Alienation while the a type of Mind-Defense

In the book, Holden appears to be omitted away from and you may victimized because of the world up to your. When he tells Mr. Spencer, the guy seems trapped for the “one other front side” of life, in which he constantly attempts to get a hold of their ways inside the a world and he seems he will not fall in. Since unique progresses, we begin to understand one Holden’s alienation try his technique for protecting himself. Exactly as he wears his browse hat (find “Icons,” below) to promote their individuality, the guy uses their separation as proof that he’s a lot better than people as much as him and therefore more than getting him or her. The truth is that relationships with other people constantly mistake and you may overwhelm your, and his awesome pessimistic sense of excellence serves as a variety of self-safeguards. Hence, Holden’s alienation ‘s the supply of just what nothing balances he has within his existence.

Because readers, we are able to note that Holden’s alienation is the factor in extremely out of their pain. He never ever tackles his personal feelings personally, nor really does the guy you will need to find the source of his dilemmas. Alienation is actually the cause away from Holden’s power and also the supply of his difficulties. For example, his loneliness propels him toward their day which have Sally Hayes, however, his requirement for separation grounds him so you can insult their and push their out. Furthermore, he longs for the latest significant relationship he once had which have Jane Gallagher, but he could be also terrified while making any actual effort so you’re able to contact the woman. He depends upon their alienation, nevertheless destroys him.

Brand new Painfulness regarding Increasing Right up

According to really analyses, The brand new Catcher regarding Rye try a beneficial bildungsroman, a book from the a young character’s gains to your readiness. While it is suitable to talk about this new unique in such terms and conditions, Holden Caulfield try a weird protagonist having an excellent bildungsroman given that his main goal should be to overcome the entire process of maturity alone. Since the his viewpoint about the Museum of Sheer Record have demostrated, Holden anxieties alter in fact it is overwhelmed from the complexity. He wishes that which you become without difficulty understandable and eternally fixed, including the sculptures away from Eskimos and you can Indians on the museum. He could be scared because the he or she is accountable for the fresh sins the guy criticizes in others, and because he can’t understand that which you doing him. However, the guy won’t accept it concern, declaring it only in a few period-particularly, as he covers intercourse and you can admits that “[s]old boyfriend is something I just don’t understand. I claim to Goodness I don’t” (Chapter 9).

Instead of taking one to adulthood frightens and you may mystifies him, Holden invents a dream that adulthood try an environment of superficiality and hypocrisy (“phoniness”), if you find yourself youngsters is a whole lot of purity, attraction, and you can honesty. Little suggests their picture of these globes a lot better than his fantasy about the catcher regarding rye: the guy imagines youthfulness since an idyllic arena of rye in which college students romp and you may enjoy; adulthood, for the children of world, matches dying-a deadly slip along side edge of a beneficial cliff. Their created understandings off youth and you will adulthood succeed Holden to reduce himself removed from the nation by layer himself having a safety armour of cynicism. However, once the publication moves on, Holden’s skills, such his experiences which have Mr. Antolini and you can Phoebe, show brand new shallowness of his conceptions.

The brand new Phoniness of your Adult Community

“Phoniness,” that’s the most famous words regarding Catcher in the the fresh new Rye, is among the most Holden’s favorite rules. It is his catch-all the for discussing the brand new superficiality, hypocrisy, pretension, and shallowness he encounters in the world as much as your. When you look at the Chapter 22, ahead of he suggests their dream of your catcher on rye, Holden teaches you one people try invariably phonies, and you will, what exactly is worse, they can’t pick their unique phoniness escort services in Independence. Phoniness, to possess Holden, stands as an emblem of all things that is wrong international around him and will be offering a justification to possess him so you’re able to withdraw toward his pessimistic isolation. Regardless of if oversimplified, Holden’s findings commonly totally incorrect. Holden is going to be a very informative narrator, in which he is extremely familiar with superficial conclusion when it comes to those around your. In the novel the guy experience of a lot characters who do seem affected, pretentious, otherwise low-Sally Hayes, Carl Luce, Maurice and you will Sunny, and even Mr. Spencer be noticed while the advice. Some emails, including Maurice and you may Bright, are certainly unsafe.