Catcher in the Rye Humanity

In J.D Salinger’s The Catcher in The Rye, the novel tends to present a pessimistic view towards humanity. J.D Salinger’s negative views on humanity are presented in the book by expressing the phonies in society, the belief that humans have a repetitive lifestyle, and the immaturity of the human race. J.D Salinger views the phonies in society negatively. He also views the cycle of change that humans go through in a negative way, saying that once they turn into adults they will be doing the same thing every day. Last, he views the immature minds of some people negatively. All three of these points help prove J.D Salinger’s belief that humanity is negative. By telling his views through the perspective of Holden Caulfield, J.D Salinger’s view of phonies is clearly negative. He views them as fake people in humanity who acts different around others. Ernie, for example, “gave this very phony, humble bow” just to act polite. It was also the correct thing to do after a performance. Ernie sets off a negative view of humanity because J.D Salinger believes that everybody does things not because they mean it, but because it makes them look good. J.D Salinger is also against how people all go to one big event because everybody else goes. J.D Salinger shows off his idea by writing “practically the whole school was there.” He was talking about the “last game of the year” and how all the phonies are going just because everybody else is there. This is negative view towards humanity because J.D Salinger dislikes how people do things not because they want to do it, but because everyone else is doing it. The Repetitiveness of human life also causes J.D Salinger to look at humans negatively. J.D Salinger expresses this view by having the protagonist of the book not want to grow up because he doesn’t want to repeat the same things every day. One of the main themes J.D Salinger writes about in the book is growing up. He goes on writing about how doing the same things every day