The problem with Holden in "Catcher in the rye " by J.R Salinger
Holden is a complex person with many conflicting characteristics. He has many
ambitions and desires for his life but he is faced with the basic conflict in the story,
corruption. This corruption is what drives him and at the same time restricts him
Holden 's being surrounded by corruption disgusts him. There are a few main
instances in which Holden encounters corruption directly. One type is Stradlater, the
'secret slob 'or Ernie, who 'performs for the people '. Two that affect Holden very
much is his brother D.B. 'selling out ' to the movies and Pheobe eventually having to
grow up. This corruption is very evident in Holden 's life and situation.
Corruption is what Holden wants to avoid but can not because he wants to grow
up and act like an adult. Drinking, ordering the prostitute, and using money are all
things that grownups do but Holden yet still wants to remain innocent. Theses are
few of the obvious ironies of Holden 's personality.
Holden 's utter hate for the fact that we have to grow up and how he ties
adulthood with corruption just shows how he has a large problem determining illusion
from reality. He doesn 't understand that to grow does not mean to become corrupt
but to become wiser through experience. These experiences are what frighten
Holden because this boy of sixteen has already been involved in many of the
pleasures and problems that come from these experiences. Holden 's 'catcher in the
rye ' analogy shows how he wants to save the children from this corruption but he
never will. Holden wants to be the great savior of a helpless cause and does not
realize he has fallen into the evil hands of corruption.
Holden idolizes Allie is little brother who died. The reason for this idolization is
that Allie will never become corrupt. He will always be in Holden 's mind a little boy
not affected by the dirty hands of society. Pheobe, on the other hand, will have to
enter the world sooner or later and then she too will become
ambitions and desires for his life but he is faced with the basic conflict in the story,
corruption. This corruption is what drives him and at the same time restricts him
Holden 's being surrounded by corruption disgusts him. There are a few main
instances in which Holden encounters corruption directly. One type is Stradlater, the
'secret slob 'or Ernie, who 'performs for the people '. Two that affect Holden very
much is his brother D.B. 'selling out ' to the movies and Pheobe eventually having to
grow up. This corruption is very evident in Holden 's life and situation.
Corruption is what Holden wants to avoid but can not because he wants to grow
up and act like an adult. Drinking, ordering the prostitute, and using money are all
things that grownups do but Holden yet still wants to remain innocent. Theses are
few of the obvious ironies of Holden 's personality.
Holden 's utter hate for the fact that we have to grow up and how he ties
adulthood with corruption just shows how he has a large problem determining illusion
from reality. He doesn 't understand that to grow does not mean to become corrupt
but to become wiser through experience. These experiences are what frighten
Holden because this boy of sixteen has already been involved in many of the
pleasures and problems that come from these experiences. Holden 's 'catcher in the
rye ' analogy shows how he wants to save the children from this corruption but he
never will. Holden wants to be the great savior of a helpless cause and does not
realize he has fallen into the evil hands of corruption.
Holden idolizes Allie is little brother who died. The reason for this idolization is
that Allie will never become corrupt. He will always be in Holden 's mind a little boy
not affected by the dirty hands of society. Pheobe, on the other hand, will have to
enter the world sooner or later and then she too will become