The Catcher in the Rye By J.D. Salinger Theme: Growing up
Losing ones innocence
Having to deal with the struggles of life
Struggling with maturity
Holden feels the need to prove to others that he is old and mature
Holden struggles with being honest and lying
Learning profanity
Profanity on the lockers and walls of Phoebe's school are corrupting the young students minds and teaching them words they are too young to know.
As a kid the world was this magical place and nothing could go wrong, but as Holden grew up, he came to realize that the world is flawed
Holden sees the world as a place that is filled with meaningless adults who are mostly just phonies or hotshots
Quote from Holden:
"I saw something that drove me crazy. Somebody'd written "F**k you" on the wall. It drove me damn near crazy. I thought how Phoebe and all the other little kids would see it, and how they'd wonder what the hell it meant, and then finally some dirty kid would tell them--all cockeyed, naturally--what it meant, and how they'd all think about it and maybe even worry about it for a couple of days.”
Quote from Holden:
"It was one of the worst schools I ever went to. It was full of phonies. And mean guys. You never saw so many mean guys in your life."
Holden's brother Allie dying
Mental Illnesses
Holden seems to suffer from mental illnesses including depression and bipolar disorder. His mood fluctuates frequently and the smallest things tend to send him into a depressive state
Caused Holden to have a mental breakdown and forced him to experience heartache
Holden tries to sound older to order liquor at a bar and gets insulted when he is denied any drinks
Quote from Holden:
"I ordered a Scotch and soda, and told him not to mix it--I said it fast as hell, because if you hem and haw, they think you're under twenty-one and won't sell you any intoxicating liquor. I had trouble with him anyway, though. "I'm sorry, sir," he said, "but do you have some verification of your age? Your driver's license, perhaps?"
I gave him this very cold stare, like he'd insulted the hell out of me, and asked him, "Do I look like I'm under twenty-one?"
Holden lies about his name to strangers
He get annoyed when people ask him how old he is
Holden lies about his age often
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Conversation between Holden and a stranger:
Man: "How old are you, chief?" the elevator guy said.
Holden: "Why?" I said. "Twenty-two."
Quote from Holden:
"I told them my name was Jim Steele, just for the hell of it."
Quote from Holden:
“This next part I don't remember so hot. All I know is I got up from the bed, like I was going down to the can or something, and then I tried to sock him, with all my might, right smack in the toothbrush, so it would split his goddam throat open.”
Quote from Holden:
"I felt so lonesome, all of a sudden. I almost wished I was dead.”
Quote from Holden:
"Then I got back in bed. It took me quite a while to get to sleep--I wasn't even tired--but finally I did. What I really felt like, though, was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out the window. I probably would've done it, too..."
Quote from Holden:
"I was only thirteen, and they were going to have me psychoanalyzed and all, because I broke all the windows in the garage. I don't blame them. I really don't. I slept in the garage the night he died, and I broke all the goddam windows with my fist, just for the hell of it. I even tried to break all the windows on the station wagon we had that summer, but my hand was already broken and everything by that time, and I couldn't do it."
Quote from Holden:
"That killed me. I just see the big phony bastard shifting into first gear and asking Jesus to send him a few more stiffs. The only good part of his speech was right in the middle of it. He was telling us all about what a swell guy he was, what a hot-shot and all..."
Holden uses the word "Goddam" often
Quote from Holden:
"I don't know, and I don't give a damn. How 'bout sitting down or something,
Ackley kid? You're right in my goddam light." He didn't like it when you called him "Ackley kid." He was always telling me I was a goddam kid..."
Holden does things to make himself feel older such as hanging out with girls, going to jazz clubs and hiring a prostitute
Holden makes up outlandish lies when he's talking to strangers
Conversation between Holden and a stranger:
Holden: "It's me. I have to have this operation."
Stranger: "Oh! I'm so sorry," she said.
She really was, too. I was right away sorry I'd said it, but it was too late.
Holden: "It isn't very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain."
Hardships such as Holden getting kicked out of school
When someone asked Holden for his age:
Man: "Hey--how old are you, anyhow?"
Holden's thoughts: That annoyed me, for some reason.