Holden is just as phony and hollow as the people whom he criticizes.
Holden's main problem is that he practically does not even view himself as part of the
human race. He either believes himself to be either inferior or superior to the "rest of
us."
Thoughout the novel certain instances occur that lead us to believe that Holden has a
serious problem in seeing himself as normal. He spends an awful lot of time reflecting
upon apperances. Worrying too much about how the people around him seem to be, and yet
at times not even thinking of how he is coming off.
He fabricates such personalities as Jim Steele who is 22 and has a little encounter with
a hooker in the begining of chapter 13. This Jim guy was sopposed to be this highly
sexually experienced nonchalant casa-nova. When he really quotes himself to be as
follows: "Caufield and his magic violin, boy. It's corny I realize, but it isn't too
corny. I wouldn't mind being pretty good at that stuff. Half the time, if you really
want to know the truth, when I'm horsing around with a girl, I have a helluva lot of
trouble just finding what I'm looking for, for God's sake, if you know what I mean."
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