The Catcher in The Rye Analysis

            The Catcher in the Rye, An Analysis of Holden Caulfield.
             From the beginning of the story, it J. Salinger made it clear that the problems that were troubling Holden were deeper that issues of typical teen angst. Holden was self-destructive and emotionally unstable. The death of his younger brother Allie seemed to have a profound affect on Holden. It appears that Holden, under the circumstances, wasn't able to cope with his brother's death. Holden's views on life were dismal and cynical and he considered most people to be "phony." He could not seem to cope with the responsibilities and pressures of the adult-world, and he preferred the simplicity and honesty of childhood. Although Holden grew up physically after his brother passed, his emotional growth was somewhat stunted. He did seem to have any friends or to socialize well with people his own age. .
             Allie's death contributed to Holden's cynical views on life. Holden loved Allie because he was so pure and innocent. When Allie passed on, it seems that Holden never had the chance to talk to anyone about it. Instead, he reacted physically by breaking windows and hurting himself. His parents sent him away to schools that he didn't like with people he couldn't socialize with. Holden reached a point of his life where he felt hopeless and wanted to escape all of his problems. He was flunking out of yet another school, and he didn't seem to care. Even in the beginning of the book, which was written from the institution, he said it didn't matter that his hand was busted because he would never become anything in the future anyway. Earlier on, he and Phoebe were deliberating about what he would do with his life and he felt that there was no career out there for him. He really just wanted to run away so he wouldn't have to face his seemingly hopeless future. It seems as if Holden didn't think there was anything out there for him, or if he did, he did not want to be a part of it.