Catcher In The Rye

"I know Central Park like the back of my hand...I knew right where it was--it was right near Central Park South and all, but I still couldn't find it." (154). As drunk and confused Holden Caulfield was on that cold gloomy night, he is also deeply lost inside. People have felt and shared feelings with Holden or have been appalled at his behavior. Considering Holden's outbreaks, insecurities, or even mentality, readers may think he can be losing his sanity or be suffering from a post-traumatic stress disorder. However, the quirky story of a boy reveals sensitivity and reason where he wants to be in society. There is a sense of hope where Holden can overcome problems that several of his peers also face. Holden has a hard time trying to cope with unexplainable emotions so spectators underestimate the feelings that every teenager goes through.

Clearly Holden has issues that constantly haunt him hence the cause why he is unstable. The most influential event that Holden can date back to was the death of his younger brother Allie. Knowing that his brother was eventually going to die of cancer, he will never forget how charming and simple that happy little red-headed kid always was. The fracture that Holden has in his hand reminded how devastated he was when Allie passed away. Because of that Holden is stuck in childhood since Allie died before maturing. In addition to Holden's family, his parents don't support Holden's needs at this age. His memories of his mother and father are times when they fight in bathroom or receiving hockey skates from his mother when he distinctly asked for racing skates. Holden desires love and support, but his parents leave him out or push him away from home. Having the lack of family unity discourages Holden from holding close relationships. As Holden is burdened with empty holes in his life, he is filled with depression wanting to take over him. Thoughts of death such as, "I thought probably I'd get pneumonia and die. I started picturing millions of jerks coming to my funeral and all," (154) question the alternatives that Holden might turn towards to "resolve" problems. Although he dislikes the feeling of seeing Allie's grave, he imagines how his parents would feel just as miserable of his own grave. Like Holden, teenagers are engulfed with all sorts of emotions, and it creates more hindrance that they must challenge.

Furthermore another aspect that teens have difficulty confronting is facing responsibilities and its reality. Most do not know what they want out of life and how they are accomplish their goals. For Holden, it is almost like he is walking in a thick fog not knowing what is to come in front of him. Instead of walking in a one direction until the fog clears, he is walking in circles. An attitude that adolescents have is to grow independent yet not have to experience hard-work and consequences. Holden intentionally fails out of school in order to avoid dealing with quarrelling parents but live in a residence where food and shelter is already provided. Within the title, Catcher in the Rye, originates Holden's fantasy job of saving children from falling into phony adulthood and losing chastity. Since Holden views all adults as phonies, he worries when people like his close friend, Jane Gallagher, and younger sister, Phoebe, will turn into fake adults. "The man falling isn't permitted to feel or hear himself hit the bottom...The whole arrangement's designed for men who, at some time or other in their lives, were looking for something their own environment couldn't supply them with...So they gave up looking. They gave up it up before they ever really even got started." Feelings of being lost and overwhelmed are normal. Many things happen all at the same time during adolescence such awkward stages of puberty, wanting to be unconstrained from parents, and developing a social life all tie in to aging.

In addition to being clueless of his future, Holden doesn't know who he is. Because he is neither a child nor adult, he can't figure out his true identity. On the exterior, Holden tries to be a robust extrovert who is suave and older appearing. He makes up and alter ego named Jim Steele who is just as false and superficial as any adult. Jim Steele plays a cover-up role to hide Holden's missing confidence. Honestly Holden has low self-esteem and no social life like former acquaintance, Ackley. This disparity shows Holden's hypocrisy. He is his