Catcher in the Rye’s Holden Caulfield: Egotistical Whiner or Boy Genius?
The book has shown us his repeated actions to stop youth spoiling and adulthood's corruption. Yet, he fails to realize that these things are inevitable when time moves. He has locked himself into his worldview and cannot process anyone else's ideas or points of view, or concerns. Everything he resents in people can be found in himself. His Hypocrisy shows how unaware of his surroundings and unprepared he is to enter the adult world. Holden blames other people’s downfalls for why he’s suffering instead of stepping back and understanding why he is feeling that way. All the problems he claims to have are all accusations at other people. None of his ideas of how people should act ever goes without him making a similar mistake. He blames someone else whenever he screws himself over to try and salvage what is left of the intelligence he believes he has. And he stays in the bubble of his grand illusion that the world is a mess.
Holden fails to understand that most of the time, he gets upset when he’s overreacting. He is deeply upset by things that do not fit into his expectation for the world, calling them “phony”. Afterward, he feels guilty for everything that makes other people “phony” to him. Since the beginning of the book, Salinger has made it obvious that Holden does the same things he resents people doing. Holden repeatedly fails to realize that his logic applies not only to the people he is criticizing but also to himself. He’s too naïve to realize that most of these things are out of his control and accept them. He must discipline himself to realize that some things will not meet his expectations. If not, he will continue struggling to be happy.
His unhappiness is why he can’t find any redeeming qualities in anyone besides his siblings. Because of his childhood depression, he can’t help but see the world in such a negative light. The disappointment he feels in others isn’t the person's fault but the fault of Holden raising their standards too high. He cannot be appeased by the grief of his brother, where the only thing he can find love in is his close siblings.
Holden's Insights/Spencer
When Holden tells Spencer he’s leaving Pency, Spencer start’s nodding his head out of habit. For a time longer than Holden was comfortable with. Why spencer nods his head so much is beyond Holden’s understanding. “You never knew if he was nodding a lot because he was thinking and all,” Holden thought, “or just because he was a nice old guy that didn’t know his ass from his elbow.” This shows the reader how Holden’s behavior is to other people’s behaviors. Holden’s impatience and sarcastic tone set him on his path of trial and error throughout this book. His need to look down upon others' “phoniness” is his sole problem in finding enlightenment and growing up during his journey.
