Fake Holden

It seems like the typical, adolescent dilemma: How do I find my place in this life? In most respects, Holden is not unlike the typical teenager. He, too, is on his own quest to find himself. He needs to find acceptance. Going to school at Pency, Holden becomes the manager of the fencing team. In doing so, he tried to gain friends as well as social status within his peer group. Even then the whole team "ostracized him"(page 3). Like most teens at that age, Holden was having trouble gaining acceptance and making friends.

"I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. It's awful. If I'm on my way to the store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I'm going, I'm liable to say I'm going to the opera. It's terrible." (pg.16) Holden's ability to lie is one of the first t

In the first half of The Catcher in the Rye, symbolism surrounded Holden as he wandered the streets of New York city. Everything from the ducks in the pond that Holden cannot seem to let go of to his failed attempt at having a nice time with Sally Hayes, Holden's problems relate to his personality traits that he does not tell us directly. Not surprisingly, the second half of the book is not much different in the fact that it, too, compares the happenings in the life of Holden Caulfield to a much more universal level of feeling, emotion, and thought.

raits that he reveals about himself. He takes pride in saying that he is a good liar. His inability to have normal conversations and relationships is probably one of the factors that has him shunned by his peers. Holden's insecurity is one of the reasons for his compulsive lying. This is why he can't find his place in the world. The world doesn't know Holden, and he doesn't know himself. It is difficult to separate fact from fantasy.

The question now is, why a museum? Out of all the art galleries, parks, and buildings that have been present in New York city from its establishment, why pick a lousy museum? Ol' J.D. had some symbolism in mind that goes even further than that already talked about. There are certain facts about museums that remain the same no matter where the location might be. Everything in it is always a replica (fake) or dead (such as dinosaurs). A lot of times, like in the book, the museum displays contain wax sculptures and mannequins of people. There is a relationship between the museum and Holden, however, that goes further than how he felt about it. Essentially, both Holden and the museum are fake. As already explained, the museum contains many fake and lifeless items.

That passage also touches on a reason that Holden might feel as if the museum was the only thing that he could trust. Little things such as his teacher or partner being absent took affect in Holden's mind. He also gives a vague reason for other insecurities. If what is said about Holden's mother and father having a fight or numerous fights is true, then that could justify a handful of Holden's problems. The thought or not being able to trust that your own two parents would remain the same, wou

Some topics in this essay:
Central Park, I'm I'm, College Dictionary, Essentially Holden, Holden Caulfield, Pency Holden, Miss Aigletinger, Ol' JD, Secondly Phoebe, Catcher Rye, reason holden, half book, holden caulfield, holden museum, ducks central park, catcher rye, ducks pond, mother father, ducks central, central park, holden doesn't,