Themes: The Individual Versus Society
Throughout The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield is in conflict with the expectations of the society around him. He is bored by the typical lessons in school, which he expresses to his teacher Mr. Spencer. In addition to refusing to complete his school work, Holden also breaks the rules by leaving Pencey Prep early to go to New York City on his own. That is, he symbolically removes himself from his society, the world of his prep school.
Holden expresses extreme distaste for the society he lives in because he feels it is inauthentic and doesn't allow for the expression of genuine human emotion. Holden calls this "phoniness." He can't stand when people act a certain way because they think it's what is expected.
For example, he is turned off by the girls he meets on his first night in New York when all they can think about is meeting a famous actor; likewise, Holden is disgusted by Sally Hayes's imitation of adults when she talks about the actors on stage and suggests going skating because she wants to wear a cute skirt.
To Holden, society is too focused on superficial things like appearances and possessions. He tries to express his thoughts by telling Sally that he hates cars and would rather have a horse because they're "at least human, for God's sake."
Sally doesn't understand and leaves in a huff, highlighting Holden's isolation. Because Holden cannot bring himself to enjoy or even care about the same things as the people around him, he is left alienated from society at large. This conflict causes Holden great pain. He tries over and over throughout the novel to connect with the people around him, only to find that they don't understand his views. For Holden, society may not be worth joining, but being alone is a painful alternative and choosing isolation only results in more pain and self destruction.
Expert Q&A
In The Catcher in the Rye, what does Holden mean by "Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody"?
When Holden says "Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody," he means that getting close with others and building meaningful bonds will eventually end in heartbreak and loneliness. Holden's traumatic past has conditioned him to remain aloof and distant from others as a psychologically protective measure. His fear of losing another important person influences him to remain introverted and repress his difficult emotions.
Quotes from The Catcher in the Rye that illustrate Holden's alienation and his search for acceptance
Quotes from The Catcher in the Rye that illustrate Holden's alienation and search for acceptance include: "I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff" and "I felt so lonesome, all of a sudden. I almost wished I was dead." These quotes reflect his feelings of isolation and his deep desire to find meaningful connections.
In The Catcher in the Rye, what point does Holden make about people through his discussion on suitcases?
Overall, Holden makes the point that people will judge other people, intentionally or not, by their appearances, especially on whether it appears someone is of high social class. It is ironic, though, that Holden makes a comment about the nuns having "cheap" suitcases and admits he may dislike people if they have low-quality suitcases—yet, simultaneously, he wishes his roommates wouldn't resent him for having more expensive suitcases than they do.
Holden's academic struggles and repeated expulsions in The Catcher in the Rye
In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield struggles academically, leading to his expulsion from multiple schools. He is expelled from Pencey Prep for failing four out of five classes. Although he claims to have left Elkton Hills due to its "phoniness," his academic performance and behavior, such as drinking and arguing, suggest other reasons for his expulsions. His academic indifference is partly due to unresolved trauma from his brother Allie's death, impacting his mental health and motivation.
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