Understanding Holden Caulfield

Holden Caulfield is a depressed, cynical teenager who has difficulty handling the realities of his life. Much of this is due to the traumatic early death of his little brother, Allie, whom he idolized and adored. His experiences with deep and genuine relationships are minimal, and he seems to be afraid of intimate connection. He seems torn between completely isolating himself and craving companionship. In addition to his personal social difficulties, he is deeply afraid of change, especially the transition from childhood to adulthood. He constantly feels overwhelmed by the complexities of his daily life, and find peace in stillness. This is seen in his recurring visits to the Museum of Natural History, where he craves a world in which nothing ever changes. He is terrified by the unpredictable, and gets quickly distressed in certain situations. Much of this was brought on by Allie's sudden and senseless death. Holden feels hopeless and confused in the wake of his passing, and takes on a very radical view of childhood. To make sense and peace of Allie's childhood death, he comes to understand it as a preservation of his purity and innocence. He also idolizes and has a deep connection with Phoebe, his younger sister. He seeks to protect and shelter her from many "adult" things, including cursing, which he often does around her anyways. His obsession with the "phoniness" of people and of adulthood itself exemplifies his cynical view of the world. Often hypocritical, Holden is deeply troubled by so-called "phonies", and seeks to separate himself from them. This is how and why he so severely isolates himself from so many people, and alienates himself with ridiculous thoughts and actions. The shock of Allie's death is the main driver of Holden's depressive and impulsive thoughts.