“He said he talked to Jesus all the time. Even when he was driving his car. That killed me, I can just see the big phony bastard shifting into first gear and asking Jesus to send him a few more stiffs” (Pg 17).
This is just one of many examples Holden sees as fake. Phoniness is his main concern against society. Holden lacks the capacity to adapt, he has become uptight with relationships, maybe somewhat paranoid with the fact that everyone is phony except children. If he is not content with who surrounds him, it makes it quite difficult for him to fit in. Besides, Holden also shows a fear towards change;
"Certain things they should stay the way they are. You ought to be able to stick them in one of those big glass cases and just leave them alone" (Pg 122).
A fear of change blocks our minds to receive it when we have to, his changing without wanting to restricts him in opening up to people. His fear of change and adulthood is clearly shown with the ducks, where he notices things are changing and his childhood memories are slowly fading and common things he used to see are disappearing.
The paradox is shown when Holden acquires many different aspects of adulthood, such as his drinking in bars, hiring a prostitute and dancing with ladies at bars. Holden wants to be able to do what ever he wants inside a glass case, where he cannot be considered a phony, but he will be able to do everything a phony does. We see many examples of this throughout the novel.
Holden has certain issues with intimacy; even though he constantly talks about it and before we find out he is a virgin we might consider he has experienced it. Holden wants it to happen, but can’t make it happen.
“I came quite close to doing it a couple of times, though” (pg 92).
This again represents how Holden wants to become part of the adult world unconsciously yet is still attached to his childhood feelings, his innocence. Just like when he meets Sunny, he needs company like a child always does when he is away from home, he doesn’t treat her like a prostitute. His eyes are blinded towards the fact that she is not an ordinary young lady, but instead sells her body.
The fact that Holden fears adulthood is also reflected on his protection for his younger siblings. Holden never criticizes his younger siblings, in fact we might say he has an inferiority complex towards them.
“My Brother D.B.’s a writer and all, and my brother Allie the one that died, that I told you about, was a wizard. I’m the only really dumb one” (pg 67).
Children are perfect to him, they haven’t become part of the corrupt world, or aren’t aware of it. They still have that glow of innocence where nothing matters. This is where we first see the link between the novel and its title. It shows us how Holden wants to save children from falling off the cliff into adulthood, his same fears.
“Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in the big field or rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody’s around nobody big, I mean except me” (pg 173).
Holden’s misunderstanding of the poem also shows us how he is still attached to childhood, to innocence, how children perceive what they want to from things, what better fits them, innocence is the one thing that Holden has respect for and something he cherishes. Salinger relates the misunderstanding of the poem to the main character in the novel who’s life and personality is based on misunderstandings. Holden’s innocence or better his respect towards innocence is reflected in his imagination and thought of kids running through the rye, and himself as an older figure avoiding their loss of innocence itself. His ability to perceive the poem as he desires shows a childlike quality in which nothing matters except his own personal mind satisfaction.
Phoebe and Allie are both symbols of sweetness and perfection, not part of the world he despises. He idolizes both not for their physical or mental capacities but for their human value. He knows Phoebe is always protected, that highlights another reason why Holden doesn’t want to become an adult, he knows that as a child you live in a bubble where nothing can hurt you.
Children are safe, protected or they can feel safe by having a blanket or in this case Holden’s hunting hat.
"My hunting hat really gave me quite a lot of protection, in a way, but I got soaked anyway. I didn't care though, I felt so damn happy."(Pg 213).
Holden feels he can wear his hat and be safe, everything will be okay, it is his very own bubble. Yet he realizes it can protect him from much but not everything, after all the hat does get wet. But he managed to cross the street and has probably accepted his transitional stage.
Holden knows adulthood comes with responsibilities, control over himself, and thinks it comes with phoniness, he doesn’t see the wisdom or knowledge it brings. He has become very close minded to adulthood, when we don’t know about things we become afraid. Holden knows that as a child wherever he goes he will be safe. His parents will be there, thing he may not accept, yet subconsciously knows is true. Children are more naïve and don’t have the opportunity to become fake or worry they have to be. Children are blunt and non-hypocritical. Holden is aware that society is fake, knows in some level he will become a part of them, but he doesn’t see he is already a phony. Holden finds hypocrisy in almost everything he sees but does not yet even realize that he too is part of that corrupt world the minute he stopped being a child and wanted to be an adult.
Holden fears becoming an adult in mind and heart, but wants to become one in his actions. He wants to be safe but take chances. It’s a battle between childhood and adulthood, between innocence and phoniness. This battle is what has made Holden’s world an illusion, what has made him a madman. Holden fears landing form his illusion, becoming what he despises, knowing his protection is lost and knowing he is vulnerable to the world. What we see in Holden is probably not uncommon at all, he wishes to be a child at mind where it satisfies him internally but an adult in his actions, just like everyone, they get the side of the situation which satisfies them most. We never see what Holden becomes, but we see how his paradoxical way of acting and thinking is just a reflection of his fear of taking the full step into the adult society.
