An Analysis Of Holden's Loneliness Affecting A Life '
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Clayton Cissell
Mr. Notestine
English II
13 December 2014
Loneliness Affecting a Life
The novel, The Catcher in the Rye, is about a teenage boy who cannot simply find comfort in his own life. Holden, the main character, is affected greatly by other people’s criticism, causing him to feel a sense of loneliness. Holden finds a special comfort in conversing with strangers, mostly because they do not judge him. Holden is a boy whom does not like to be helped; he is solely lost in his own world, and does not care what anybody else has to say to him. Holden finds himself friendless midway through the novel because he feels a sense of phoniness in everyone that he meets. In the novel The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger writes about how loneliness…show more content… In many instances, Holden feels as if he doesn’t even want to be alive. J.D Salinger reveals many clues to what is causing Holden’s loneliness. He wants to cure this loneliness, but he just can’t seem to figure it out. The depression and isolation from the world that Holden feels, is almost too great for him to survive. He is so depressed that he can no longer find happiness in anything he does. At one point in the novel, Holden thinks to himself, “I felt so lonesome, all of a sudden. I almost wished I was dead.” (62). This thought demonstrates just how powerful his loneliness is throughout the novel. Holden simply feels comfort in talking to one person, and that is his younger sister Phoebe, whom is very innocent and has yet to disappoint him. In chapter 10, Holden finds himself lonely once again, looking for somebody to talk to. He thinks about calling Phoebe; “While I was changing my shirt, I damn near gave my kid sister a buzz, though. I certainly felt like talking to her on the phone. Somebody with sense and all. But I couldn’t take a chance on giving her a buzz, because she was only a little kid and she wouldn’t have been up, let alone anywhere near the phone.”(87). Holden then follows up with, “But I certainly wouldn’t have minded shooting the crap with old Phoebe for a while.”(87). His sister seems to be the only one that he feels comfortable talking to, reducing his loneliness for a short