How Does Holden Grow Up In Catcher In The Rye

Growing up is a difficult process for any young person. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, shows these ideals through Holden Caulfield, his main character, by showing how difficult it is for him to grow up and accept that he cannot stay adamant in his belief that all people are “phonies” and that his interpretation of people is very limiting. The time period this is set in gives Holden more ground for stereotypes and makes the reader understand why Holden’s mindset is so set in the way that he sees things. Salinger uses the characterization and point of view of Holden to show the internal struggles that people face while attempting to grow up.

J.D. Salinger uses the point of view through Holden Caulfield that causes the story to have

an unreliable narrator. Holden being an unreliable narrator leaves the readers wondering if what Holden is trying to convey is the truth and if the events occurred in the way he described. Holden tells the audience from the very beginning, stating that “[he is] the most terrific liar”, which only adds to the untrust towards Holden (Salinger 22). Holden is also very unreliable because he thinks that everyone “sound[s] so phony when they talk” and that there are “a lot of phony, lean-jawed guys” (Salinger 131, 70). He refuses to see that people are anything more than what they say or look like, causing the reader to only be able to see others through what he thinks, leaving the reader unable to draw their own conclusions on characters.
Salinger also seriously affects the reader with how he characterizes Holden.

Holden is shown as a judgemental and somewhat mature young person, which makes him relatable to most of the audiences that read this book. Part of the reason that Holden is so relatable is the fact that he is lonely. Holden “fe[els] so lonesome” and he feels this way often and he also is so lonely he reaches out by inviting the cab driver to “join [him] for a cocktail” (Salinger 62, 79). Holden shows that he is lonely often and that he is also desperate for company from just about anyone. Holden also tries to distance himself from people in odd ways which relates to the teenagers who read this book. Holden tells Ackley that his hat is not used while shooting deer, but for “shoot[ing] people”, which causes Ackley to back off a little bit and change the subject (Salinger 30). Several teenagers now will feel somewhat lonely and in need of company and also just wanting people to leave them alone, making Holden one of the most relatable characters to teenagers who will read this

novel.
Setting in The Catcher in the Rye plays a very large part in how the characters are told and how they are characterized.

This story takes place in the late 1940’s in New York and in Pencey Prep School. When Holden leaves Pencey to go to New York it helps to characterize Holden as trying to be more mature than he might actually be. Holden likes to be young until he realizes that he is not taken seriously by others, “that annoy[s] [him]” and it causes him to exaggerate and say that “[he is] twelve” when he is really sixteen or seventeen (Salinger 94). The readers will see Holden as being quick to lash out at others because he feels like he is disrespected. The time period that this is told in also helps the reader to understand why Holden makes the judgements that he does. Holden tends to “th[ink] about war and all” often so he thinks of the people in his life with the thoughts of coming out of World War II, which makes him much more cynical and it causes him to stand resolute in his belief that people do not change and that all people act alike (Salinger

181).
J.D. Salinger uses a very masterful approach at shaping his characters in a way that they will be relatable to his audience and help to make the story interesting by adding another layer of mystery to this story by telling his story through Holden, causing the audience to experience these events vicariously. Salinger also shows how relatable Holden is by making him have ‘everyday teenage problems’ and this really resonates with those who have read this novel. The setting also plays a big role in showing how the characters will perceive each other and why the characters think the way that they do. J.D. Salinger is very knowledgeable in the ways that he uses his characters to make them very strong characters and very memorable.