What does phony mean to you? Do you consider it something that is not what it really seems? Or even something or someone that isn't normal in all ways or just in some? Phony is one of the words in the English literature that can have an endless amount of interpretations. Can be being phony possibly hinder an attempt to accomplish a task to fully function mentally? Can phony delay an individuals maturing period? In J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye, Holden's "phony phobia" restricts him from becoming a fully matured adult. In Holden's attempted journey in becoming a fully matured adult, he encounters many scenarios involving friendships, personal opinions, and his love of children. His journey is an unpleasant and difficult one with many lessons learned along the way.

Holden possesses abnormal relationships with some of the characters in Catcher in the Rye. Many of his friends and those he talks highly about are young children. He does not make any negative comments about these companions, and there is no mention whatsoever of phony. Holden has a strong relationship with Phoebee, his younger sister. Holden vocalizes about the fact Phoebee can visit him anytime in the summ

Holden also thinks every teacher is a phony who pretends to be helpful to students. Sadly If Holden has trouble in school he does not seek help from peers because he believes that they are phony, and we must remember, he does not associate with these types of individuals. Hence this point is tied into one of the reasons he is being kicked out of Pencey, failing 4 out of 5 courses. T. Morris puts it best by saying "Holden Caulfield is so super-sensitive to other's faults that he has no friends, among boys at least" (Morris 1).

Holden's actions toward Mr. Spencer's - his history teacher- speech is that he feels Mr. Spencer is a phony, someone of no importance. The advice that is given to him by Spencer is considered to be phony and so he tunes out. "Old Spencer" - as Holden refers to him - was asking why Holden flunked from Elkton Hills, so Holden explains his experiences at the school. Only problem is after Holden gives his answer his mind goes off track, "I didn't like going into the whole thing with him. He wouldn't have understood it anyway...One of the big reasons I left Elkton Hills was because I was surrounded by phonies...For instance, the headmaster, Mr. Haas, that was the phoniest bastard I ever met in my life!" (13-14). Holden is a prisoner of his own mind, he wanders aimlessly through his thoughts and blocks out all distractions. He continues to brush off advice given to him throughout the novel, and most likely through his whole life. Then, of course, if his "future' boss - of a unphony company that Holden works for - wanted to encourage better work habits on him, Holden would not listen, and the boss would have to let Holden go. If any future unphony "friends" wanted to help him with his life problems would go unheard by Holden, and they will no longer want to even be near him. If his unphony "wife" tries to talk about their marriage - in which she will at one time or another! - she will be understandable upset by the fact that he does not listen. Holden always has an excuse for every action he produces and stands by it strongly. He will

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