Just as Thoreau struggled with society, J. D. Salinger writes a novel of a teenage boy also struggling with the nature of society. In the novel, the Catcher in the Rye, Salinger comments on authenticity and phoniness within society. He claims that authenticity has become harder to achieve under the shadow of society’s phoniness. Salinger uses the main character, Holden Caulfield, to make social commentary on this subject throughout the novel. Holden proves to be a mentally unstable teenager very quickly and this quality is what allows Salinger to show tension between authenticity and phoniness through Holden. His instability appears to be due to his own struggle to be authentic under the shadow of society’s phoniness (individual versus society).
As Holden struggles to be authentic in the novel, he can at some points seem to be a “mouthpiece for Salinger” by the things he says. The things Holden says suggests that he is totally authentic because he finds a reason to call everyone around him phony. This complicates Salinger’s claim because what Holden says suggests that it is easy to be authentic within a phony society, but he is simply denying his fight between phoniness and authenticity. In the beginning of the novel, Holden describes how his dorm is named after a man named Ossenburger who attended Pencey and then became rich as an undertaker. Holden says Ossenburger must take the bodies and, “just shove them in a sack and dumps them in the river,” (16). Because of this and his rich lifestyle, Holden decides he is a, “big phony bastard,” (17). Later on, Holden is talking about a man named Ernie who owns a nightclub and always plays the piano for his guests. Holden says, “he won’t hardly even talk to you unless you’re a big shot or a celebrity or something,” (80). He also states that when Ernie’s done playing everyone always claps and Ernie bows, but “[the bow is] very phony- I mean him being such a big snob and all, “ (84). To Holden, these qualities make such a simple thing such as a bow to be phony. Holden claims so many people to be phony, but the things he does do not always match up with his authentic front he puts up by the things he says.
Throughout the novel, Holden’s words continue to not match up with his actions. Based on what he does, Holden Caulfield is a phony. His continued struggle between authenticity and phoniness qualifies Salinger’s claim on the shadow of society’s phoniness. Holden displays phoniness when he talks to Ernest’s mother on the train and lies about his identity and Ernest’s character. He tells her his name is Rudolf Schmidt, which is actually the dorm janitor’s name, and that her son is one of the most popular and modest guys at Pencey when in reality, Holden says he is, “doubtless the biggest bastard that ever went to Pencey,” (54). This aspect of phoniness Holden continuously displays throughout the novel while he says he is authentic illustrates Holden struggling to be completely authentic in a phony society.
Through Holden’s instability, Salinger is able to show how hard it really is to be fully authentic in a society full of phoniness. Over the course of the rising action in the novel, however; Salinger’s claim develops and suggests that maybe there is some authenticity to be found in society. In chapter 11, Holden captures authenticity in society when he talks about Jane. His relationship with her and everything he says about her in this chapter is real and shows authenticity can in fact exist in society (76-79). This is the one chapter in the novel where Holden opens up and his actions line up with his words, showing he can be authentic if he was not so unstable. This chapter develops Salinger’s social commentary and shows authenticity can be achieved under the shadow of society’s phoniness.
In the novel, ”Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, Mark Twain’s thesis is that one should live both physically and morally close to nature. J. D. Salinger’s social commentary extends Twain’s thesis. Here, authenticity is a representation of nature and phoniness is a representation of society. Through Holden, Salinger has proved he believes one should be authentic and therefore, live close to nature.
Holden’s continued struggle leaves him confused and alone in a society which he refuses to conform to. He also possesses a fear of growing into an adult because he believes all adults are phony. Due to his decision to completely reject the idea of being a part of the adult world and society, this makes Holden Caulfield an American rebel.
As Holden struggles to be authentic in the novel, he can at some points seem to be a “mouthpiece for Salinger” by the things he says. The things Holden says suggests that he is totally authentic because he finds a reason to call everyone around him phony. This complicates Salinger’s claim because what Holden says suggests that it is easy to be authentic within a phony society, but he is simply denying his fight between phoniness and authenticity. In the beginning of the novel, Holden describes how his dorm is named after a man named Ossenburger who attended Pencey and then became rich as an undertaker. Holden says Ossenburger must take the bodies and, “just shove them in a sack and dumps them in the river,” (16). Because of this and his rich lifestyle, Holden decides he is a, “big phony bastard,” (17). Later on, Holden is talking about a man named Ernie who owns a nightclub and always plays the piano for his guests. Holden says, “he won’t hardly even talk to you unless you’re a big shot or a celebrity or something,” (80). He also states that when Ernie’s done playing everyone always claps and Ernie bows, but “[the bow is] very phony- I mean him being such a big snob and all, “ (84). To Holden, these qualities make such a simple thing such as a bow to be phony. Holden claims so many people to be phony, but the things he does do not always match up with his authentic front he puts up by the things he says.
Throughout the novel, Holden’s words continue to not match up with his actions. Based on what he does, Holden Caulfield is a phony. His continued struggle between authenticity and phoniness qualifies Salinger’s claim on the shadow of society’s phoniness. Holden displays phoniness when he talks to Ernest’s mother on the train and lies about his identity and Ernest’s character. He tells her his name is Rudolf Schmidt, which is actually the dorm janitor’s name, and that her son is one of the most popular and modest guys at Pencey when in reality, Holden says he is, “doubtless the biggest bastard that ever went to Pencey,” (54). This aspect of phoniness Holden continuously displays throughout the novel while he says he is authentic illustrates Holden struggling to be completely authentic in a phony society.
Through Holden’s instability, Salinger is able to show how hard it really is to be fully authentic in a society full of phoniness. Over the course of the rising action in the novel, however; Salinger’s claim develops and suggests that maybe there is some authenticity to be found in society. In chapter 11, Holden captures authenticity in society when he talks about Jane. His relationship with her and everything he says about her in this chapter is real and shows authenticity can in fact exist in society (76-79). This is the one chapter in the novel where Holden opens up and his actions line up with his words, showing he can be authentic if he was not so unstable. This chapter develops Salinger’s social commentary and shows authenticity can be achieved under the shadow of society’s phoniness.
In the novel, ”Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, Mark Twain’s thesis is that one should live both physically and morally close to nature. J. D. Salinger’s social commentary extends Twain’s thesis. Here, authenticity is a representation of nature and phoniness is a representation of society. Through Holden, Salinger has proved he believes one should be authentic and therefore, live close to nature.
Holden’s continued struggle leaves him confused and alone in a society which he refuses to conform to. He also possesses a fear of growing into an adult because he believes all adults are phony. Due to his decision to completely reject the idea of being a part of the adult world and society, this makes Holden Caulfield an American rebel.
John Leland defines the American Rebel: