Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • My Term Papers • Get Free Essays • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - Geography Holden Caulifield Holden Caulifield Character Sketch of Holden Caulfield From the first moment Holden Caulfield speaks in The Catcher in the Rye, he makes his personality obvious. While he is witty, passionate and honest, he is also troubled and lonely. Holden longs to find his place in the world and connect with other people. Ironically, however, his search for belonging leaves him more confused than ever. Consequently, he develops a psychological condition that can easily be considered a result of his fear and critique of growing up. Holden Caulfield was one of a kind. Everything about him from his physical appearance, to his personality, to his actions was unique. His diversity set him apart from the rest of the crowd. Holden’s appearance was not very different. He was the typical 16-year-old boy. He explains his age by stating “I was sixteen he (Ackley) was eighteen”(21). He was about 6’2” tall and had a crew cut. He had gray hair only on the right side of his head, which would be his one unique physical characteristic. His personality was very unique however. “I am the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life”(16) was how he explained himself. He would lie even if he didn’t have to. “If I’m on my way to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I’m going, I’m liable to say I’m going to the opera”(16) was one example of Holden in yet another unnecessary lie. Holden was definitely not someone that you could depend on. Holden’s actions were also peculiar. He would always act like a tough guy but he really was very scared. The incident with Maurice the pimp and Sunny the Prostitute is one example. He is very nervous about having a prostitute but he tries to act normal about it. From the time Maurice asks him if he’s “innarested in a little tail t’night?”(91) he feels uncomfortable but he still gets the prostitute. He then tries to act tough when Maurice is asking for five more dollars for the prostitute but Holden, unfortunately, as the prostitute takes five more dollars from his wallet “All of a sudden starts to cry”(103). This shows how he is insecure about his actions. Holden is a boy who keeps to himself too much. He suffers too much mental anguish that he keeps it inside and has random breakdowns. These traits do make him unique but not necessarily in a good way. Also in the case of phoniness, Holden's view of the world as "phony" is a very strong one, and in most cases, is correct. Holden thinks that the majority of the people in the world are putting on some sort of an act to impress or befriend people. In a way, Holden is probably correct in thinking that most of the people he came in contact with are "phony," such as his roommate at Pencey, Ward Stradlater. In one instance, Holden refers to Stradlater as a "secret slob." He describes how Stradlater always tries to be neat and tidy on the outside so as to impress people, but how he is not when you get to know him. In the scene where Holden and Stradlater are in the "can," and Stradlater is getting ready for a date, Holden describes Stradlater's razor as "rusty as hell and full of lather and hair and crap." Another general example of what Holden thinks is "phony" is actors. He talks about how D.B. took Phoebe and him to see "Hamlet," and he talks about Sir Laurence Olivier, and how the play would have been good, except that Olivier "knew he was good, and that spoils it." Holden says how he can't go to a play and pay attention to what the actor is saying because he "has to keep worrying about whether he's going to do something phony every minute." Holden has another incident with phonies when he invites Sally Hayes on a date. Holden takes her to a play, which he considers phony as it is, but then at intermission, Sally meets a man who she hasn't seen for years, and they began a big phony act. Holden says, "You've though that they hadn't seen each other for twenty years they probably even hugged and kissed checks and all." This is the kind of behavior that Holden obviously never grew up with, isn't used to, and doesn't like. Through his experiences in New York City, and his many flings with phony women, Holden grows to believe that everyone in phony in some way. He thinks that the whole world is phony, and it's not likely that everyone in the world is corrupted or "phony," so is it possible that all the characters in the novel are all really normal and Holden is really the only "phony" one? Bibliography: Word Count: 798
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