How is Holden biased?

His way of thinking causes bias towards everyone and therefore makes his claims unreliable. To add further to proof against his reliability, is his habit to lie to both others and to himself. His need for attention causes him to act against his own norms and therefore makes him an unreliable hypocrite.

What is the tone of Catcher in the Rye?

The tone of The Catcher in the Rye is often sarcastic and judgmental, yet reveals Holden’s longing for connection and frustration in achieving it. Holden often uses sarcasm to hold himself above other characters and prove his superiority to people he finds less intelligent.

What is the main idea of Catcher in the Rye?

The Catcher in the Rye takes the loss of innocence as its primary concern. Holden wants to be the “catcher in the rye”—someone who saves children from falling off a cliff, which can be understood as a metaphor for entering adulthood.

Why does Holden not like the word grand?

Holden is disgusted by Mr. Spencer’s use of the word “grand” because he believes it is a very phony statement. It is not personalized to any one individual, rather it is a generic statement that teachers, headmasters, and all other “refined” members of society can make about each other.

Why is Sally a phony?

Sally is a conventional girl of her social class and does not understand or recognize Holden’s struggles to come to terms with Allie’s death, his fear of growing up, and his attempts to forge his own identity. This makes her a “phony” in Holden’s eyes.

Why does Holden Call Sally instead of Jane?

Holden calls Sally because he “wasn’t in the mood” to call Jane and he was lonely and wanted someone to hang out with. He asks if she wants to see a Matinee show. He wasn’t too crazy about her but he had known her for years.

Why does Holden lie to Mrs Morrow?

Mrs. Morrow is the mother of one of Holden’s classmates. He lies to her because he doesn’t want her to know that he’s been kicked out of school.

Why does Holden use fake names?

Holden thinks that adulthood is a bunch of phonies, and that childhood is beneath him. He also believes that he is an adult. Using fake names shows that Holden is not secure with himself and also that he likes to lie.

Why does Holden lie about Ernie?

First, Holden’s contempt for many of his peers has alienated him and made him lonely. It’s no surprise he does not like Ernest; he does not like or get along with most people because he is highly critical of them. Second, Holden is a compulsive liar, as he admits himself. This is a sign of his immaturity.

Why does Holden like to lie?

For Holden, lying is a way to cope with what he sees as the harsh reality of the real world, and a way for him to try to construct a fantasy of himself he wants other people to believe.

Is Holden a phony?

Based on definition number one, Holden Caulfield is a phony because when he introduces himself to people he does not know, he gives himself a different name as well as tells them false stories of his life and past. Hence, him being “fake” and “not real.”

Why is Holden so obsessed with innocence?

He wanted children to stay children and preserve their innocence because he doesn’t want them to fall in the corrupted and complicated world of adulthood. Holden tries to protect the children from reading the swear word that could poison their mind. The red hunting hat is another symbolism of innocence in the novel.