People believe that in today's teenage years are the best times in a person's life, while actually they are the most stressful and confusing. There are many things in life that people have todeal with, and this novel is a perfect example. JD Salinger, the author of Catcher on the Rye, creates a very realistic novel that deals with the complexity of teenage relationships, problems, and confusion.
Holden, the main character, creates many different relationships with all the people he encountered, whether it is with friends, family, or teachers. Relationships within families are often the hardest things to maintain on good levels. The Caulfield family was portrayed in this way. Holden's parents are too busy trying to protect their image they have created of 'conformed comfort' causing them to be distant. D.B., Holden's older brother, has a confined and busy schedule and yet is able to fit his family in it when he comes to visit at least once a week even though Holden believes that he is selfish and heartless. After the death of Allie, Holden's younger brother, Holden began talking to the spirit of Allie frequently. Before -Allie's death Holden would never have anything to do with him, but consequently after his death Allie became Holden's best friend.
While attending many of the schools Holden went to, he was introduced to people he never had closebondswith. For many people creating intimate relations with another person is difficult to accomplish for many reasons. Salinger saw this in the world and placed Holden in that same scenario. Girls were even a problem in Holden's life. Instead of ever developing any kind of intimate or sexual relations with them, he just focused all of that energy towards his younger sister. "Holden continually obsessed with women, but he rarely did anything about it". One night when Holden was in New York he even ordered a hooker up to his room, but once she arrived they only sat and talked. It seemed as if Holden was not only having problems with women, but if you looked closely the problem lie within him not being able totrustothers. While attending Elkton School, he roomed with a guy namedHarrison Macklin, and no matter what he was like; Holden was unable to share any feelings or emotions with him.
Other than parents, teachers are the people whomoldus and sculpt our lives into something amazing or at least attempt to. Mr. Antolini, one of Holden's former teachers, was added to the plot of the story to create something that was missing in Holden's life. The boy even goes as far as to seek out Mr. Antolini because he hopes that the gentile teacher, who represents Holden's substitute father, will save him before he has fallen over the edge of childhood in becoming a man. "Antolini represents Holden's last chance to find a catcher father for Holden".
The author puts the main character in situations in which he encounters many problems in his life journey which some seem to be self-inflicted due to his tendency of judging what is seen. School was not a major priority in the mind of that character. Just as people in today's society, school was taken too lightly; this exact dilemma is the reasoning for Holden's expulsions. While attending Pency Prep for boys, Holden was only successful in passing one out of four of his classes. ..All you do is learning enough to be smart enough to be able to buy a Goddamn Cadillac...and all you ever do is talk about girls, liquor, and sex in your dirty little cliques". This was the perspective of boys' school in the eyes of Holden. Today many people just like Holden, look at school for what it is and not for what it can lead to. They seem to look at things with only one eye open.
A large dilemma in society today is that within families there are many problems, most of which have been created by the individuals ofhouseholds. The Caulfield family has been separated around the country, which caused many problems in the life of Holden. The author, JD Salenger, has made the family to become distant and far apart. "Phoebe is almost dead due to the lack of love The family has lost allbondingties and this is why Holden is in search of a new family and looks towards Mr. Antoili for his help.
People are often judged upon first impressions, which usually stay with them throughout their lives. This is the problem that Holden has towards others. It never seems that he will spend more than two minutes to get to know someone. He only believes that the world is full of phonies and followers and that no one is really who they are inside. Making friends is a difficult task for Holden due to the fact that he will never share his opinions and that he despises the world. "When Holden traveled to New York for a fencingtournament he accidentally forgot the equipment on the subway causing the school and team mates to be furious".
To Holden the world is composed off phonies, and he believes this because he will not take the time to get to know something and just makes assumptions on what he sees. People in general have a bad tendency to do what Holden does to everyone. Take girls for instance, Holden will just look at them and assume who they are, where they come from and what they will turn out to be like when they grow up. He assumes that because they are girls they will end up marrying dopey men. Individuals in today's society also come to the conclusion thatlawyersseem to be liars and fakes. "They make a lot of dough andplaygolf and playbridge and buycarsand drink martinis and look like a hot-shot". Holden has also come to this conclusion of whatlawyersand other people seem to be like.
Life seems to be all about what others think and how you preserve yourself. Many people put themselves down in life or have no confidence andwalkaround dazed and confused. The main character is portrayed in this manner. "He believes that he is in a hole, trapped by the games of phoniness that society requires its citizens toplay." All that the author makes Holden out to be is a lost boy who just wants to simply leave this corrupted Eden. There could be many explanations to describe the reason that he feels this way but they mainly revolve around the traumatic events in his childhood. The death of Allie and the death of a fellow schoolmate could be these reasoning. Salinger created a very realistic and empathetic novel. Holden, the teenage boy he created represents all the teenagers in the world and their problems, relationships, and confusion life often brings.
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