What Is The Phony In Catcher In The Rye

Throughout the novel, Holden attempts to find the true from of himself as he struggles with the social interactions around him. Due to the struggle and confusion that arouses from it,

The theme of phoniness, illustrated by J.D. Salinger is the key of a better understanding the story line as a whole. Phony or fake more often than not means not real and is mostly referred to some religions by non believers or sometimes even to people. J.D. Salinger has used the term "phony" in a very common manor. By the interpretation of common manor, many of the people at that time period suited to the style of Holden Caulfield's dialogues through J.D. Salinger. Salinger's view of phoniness may or may not even share a bond with most of the readers' experiences, because this theme is confronted in at least some kind of form or action in the life of all people on a daily bases. The way Salinger has set

Being his first time attempting to bond with a girl, he allows his emotions to go out of control and lose his grip telling himself he felt like “marrying her the minute I saw her.” At the play, Holden is unable to focus on the plot since the actors’ performance seemed to be conceited which made him lose interest. As well with the conversation between Sally and George which seemed to be phony. Describing that anyone who is confident, or relaxed, in society is a phony since he only knows how to trust disdain and skepticism, since it’s all he knows, being his personality. As the two continue their night out Holden questions her thoughts on school and expresses his loathing with school, New York, buses, taxis, etc. Ignoring Sally’s request, Holden

Holden uses the word phony quite a lot throughout the Catcher in the Rye. By using context clues given in the book we can tell that Holden’s use of the word means fake. If you take the following sentence that Holden said “she probably knew what a phony slob he was” (Salinger 5) and analyze the meaning behind you can see that he thinks that Selma Thurmer probably knew how fake her dad acted around different people, especially those he thought were of importance. Holden also states that “Sally Hayes

“There's a word I really hate. It's a phony. I could puke every time I hear it” (Salinger 5). Considering the amount of times Holden Caulfield uses the word to describe something or someone, he must hate the whole world. The words phony, pervert, and screwball are recurring concepts, or motifs, in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger. They are used many times to describe all sorts of people, places, and objects. Although he might sound like he is just being unpleasant, these words describe how he sees the world and why he ends up getting treatment. The way people expresses themselves reflects what they feel on the inside. The words phony, pervert, and screwball all interplay into

The main protagonist in Catcher in the Rye is 16 years old Holden Caufield. He overall seems sad, confused, angry, anxious, perceptive, bigoted, resentful, thoughtful, kind, and horny. We know that he has failed out of four previous schools, displays complete apathy toward his future, and is prone to violent outbreaks. No matter how many times Caufield says he’s “lonesome,” he never reaches out to anyone for help. He’s typically decides not to interact with people because he’s afraid he’ll have to talk to someone he doesn’t like.

Holden like us wants to go to the past and fix his mistakes. I think the most obvious ways of knowing in this novel is emotion. Holden has some serious emotional problems. I understand from where he is coming from because having the feeling of being isolated is not a good thing. Also, I understand his emotion about innocence because it is hard to grow up and have to become like a phony person in the society. In Holden’s words “phony” stands for an emblem of everything that’s wrong in the world around

The idea of ‘Phoniness’ is explored by Salinger and is a phrase Holden often uses for describing the superficiality, hypocrisy, and the pretension, of the world around him. Phoniness, for Holden, provides an excuse for him to withdraw into his cynical isolation, and this alienation eventuates in Holden developing quite abnormal desires. In Chapter 22, Holden converses with Phoebe and states what his dream profession really is. Holden tells Phoebe that he would like to be a ‘catcher in the rye’; ‘I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and… I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff’. Salinger effectively uses symbolism in this reference, in order to portray Holden’s desire of becoming a ‘Catcher in the Rye’, and ultimately the symbolic connotation,

Holden again considers calling Phoebe but decides not to, because she can be overtly emotional. Holden couldn't fall asleep so he heads to the Lavender Room, the hotel's nightclub. Holden tries to order a drink but is carded and has to drink soda instead. He then decides to flirt with three women but they don’t fall for his charm. Holden ends up paying for their bill.

I support Sanford Pinsker’s statement that The Catcher in the Rye “captures the confusions of adolescence and the spiritual discomforts of an entire age.” I support this statement based on Holden’s confusions of adolescence and spiritual discomforts and those of my own life. Certain confusions of adolescence are depicted in the novel. These confusions include Holden’s future, the adult world, and sex.

    Holden Caulfield is well known for his harsh judgements and criticism of others, sometimes without knowing exactly who he is critiquing or why they are acting in the “phony” manner he is strongly opposed to. When Holden went to Ernie’s nightclub in New York, he describes how he “was surrounded by jerks” (Salinger 95). He goes on and talks about the “funny-looking couple” sitting next to him, and how the “funny-looking guy...was telling [his date] about some pro football game” in which “he gave her every single goddam play in the whole game” (95). This shows that Holden, when he is not familiar with someone or something around him, automatically comes to

“It’s just a phase, right?” Throughout history, teenagers have tried to convince themselves of similar thoughts in hopes of dismissing their misery. When adolescents transition into adults, they endure a series of physical and mental changes that alter or completely change their views of the world. In The Catcher in the Rye, author J.D. Salinger portrays the main character Holden as an unstable teenager who is hardly tolerating the routines of life. His internal chaos is an accurate representation of what a typical adolescent could experience during this stage, thus the importance of a healthy transition into adulthood. Although many critics have disliked Holden’s character for being irresponsible, Salinger wanted society to realize that Holden’s thoughts are a reality for many teenagers. Holden represents a universal adolescent as he tries to comprehend the world through his inconsistent personality, and the way he copes with traumatic experiences.

J.D. Salinger uses the point of view through Holden Caulfield that causes the story to have an unreliable narrator. Holden’s capricious nature leaves the readers wondering if what Holden is trying to convey is the truth and if the events occurred in the way he described. It is said that Holden “[is] the most terrific liar”, which only adds to the reader’s mistrust towards Holden (Salinger 22). His deceptive behavior is on display because he thinks that everyone “sound[s] so phony when they talk” and that there are “a lot of phony, lean-jawed guys” (Salinger 131, 70). The refusal to believe that people are anything more than what they say or look like causes the reader to only be able

In the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, Phoebe Caulfield complicates the rather simple narrative that her older brother and main character, Holden Caulfield, displays. Holden's perspective of the world as a place full of hypocrites and superficial adults dominates most of the novel. Phoebe, however, gives the reader a chance to see that the world does not consist of a contrast between sincere children and phony grown-ups. Even though she is six years younger than Holden, she can see that her brother’s distress comes from inside himself. Phoebe’s understanding that young people must grow up and learn to live as adults emphasizes Holden’s character as an insecure person uncertain about his place in the world.

Analyzing Holden’s character as for a biography, the reader will likely conclude that he acts no better than a hyperactive child; with little in the way of understanding the fact that all actions come with consequences. There is what he likes – which seems to be little – and what he dislikes – which he often proceeds to call “phony.” His vocabulary is limited, vernacular simple, phrases repetitious, and he frequently moves to tangents; Holden acts as a child would. He has held onto what he perceives children doing, saying, thinking, and has incorporated that into himself. This is not because he has yet to “lose his innocence,” but because he feels he must hold on to what he believes he still has so that he may live a happy life. This is best seen by the reader when Holden divulges into one of his previously mentioned tangents, which often take on a more somber or aggressive tone towards something in the