"The Catcher in the Rye" Section 2

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Holden is very critical of the world around him. He often sees the world as having the problem, yet he never looks to himself. Despite his claims of being humble and not self-centered, Holden shows times where he is self-centered and moronic like the world around him. Because he has some gray hair, Holden thinks he appears older than his age. Therefore, he often goes into clubs and tries to order alcohol. For example, “I ordered a Scotch and soda, and told him not to mix it… ‘ I’m sorry, sir,’ he said, ‘but do you have some verification of your age? Your driver’s license perhaps?’ ” (Salinger, 69). He continually compliments himself on his ability to fool people with his age, yet it backfires here. Moreover, he continually calls himself “suave.” When he tries to dance with three older women in the club, they laugh and hardly pay any attention to him. When he danced with the blonde women, she did not even engage in a conversation Holden was desperately trying to make.