"The Catcher in the Rye" section 2

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

In section two of the novel, Holden travels around New York throughout the night. The audience can tell Holden’s main inner struggle is loneliness. He continually thinks about Jane, who is the closest friend he has had and the girl he loves. Through criticizing the world, he creates a sense of separation from everything else. For example, “I was surrounded by jerks… I listened to their conversation for a while, because I didn’t have anything else to do,” (Salinger, 85). Holden sees everyone else as the issue and refuses to acknowledge his loneliness. He also decided to walk forty-one blocks back to the hotel by himself in New York. Walking in the city alone contributes to the lonely tone developing in the novel. Moreover, Holden paid for a prostitute to come into his room that he did not have sex with. Holden continually thinks about and tries to interact with women, but it never seems to work out for him. His continual thoughts about Jane reveal that he is lonely without her. Holden trying to dance with the women at the hotel club and ordering a prostitute contribute to his loneliness and his desire to have someone in his life.