Personality traits

1. Fake

1.1. "I'm a pacifist, if you want to know the truth" (pg 59) Holden seems to put up this constant front likes he's a tough guy who isn't emotional at all. Although, he doesn't believe in violence so why does he feel the need to pretend to be something he really isn't?

1.2. "I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life, it's awful" (pg 22) Holden straight up admits he is a liar. this just adds to the fact that he is always trying to be something he's not. An example of this is when he is talking to the lady on the train. Does holden feel the need to lie about the things he wishes were true? I believe holden lies to satisfy himself.

1.3. "I didn't want a bunch of stupid rubbernecks looking at me when i was all gory" (pg 136) Holden seems to put up this front for how he wants people to perceive him. He doesn't wan people to think of him weakly or poorly, therefore he is always trying to be something he is

2. Alone

2.1. Begins multiple conversations with random people at bars in the middle of the night (he is always rejected). Holden constantly trying to converse with people shows how deeply he wishes to connect with someone. Which is something he has never had really.

2.2. "People never notice anything" (pg 13) Holden seems to feel alone in his day to day life. It is clear through the whole novel he craves attention from someone but he never achieves that to his desire.

2.3. " All the athletic bastards stick together" (pg 56) This shows how all through high school, holden was never included in much. He says this but i also feel like he wishes he had a group of friends to connect with

2.3.1. Included

2.3.2. Included

2.3.3. Excluded

3. Mentally unstable

3.1. "What would he do to me?" (pg 192) When the guy at the bar asks Holden if he wants his dad to psychoanalyze him, Holden doesn't refuse it. Instead, he is intrigued and begins to ask what he would do to him. At this point in the text, i believe that Holden wants to or feels its necessary to get checked for a possibility illness, maybe depression

3.2. "If there's ever another war, i'm going to sit right the hell on top of it" (pg 183) This quote shows how anxious Holden is to leave the world. If Holden was happy with himself and life, he would have never said this. Only someone who is extremely depressed would say this.

4. Mistrust

4.1. "People never believe you" (pg 48) something must have happened in Holden's life that makes him not trust anyone. I think this adds to why he tells people so many lies. Holden probably thinks that no one is worth telling the truth to.

4.2. "I can never get sexy- i mean really sexy..." (pg 191) When holden says this about a girl it makes me think how uncomfortable he gets about connections with people. In my opinion, he can never have that strong of a connection with people because he is cared of the potential loss he could experience.