Steve Portnoy

Jr. Theology Period D

August 24, 2006

                                                    Holden Caulfield: Man Without Faith

             Holden Caulfield’s cynical sense of superiority supplies him with a narrow minded world view in which he possesses little faith in his peers, society, or the goodness of humanity, leaving him only with a sense of trust in the innocense of childhood which he later learns to accept as a quality limited by time.

             Just as Holden advertises his vibrant red hunting hat to portray his uniqueness, he also makes the effort to isolate himself through bitter criticism of the people around him to advertise the superiority he possesses over the rest of humanity. While this isolation serves as a form of self-protection for Holden, it, in turn, pushes him away from social interaction among his peers and in place of these potentially positive moments among his friends, Holden is left with no trust in the favorable qualities of his comrades. Holden’s criticism of his roommates, Stradlater and Ackley, calling them “secret slobs” and “supremely irritating”, highlights his extreme disapproval of “phonies” and their “flaws.” Furthermore, his mistrust and bitterness towards even his own brother merely because of his profession choice reflects Holden’s lack of faith in even his closest of relations. Jane Gallagher, one of the few people who is not viewed through Holden’s critical lense, and in fact, provides a great deal of comfort for Holden, is even avoided by him due to the little faith that she is exactly what he remembers.

             Refusing to “play by the rules” in the “game” of life, Holden’s cynicism leads him to focus specifically on the ugliness and hypocrisy around him, diminishing the beauty of the external world. This dismissing view fails to observe the positive attributes of humanity and the help, love, and support that it could provide Holden with. Holden’s bitter reaction towards Mr. Spencer after attempting to sort out his future and to wish him “Good Luck!” reflects his failure to recognize the kindness and helpfulness offered by his teacher and instead to only recognize the ugliness of Spencer’s physical appearance and to view the “lecture” as an unfair confrontation of himself. This negative outlook of humanity partially accumulated from Holden’s encounter with several unpleasant people. Feeling that he lives in a world where people such as Maurice, the furious elevator boy who gives Holden a beating, dominate and the pure of heart such as Allie and James Castle can not be tolerated and, therefore; cannot survive, Holden quickly loses faith in the pure innocence of humanity and takes on a cynical path of criticism of the people around him.

             Although very few people meet the expectations of Holden’s harsh criticism, his love of children reflects Holden’s trust in innocense and Phoebe portrays a prime example of these qualities for Holden. Holden accounts that children, unlike adults, always look so peaceful when sleeping which in turn portrays Holden’s faith in the innocense of the young. Wishing that everything could “stay right where it was” like in the museum, Holden explains that he truly wishes to be the “catcher in the rye,” saving children from losing their innocense as they “fall” into adulthood. Holden’s only faith is soon shattered, however; as he learns to accept that one day Phoebe, like all children, will be corrupted by the adult world enveloping her.

             Although the world around Holden may offer him kindness, helpfulness, and opportunity, his lack of faith in these very people because of misjudged qualities leaves him bitter towards those around him.