Holden Caulfield Character Analysis

In J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, the main character, Holden, cannot accept that he must move out of childhood and into adulthood. One of Holden’s most important major problems is his lack of maturity. Holden also has a negative perspective of life that makes things seem worse than they really are. In addition to Holden’s problems he is unable to accept the death of his brother at a young age. Holden’s immaturity, negative mentality, and inability to face reality hold him back from moving into adulthood.

Teenagers lives their life differently. However, when the time of being a adolescent arrives, they all have the same confusion and mindsets. J. D. Salinger’s novel, “The Catcher in the Rye”, is about a seventeen year old boy named Holden Caulfield, who lives his life with complexes and problems of his owns. Holden lives his life according to his favor and commit unreasonable actions. Holden has a difficult time trying to understand what being a teenager is. Holden Caulfield is a typical teenager because he expresses the problems of being a teenager.

Adolescence, this is a time where you figure out who you truly are. This soul searching leads to self realization. Holden Caulfield from The Catcher In The Rye by J. D. Salinger, has trouble accepting himself. Throughout his days he would put on a cap just to be someone else. It is his get away place, a place of isolation. A way for him to seclude from the world and become someone he isn’t. This is relatable to numerous teens. Though Holden could be described using numerous adjectives, Holden's character can be perfectly described as ignorant, a liar, and a slacker. He is ignorant because he does not learn from his mistakes. He is a compulsive liar. Finally, he is a slacker because he avoids work. Holden is just like countless people out there who do not apply themselves. You see, Holden could be smart. He could be successful. He just doesn’t have the motivation or ambition to do so.

J.D. Salinger, the author of the Catcher in the Rye, was a skilled writer. Salinger wrote about a wide variety of characters throughout this novel, many of these characters had a complex personality. Holden Caulfield is the main character in the Catcher in the rye. Holden is a unique character and he shares very little traits with the other people he encounters throughout the novel besides his younger sister, Phoebe. Holden and Phoebe Caulfield have two very different personalities but they share some distinct similarities. Holden is a gloomy, pessimistic, and unstable teenager. Phoebe, on the other hand, is a lively, optimistic, and innocent child. Throughout the novel Holden spends his time trying to act mature while Phoebe is living out the childhood he never had. Phoebe and Holden have very different personalities and outlooks on life. While the two have such opposing traits, they have a similar background and upbringing.

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.

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

The only person that Holden really likes and can depend on is his little sister, Phoebe. He trusts her, and she is like a mother figure to him until he grows up at the end of the book. Holden doesn’t have any real friends at school because he is sarcastic and immature, so Phoebe is also his only friend. Holden is alone in the world besides his ten-year-old sister, and that also shows in his issues. Holden is immature and childish because he is afraid of growing up.

Holden Caulfield from Catcher in the Rye only likes the innocent parts of people. Throughout the book we are given examples of how Holden has different feelings based on who he is talking to. Three important characters in the book give three different personalities that add up to the overall conclusion that Holden is crazy.

In J.D Salinger’s, The catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield’s character traits and the wide use of several symbols throughout the duration of the novel display Holden’s desire to preserve the innocence of children in a society of phoniness.

Becoming an adult is a hard process that we all have to pass through. During the time of adolescence, teenagers desire to explore the adult world, but at the same time, they are sensitive and still immature in many ways. Holden, in the novel “the Catcher in the Rye” (1951) by J.D. Salinger, is an example of this condition. The novel is about, Holden Caulfield, who is 16years old, been expelled from Pencey prep school and tries experience the ‘adult world’ in New York City. When a child reads this novel, they seem to see Holden as a heroic character because he does different things as other characters do in the novel.

J.D. Salinger is best known for his character Holden Caulfield, who is recognized as a symbol for rebellion and anguish. He is rebellious because he wants to fit in but always ends up doing the opposite thing. He also in anguish because of his emotional distress. Holden really liked this girl named Jane who was going on date with his roommate Stradlater. When Stradlater comes back from the date he tells Holden all about it. This brings out the first sign of anger that Holden has. He try’s to punch him in the face but Stradlater dodges it and gives Holden a bloody nose. This makes Holden depressed even more. Holden is a very emotional person and being bullied at school is not helping him. He does not want to be like the preppy phony kids at his school. He wants

Change is an essential component in the continued success of the human race and thus important in the development of society. As such, society expects people to constantly change and adapt. Readers typically expect to see the development of characters throughout novels, or other pieces of literature. In the novel, “The Catcher in the Rye”, J. D. Salinger deviates from the normal progression followed by most novels by characterizing the protagonist as an individual undergoing temperamental changes and uncertainty throughout the novel. This novel is known to have attracted criticism from numerous reviewers from all time periods, who tend to make the argument that the novel 's main protagonist, Holden Caulfield, does not develop at all throughout the course of the book. However, this is not the case as Holden grows and develops through the book, recognizing specific ideals from the environment that is around him and responding to them. These reactions towards change are seen through Holden 's discovery of himself, relationships with other characters and the actions that he decides to take in given circumstances throughout the book.