with Phoebe. In the same way, Phoebe is supportive when spending time with Holden. However, this takes a turn for the worse, as Holden reveals to Phoebe that he is leaving. Holden finds comfort and love through his memories of Allie, his experiences with Phoebe and the support from he receives from her.

There are quite a few characters who influence Holden Caulfield, whether it be positively or negatively. Three minor characters have had a profound influence on Holden- Mr. Spencer, Sunny, and Mr. Antonelli. The actions of each of these individual characters has had an impact on Holden in some way, shape, or form. The following quote, stated by Holden Caulfield himself, show a complete turnaround in his personality and demeanor- ‘"The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the gold ring, you have to let them do it, and not say anything. If they fall off, they fall off, but it's bad if you say anything."’ The quote describes Holden’s vain attempt to protect all of the innocence in the world. Mr. Spencer, Sunny, and Mr. Antonelli, although relatively minor characters in the grand scheme of the novel, did have a major impact on Holden’s view of the world and of himself. These three characters can best be described as foil characters, which is a minor character whose actions parallel the main character’s, therefore illuminating the main character.

Holden Caulfield is a person we can all relate to. For Holden the death of his brother Allie has impacted him through out the book till the end. He has collapsed after his brothers death. It has impacted him a lot he miss his brother Allie so much. Holden loved his brother very much and idealized him so much.

The process of growing up is reflected through having innocence, trying to hold on to that innocence, and losing that innocence. In Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield's mental breakdown is attributed to his hold on innocence and fight against adulthood, which is displayed first through his fixation on his red hat, then the ducks, and finally the museum of natural history.

In J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield is a high school student that has gone to many boarding schools and been kicked out of every single one do to bad grades. He has a little sister and had a little brother, but doesn’t have a very good home life or connection with his parents every since his little brother, Allie, died of leukemia. His parent’s grieve and get over his death quicker than him and Holden doesn’t see how they do it. He never got closure and this affects how he acts towards everyone in his daily life and ultimately how he feels they treat him. Holden struggles emotionally with the phoniness of his relationships because he thinks people are unreliable, immature, and always tend to leave him.

“I’d say to him,’Allie, don't let me disappear. Allie, don't let me disappear. Allie, don't let me disappear. Please, Allie.’ And then when I'd reach the other side of the street without disappearing, I'd thank him”. (Salinger 258). In Catcher in the Rye, by J.D Salinger, Holden Caulfield, the main protagonist, experiences many deaths throughout his journey. One of these deaths being Allie Caulfield, Holden’s long lost brother. Allie dies of leukemia in the year of 1946, at the age of eleven. As Holden progresses throughout the book, the reader comes to understand that Allie’s death begins to degrade Holden, to the point where he wants to remain in his childhood years.

Every story has a protagonist. When you have a protagonist it is only essential to include secondary, supporting, and minor characters. Supporting characters are fundamental parts of every story, unmasking aspects of personality, expanding unforeseen mystery, and showing the true colors of our protagonists when they are troubled or lost. Inevitably, they contribute to the development and growth of our major and main characters. In The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger protagonist, Holden Caulfield finds himself surrounded by merciless teachers, nauseating girls, unaccepting relatives, and a whole lot of phonies. Throughout his unpredictable journey, one person in his life manages to get through to him more than anyone else, his little sister

In Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, Holden must find his place in society while combating his very closed minded personality. Holden experiences multiple changes in his attitude, demeanor, and egotism. He transitions from feeling superior to all his ‘phony’ peers, to understanding that he must try fit in with the crowd. He makes up many excuses for his narcissistic and overly-independent personality, blaming those around him for not being authentic enough, and blaming his teachers for giving him bad grades. He seems to feel lost as an individual, not knowing how to succeed, while still following his principles and being independent.

Holden Caulfield is alone for the first time, forcing him to not only see the reality of everlasting corruption, but also show him he stands alone in wanting to preserve young innocence. Throughout the book Holden is always putting forth efforts to help everyone, further pushing him astray from society's normalities. While some may say that Holden is always distraught because of his own reckless behavior, I say Holden is trying to counter reckless behavior that is being forced upon the young people in society. In a battle of innocence versus corruption, Holden Caulfield is left an outcast due to his morals and efforts made to preserve a childlike innocence.

Holden’s description of himself throughout the book is all over the map. On Page 9 he goes from saying “I act quite young for my age.” to saying “Sometimes I act a lot older than I am.” He has this attitude towards himself of shear confusion; he wants to be something he’s not at all times. He gets frustrated when he can’t be served alcohol but is still in the state of wanting to be a child and cared for by someone. Holden also has very high expectations of himself, “I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know its crazy but that’s the only thing I really care to be.” (Pg173). The catcher in the Rye is someone who catches people in the Rye. He expresses his want for a job like this; that by doing this he would no longer experience depression, that helping people would be enough for him.

In J. D. Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye, we are introduced to an intriguing character named Holden Caulfield. In this narrative, Holden summarizes what happens to him in the past, over a period of three days, starting from when he is in Pencey Prep, an expensive boarding school in Agerstown, Pennsylvania. During this time, Holden goes through many internal hardships and dilemmas, mainly focusing on his view of society and people around him, acting “phony”. This feeling could be explained by one of the existential themes: Authenticity. Authenticity is wanting you or someone else to live a life that is unique to one’s inner self, and as an individual, while not following and behaving like what society and other people believe.

Holden Caulfield is a delinquent, a misfit, and a dropout, but he is a unique man with a very alienated relationship with society. The Catcher in the Rye is a book written by J.D. Salinger that describes the story of Holden Caulfield. The story begins when Holden is kicked out of Pencey Prep School. Throughout the remainder of the book, Salinger describes Holden’s unusual relationship with the rest of society and its outcome. Through most of the novel, Holden is depicted as a person who is alienated from society for many reasons, such as his belief that he is better than everyone, that everyone else is phony and fake, and that he does not belong with normal society.

The Catcher in the Rye written by J.D. Salinger describes the changes of Holden Caulfield as he encounters many dissimilar girls throughout the book. Phoebe Caulfield, his sister, means a lot to Holden when he tries to protect her from everything. Sunny is someone Holden wants to befriend due to her lost innocence and reality of life. Phoebe Caulfield and Sunny are female characters in the novel who affected Holden’s life in very different ways.