Holden Caulfield Isolation

Holden allows the reader to hypothesize that he is attracted to a girl named Jane Gallagher, by constantly telling of his fond memories of her, but when push comes to shove his tendency to alienation himself from society, to "protect himself from losing his innocence", takes him over. On page 116 of the novel, Holden tells the reader that after he got his sister a record he went to a phone booth and called Jane's house. But when her mother picked up the phone he hung up. Holden tells the reader that he "didn't feel like getting into a long conversation with her mother" so he hung up but in reality Holden's personal preference of alienating himself frightened him and prevented him of making any contact with Jane.

As the novel progresses, we realize that ironically Holden's alienation becomes the source of most of his pain throughout the book. Although he never realizes the fact that his pain is being derived from his isolation and lack of human interaction, Salinger places clues in the book that tell us that it is so. With the introduction of Sally Hayes, Salinger is able to craft a relationship that effectively depicts the conflict in Holden. It is loneliness that initially propels Holden into a date with Sally. However, during the date Holden's need for isolation returns, he "didn't even know why" he "started all that stuff with her. The truth is" he "probably wouldn't have taken her even if she wanted to go." Because Sally is unable to recognize the feelings on the "phoniness" of school that he projects, he becomes frustrated and uses a rampaging monologue to upset her and drive her away. The only time in the

This is evident with his underlying yearning for JaneGallagher but is too afraid to make any connection with her. Holden revels his

For example, Ackley “hardly went anywhere” because he is a “peculiar guy” (22). Ackley was the kind of guy who “hates to answer you right away” (41). In the same way, Holden is a recluse. For example, Holden only feels close to his sister Phoebe, so when he decided to call her he thought about hanging up “if my parents answe[r]”(75). It seems that Holden wants to distance himself from Ackley because he is uncomfortable being thought of as being unpopular like Ackley.

Throughout the novel “The Catcher in the Rye”, Holden seems to be excluded and isolated to the point he becomes alienated from the world in order for him to protect himself from other people.

    In one of the very first scenes of the novel, Holden is deciding not to go to his school’s event, because he feels like he doesn’t fit in, but instead feels isolated as his own individual. “The reason I was standing way up on Thomsen Hill, instead of down at the game, was because I’d just gotten back from New York… Practically the whole school except me was there… Only, I didn’t watch the game too much. What I was really hanging around for, I was trying to feel some kind of a good-bye” (Salinger 5-6). Holden has no concern for watching the game and hadn’t planned to watch it. Holden is shown as standoffish, and he is obviously depressed. It is apparent that Holden deliberately isolates himself, because he feels like he didn’t fit in.

As Jane is the only person, outside family, Holden considers close, his desire to phone her is symbolic of his need of emotional support. Living in preparatory he is segregated from those he is close to and has very few people to support him. This lack of support throws Holden into a state of depression with no source to

The author of the Catcher in the Rye is seeking to express that a lack of communication skills between one’s self and others is detrimental to youth. Which results in depression, trouble, and loneliness. Holden Caulfield displays these traits because of his lack of communication skills and suffers as a result. Holden’s recluse social skills and personality result in his loneliness.

In chapter 9, his call to Faith Cavendish indicates that he has become desperate (Salinger 64). Calling a girl in the middle of the night, that he has never met before is not entirely normal. However, through this event one can see the deepness of Holden's feelings of alienation and loneliness. Holden’s main reason for not socializing with people is because he believes that all adults ,or people who are not kids, is “phony”. It is seen many times throughout the book, like in the beginning when Dr. Spencer used the word “grand”.

Holden rung Jane’s phone a couple of times during the middle of the night because he felt like he needed to talk to someone. While the phone the ringing, Holden hung up thinking to himself that he would rather be alone by himself then talking to Jane in that moment. Other times he would be glad to talk to other people but in that moment he didn't want to talk to anyone, even the girl he liked most. Holden thinks that isolation is the only way to protect him from the danger of the outside world. He would not think of approaching other people for help because he believes that everyone should be independent (Rhottler).

First, the theme loneliness is shown throughout the time Holden is at his school Pencey in the beginning of the book. One of the first scenes of the book is when Pencey is having a football game and Holden says, “practically the whole school except me was there” (Salinger 3). Right away the reader can see that Holden is isolated from people. As explained by

“The Catcher in the Rye”, by J.D. Salinger has many major themes that develop based on Holden’s thoughts and feelings. Holden seems to enjoy being isolated, and sees himself as to be superior to others. He often describes other people as “phonies” and claims to know what the people around him are really like. One of the most prominent messages conveyed to readers in the novel is loneliness results in desperation. Holden’s loneliness manifests as a desire to talk to someone he is familiar with.

The school that Holden attends during the beginning of the novel is a prestigious private school known for

From the beginning of the novel, Holden seems to be, to some extent, isolated from the society around him and victimized by it at the same time. Holden says to Mr. Spencer that he feels himself on “the other side” of life, and he relentlessly attempts to find his own way in a world in which he does not belong. In this way, the theme of alienation is quite prevailing in Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. So, this essay will focus on the world where alienated Holden lives and how he would live in terms of current society.

Throughout the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger there are several different themes portrayed that widely relate to current issues of teenagers and adults alike. While reading the novel several different themes were revealed creating a deep and meaningful story line. Three themes viewed within the novel are; the phoniness of the adult world, alienation as a form of self-protection, and the painfulness of growing up. Each of these themes have large significance in character and plot development throughout the story.