Danny Sommer August 28, 2008 Theology Period E Holden, the man of Faith
In the Novel, The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caufield does not show that he is a man of faith in either in his adults, his family, his friends, or even himself. To have faith, one must believe and trust someone no matter what they say or do, which Holden fails to do in anyone.
An example of an adult Holden has no faith for is his former principle. Holden does not believe his former principle and calls him a “phony” because Holden does not think the principle really cares for the students even though the principle talks to everyone and listens to what they have to say. Holden does not take his word; Holden needs to trust his principle if he wants to be a man of faith. Everyone Holden does not believe or trust he considers a “phony” or “Yale-Looking” just by looking at them. If they have money or anything nice, they cannot be trusted Holden keeps judging people by their appearance, so he does not give people the chance to earn his trust making Holden a very unfaithful man.
The only people Holden somewhat has faith in is children, for instance, Phoebe. However, it only seems Holden has faith in her because when Phoebe tries to run away with Holden. Holden interrupts his sister as she promise to be very very-something that did not matter because she was still not going. Holden shoots her down and tells her she still cannot come. Holden does not even believe his own sister that he thinks so fondly of.
Holden doesn’t trust that his roommate, Stratlater, would take care of Jean, Holden’s old time friend on his date. He also does not believe that Stralater will give Jean Holden’s regards for him after Stratlater gave him his word that he would. Holden does not even have faith in Jean. Although Stralater told Holden that Jean was waiting in the lobby, giving Holden the best opportunity to speak to his old friend for the first time in years, Holden never went to the lobby because he must not have believed that she would be there. Holden’s faithfulness not only lacks in Stratlater in this instance, it also falters in one of his best friends, Jean. Having faith in someone else seems impossible if one does not trust or believe in himself. Holden definitely believe himself and refers to himself as Jim Steele. He does not even trust himself as Holden describes what he would do. He really doesn’t.
Overall, the only faith Holden holds with anyone, is God. The self-acclaimed atheist swears to God and uses God’s name in vain too much for him not to believe that He exists and can trust. Holden may say that he is “sort of an atheist,” but he lies to himself too much for him not to believe and trust God. Holden does not believe in his family or his friends, and not even himself. Holden seems to be only a man of Faith.