Some people believe that in today's teenage years are the best times in a person's life, when actually they are the most stressful and confusing. There are many things in life that people have to deal with and this book is a perfect example.The author of Catcher on the Rye, creates a very real like novel that compares with the problems of teenage relationships, problems, and confusion.
Holden Caulfield the main character, creates many different relationships with all the people he came acoss, whether it was with friends, family, or teachers. Relationships with families are often the hardest things to maintain on good levels. Holdens family seemed this way. Holden's parents were probably too diligent trying to protect their image that they probably caaused themselves not to be a factor in Holdens life. D.B., Holden's older brother, had a ruff 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 probably never have anything to do with him, but right after his death Allie became Holden's best friend. " When Holden is in New York he breaks down and pleads to Allie to "watch over and protect him".
Girls were even a problem in Holden's life. Instead of ever having 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 any thing 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 down 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 to trust others. Other than parents, teachers are the people who mold us 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 i think. The boy even goes and looks for Mr. Antolini at his house because he hopes that the gentile teacher, who represents Holden's substitute father, will save him before he is turned over the edge of childhood into becoming a man.
The author puts Holden in situations in which he comes across many problems in his difficult life which some seem to be caused by himself because of the tendency of judging what he sees going on just what his eyes see and not knowing the truth behindthe story. School was not a major priority in Holdens life. Just like people today, school was taken too lightly. this exact dilemma is the reasoning for Holden getting expled. While attending Pency Prep for boys, Holden was only successful in passing one out of four of his classes, English. "All you do is learn 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 is how Holden viewed the reasons for going to school. 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 huge problem in society today is that within families there are many problems, most of which have been created by the individuals of households. 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 and in the eyes of some not even a real character in the book due to the lack of love The family has lot all bonding ties and this is why Holden is in search of a new family and looks towards Mr. Antoili for his help.
People are usually 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 then 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 is quiet, and never shares his opinions, and that he despises the world. "When Holden traveled to New York for a fencing tournament 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. Some girls look swell and nice and other girls who look like poor trash. He assumes that because they are girls they will end up marrying dopey men.Holden has also come to this conclusion of what lawyers and other people seem to be like. "They make a lot of dough and play golf and play bridge and buy cars and drink martinis and look like a hot-shot."
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 and walk around dazed and confused, Holden is portrayed in this way. He believes that he is in a hole, trapped by the games of phoniness that society requires its citizens to play. All that the author makes Holden out to be is a lost boy who just wants to simply leave this cruel un-fair world. 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 moving novel. I think 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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