Saturday, December 26, 2015

In "The Catcher in the Rye", what are some examples of Holden being isolated or being an outsider?

At Pencey Prep, Holden does not have any friends. His roommate, Stradlater puts up with him, but they are not friends. The dorm neighbor, Ackley, also considered an outsider, isn't Holden's friend either. Holden finds something wrong with everyone, especially adults, whom he believes are all phonies.

Holden is disconnected from his life as a student, repeatedly getting kicked out of one school after another, he does not succeed academically. It is not because Holden is stupid, just detached, he doesn't care, he doesn't do any work. He seems to fail on purpose, unable to stop the process, because he is so depressed.

Holden leaves Pencey Prep before Christmas vacation officially begins, because he can't stand to wait around anymore. Stradlater goes out on a date with Holden's dream girl, Jane Gallagher, a girl that Holden adores, but one that he never calls.

Once Holden begins his travel to NYC, he meets a mother of one of his classmates on the train. He lies to Mrs. Morrow,giving her a false identity, not desiring to really connect with her. He tells her all kind of lies. Holden keeps himself at a distance from everyone.

Afraid of bumping into his parents or their friends in NYC, he checks into a flea bag hotel in a questionable neighborhood. He is lonely and isolated. He ends up engaging a hooker, just to have someone to talk to, he really only wanted to talk.

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