NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
Many teenagers tend to lie about themselves to look or to sound "cool. " There are others, whom may lie because they are too ashamed of themselves or the environment they are in. Whatever the reasons may be of lying, these may cause the teenagers in becoming a serious and big liars. J. D. Salinger's, The Catcher in the Rye is a novel about a young boy named Holden Caulfield.
Resulting from his lack of concentration and enthusiasm, Holden has been getting expelled from one school to another repeatedly. Throughout the book, the author begins to unravel the real personality which Holden has within himself. He is a hypocritical teenager who constantly lies about himself to the others because he is too ashamed. Consequently, his shameful identity leads him into depression, which later leads him into becoming a psycho. Holden goes against all his moral codes; and therefore, he is known to be a hypocrite and considered as a rebel. One example of his hypocrisy is the way Holden states in the book how he hates the movies.
He states that he hates the movies because the scriptwriters are selling their wonderful ideas and thoughts to Hollywood just like his brother D. B did. After the statement has been said, he asks Ackley and Mal Brossard to go see a movie with him in Angerstown. I didnt have a date or anything, so I and this friend of mine, Mal Brossard, that was on the wrestling team, decided wed take a bus into Angerstown and have a hamburger and maybe a lousy movie. (Pg. 25 - 26) He shouldnt have thought of even going to see a movie if he dislikes them so much.
The second example of him being a hypocrite is the way Holden is also calling people phonies. For example, Stradlater, Ackely, Mr. Haas, and including himself were all considered as phonies. While talking to Ernest Morrows mother, she asks him what his name was and he replied, Rudolf Schmidt (pg. 54), which was the name of the janitor from Pencey.
Holden should be considered as a phony too because phonies are the ones who lie the most. He doesn't realize his own phoniness and therefore is considered a hypocrite. One of the main points in this book is to show that Holden does not want any changes in life which is, growing up. Although he tells the readers that he doesn't want changes and children growing up, he often tries to act more mature and sophisticated.
He smokes, drinks and thinks of having sex in the city. He often tries to order drinks but because he is underage, the waiters do not serve him. When he orders a prostitute he can't follow through with it and makes up an excuse. This clearly proves Holden is a hypocrite.
Holden is ashamed of himself so he resorts to lying his way out. Lying is very addictive because once someone tries it, they want to keep doing it again and again thinking that its an easy way to hide their problems or get away from hard situations. Unfortunately for Holden lying has taken control over him. On the train from Pencey to New York City, Holden meets Ernest Morrows mother. She talks with her throughout the ride but when she asks for his name he replies, Rudolf Schmidt Rudolf was the name of a janitor from his dorm. His excuse for it was that he didnt want to tell her his real name.
Later on in the conversation Holden lies again to Ernest Morrows mother. It isnt very serious. I have this tiny tumor on the brain, (Pg. 58) Brain tumors are very serious and should not be joked around with. Many people take it seriously but Holden being the liar that he is just keeps on going and doesnt care what others think. He is too ashamed of himself coming out of school earlier than the other kids because he was expelled. Shame leads to lying and for Holden, it may destroy him once everyone finds out.
There are many signs to prove that Holden has clinical depression. Hes gone to school for many years now but he still doesnt know where the ducks go during the winter. On page 60 it reads, You know those ducks in that lagoon right near Central Park South? That little lake? By any chance, do you happen to know where they go, the ducks, when it gets all frozen over? Do you happen to know by any chance?
And the taxi driver whom he was speaking to replied, What ya try do, bud? Kid me? This shows that the taxi driver thinks that Holden is crazy. A person has to be pretty stupid not to know where the ducks go during the winter when the lagoon freezes. To add to this craziness, Holden also lies a lot. Lying by it self is bad.
But admitting that youre a good liar is even worse. No one can be stupid enough to say, I am the best liar, while knowing that it is wrong, but in this case, Holden is. Just the fact that he admits that he is the best liar is the main fact that makes him look mentally ill. That shows that something is a little wrong but suicide is an even bigger problem. Holden states on page 104 What I really felt like, though, was committing suicide. Suicide is very serious and many people actually follow through with it.
Most clinically depressed people are the ones that commit suicide. As a result Holden is clinically depressed. In many cases, Holden has been lied to and as a result he becomes a better liar. Being in a community with liars can make someone else become a liar too. He may not know it but as Holden lies other people know too and eventually it will effect his future life.
Holden is always stating things but he goes against his own statements and that leads to show that he is a hypocrite and it is going to be very hard to fix this problem for he doesnt even know that hes a hypocrite at this point. If Holden really does have a mental problem then all the points can be taken back. But he still has some intelligence because he can pass English without even trying hard. But inside of his very complicated head, he may have some problems.
We wont know until we find out for sure. Bibliography:
Free research essays on topics related to: holden, taxi driver, lying, hypocrite, clinically depressed
Research essay sample on Clinically Depressed Taxi Driver
