Arrogance in The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

Arrogance, also known as narcissism, is like a brand new car because an arrogant person is flamboyant and distinctive. Arrogance is a very widely known character trait in which many people can identify. Studies show that “1 in every 6 people is a narcissist” (Peterson, 2014, bullet 5). Many humans have encountered, know, or are a narcissistic human, but what does arrogance really mean? According to merriam-webster.com (2014), the definition of arrogance is, “an insulting way of thinking or behaving that comes from believing you are better, smarter,or more important than other people” (Def. 1). In the novels The Catcher in the Rye and Siddhartha, the main characters both possess the trait of arrogance, but both express the trait in different forms. The root causes for both characters arrogance are very unrelated, but both roots lead to the same ending. Two completely different characters from two separate books may seem hard to tie together, but through these two characters the definition of arrogance becomes gradually clearer and clearer.

In addition to the definition, one must be able to distinguish what a narcissist looks like. Arrogant people perform certain actions and words that the general population does not. The key to explaining why these characters behave this way is by taking a deeper look into the words and actions. According to Kaufman (2011), “toxic levels of vanity, entitlement, and exploitiveness are on display” (para. 6). Often times a narcissist craves attention and acts out. Egomaniacs use others to fulfill egos by manipulation. A narcissist will boast about themselves, but can be offended if not told that they are beautiful. As reported from a short study, “They’re considered more stylishly clad, cheerful, an...

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...Narcissist. Retrieved from Psychology Today website: http://http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201106/how-spot-narcissist

Peterson, P. (Ed.). (2014). Narcissistic Personality Disorder Statistics. Retrieved March 5, 2014, from ieTherapy.com website: http://www.ietherapy.com/narcissistic-personality-disorder/statistics/narcissistic-personality-disorder-statistics.php

Radwan, M. F. (2011). Arrogance: Definition, Causes and More. Retrieved from 2Know Myself website: http://www.2knowmyself.com/Definition_of_arrogance_psychology/superiority_humbleness

Salinger, J. D. (1979). The Catcher in the Rye. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

Schneider, D. (2007, July 13). Featured Book Review of Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha. Retrieved from M&C Books website: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/books/reviews/article_1329679.php/Featured_Book_Review_Of_Herman_Hesse_s_Siddhartha