Holden's Dislike of Phoniness

In J.D. Salinger's novel, The Catcher in the Rye, the main character Holden Caulfield displays an obsessive dislike for "phonies," or superficial people. Holden can neither deal with the phoniness that masks humanity nor look at humanity straight on.

In J.D. Salinger's novel, The Catcher in the Rye, I want to show how the main character Holden Caulfield displays an obsessive dislike for "phonies," or superficial people. Holden narrates of his adventures during a Christmas weekend. Although Holden is telling his story from a correctional facility in California, his actual story occurs mainly in New York. I would like to discuss, how, through his experiences, Holden is enlightened to the adult world. He continually mentions the "phonies" that he encounters, but we see that Holden is eventually drawn to the reality that innocence cannot be preserved forever. Holden's dislike of phonies is revealed by his reactions towards people at institutions, his peers, and entertainers and their accompanied fans.

Furthermore, when we examine his relationships with older people representative of the college system, we see how Holden detests artificiality in these people. His views are evident when he recounts his experience at the private schools he attended, revealing his hatred toward the phoniness in them. When Holden thinks of Elkton Hills, a school he used to attend, he is reminded of its phony headmaster, Mr. Haas. According to Holden, when Mr. Haas greets parents, he "[shakes] hands with them and [gives] them a phony smile." (14) The lack of sincerity in Mr. Haas' actions angers Holden and is one reason Holden leaves the school. When Holden is conversing with his history teacher, Mr. Spencer, he notices how his professor uses the word "grand." Holden is reminded of how that is "a word [he] really [hates]" and that it is "a phony." (9) He considers the word fake and used in syntax only by two-faced people. When Holden mentions the school he currently attends, Pencey Prep, he introduces Ossenburger, whom his wing is named after. Holden refers to Ossenburger as a "big phony bastard," and he imagines that Ossenburger "[asks] Jesus to send him a few more stiffs." (17) Holden is revolted that Ossenburger runs funeral parlors that take advantage of people yet preaches for integrity and prayer. These instances all portray how Holden's reactions towards certain people indicate his compulsive disgust regarding those who are not genuine.

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Moreover, Holden also exhibits intense dislike towards his peers and friends. While Holden tries to preserve innocence, many of his equals are turning into adults, who embody phoniness. When Holden talks to an old girlfriend, Sally Hayes, and invites her to a matinee, he notices that she also uses the word "grand." Right away, Holden recalls that "if there's one word [he hates], it's grand" and that it is "so phony." (106) He recognizes that Sally is using the same speech he despises hearing in adults; only the chance for interaction prevents Holden from dismissing her. While Ackley is pestering Holden, Stradlater, Holden's roommate, appears and greets them. Although Stradlater is a friendly person, his response towards Ackley is "partly a phony kind of friendly." (26) Ackley and Stradlater are not fond of each other, so they do no act upon each other earnestly. Because of the distaste Holden reserves for his peers, audiences can distinguish that Holden finds the phoniness that has extended into his colleagues objectionable.

Finally, Holden's judgment and opinion of performers and their enthusiasts also uncover his aversion of people who are act falsely and insincerely. As Holden is taking the train, he refers to magazines he reads. They have "stories with a lot of phony, lean-jawed guys" (53) in it. The content of such magazines is made up of lousy celebrities with their bogus assistants, which makes Holden want to puke. Ernie, the piano player at a bar, is a person who is observed as being tainted by phoniness in a desire to gain fame. When he finishes his performance, Ernie gives a "very phony, humble bow." (84) Because Ernie plays in a flashy style, Holden senses that he no longer performs his music with heart. When Holden goes to see a theatrical production called "The Lunts" with Sally Hayes, he discovers artificiality in the performance. During the play, Holden notices that the actors "[are] good, but they [are] too good." (126) The performers strike Holden as not being genuine, so Holden presumes that virtuosos start becoming arrogant if they don't keep themselves in check. These examples of Holden's portrayal of artistes and their followers make clear that Holden has an unappeasable loathing of another clique of phonies.

To summarise; we see Holden's response towards people at private schools, his colleagues, and performers and their groupies show how he has an overanxious dislike of phonies. He goes to great lengths to expose the nature of "phonies" and uphold childhood innocence. Holden can neither deal with the phoniness that masks humanity nor look at humanity straight on, so audiences understand how disturbed he is. However, Holden realizes there is less to be gained in criticizing phonies than there is to be in saving innocence. Holden finds so many things artificial for many reasons. The term "phony" is used to characterize insincere people and their language. Phonies are more interested in playing a part or looking good than in being honest, so hypocrisy is revealed every time Holden mentions disingenuousness. Movies and performers irritate Holden because they include fake emotions and stereotypes and have ruined their art in their effort to entertain. Holden views private schools he has attended as being phony places, because they try to prepare students to become adequately phony to survive in the adult world. Holden's interactions with a few of the characters are drenched in phoniness, and paradoxically, Holden himself acquires a strained, sarcastic phoniness when telling jokes or being upset with someone.

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