The Helpless and Innocent Soul

劉均勻

（該論文為廣東省教育技術中心2012年課題《高中英語數字化校本課程的開發與應用研究》課題研究成果）

Abstract： This paper is discussing the characteristics of Holden Caufield， the protagonist in J.D Salingers The Catcher in the Rye， one of the earliest anti-hero in American literature. Holden has many characteristics that are all his own， his desire for independence， lack of security， viewing the whole world as “phony” and his special ideal.All these characteristics make his innermost restless and depressed， but he struggles to find his own identity. He wants to save the whole young generation， but he finds he could do nothing. He is much innocent and hopeless. The analysis of his characteristics contributes to a better understanding of the psyche of the “Beat Generation”in American post World WarⅡ.

Key Words：Holden；sense of security；phony

Introduction

In the early 1950s， American government pursues the policy of McCarthyism， hegemonism and Cold War， suppressed the progressice forces inside the country. The nation is covered with a terror of nuclear war. Some people lead a muddle-headed and ignorant life， but some other people， especially youths， rebel against the conventional social and moral value because they are so disappointed and depressed. They want to find a glorious path leading to a flourishing future， but they are so depressed that they have no way to find it. The 1950s also witnessed a wide spread discontentment among the postwar generation， which are whown as the “Beat Generation”. Holden Caufield， the protagonist in J.D Salingers The Catcher in the Rye， is in fact one of the earliest representatives of the “Beat Generation”. And this paper is trying to analyze the complex characteristics of Holden Caufield through his behaviour and psychology in the novel， to reveal the special restless and depressed psyche of the “Beat Generation”in America.

Ⅰ.The Desire for Independence

The first and most obvious characteristic found in most teens， including Holden， would be the desire for independence. Throughout the novel， Holden is not once found wishing to have his parents help in any way. He has practically lived his entire life in dorms at prestigious schools， and has learned quite well how to be on his own. He feels that he has enough intelligence to think through a problem without going to his parents for consent.

When Holden hears the news that he has been expelled from Pencey Prep School， he faces two choices： to hold on or give up？ The question “ to be or not to be”， which perplexed Hamlet several centuries ago， bewilders Holden again. It seems that Holden is so independent as to choose to holdon on his own will， which the reader can get from his name Holden（hold on）. He concludes that his parents would not know of this for a few days. Therefore， he would wait from Saturday all the way to Wednesday， let his parents “get it and thoroughly digest it”， and then face the consequences， which will more than likely be less severe after his parents calmed down. He states on page 51， “ I didnt want to be around when they first got it. My mother gets very hysterical. Shes not too bad after she gets something thoroughly digested， though.”

Ⅱ.The Lack of Security

Holdens lack of security is another important characteristic of him， which results from the cruel capitalist society and also the shadow of World War Ⅱ.

He wears a red hunting hat on the head， which indicates his insecurity as well. He wears it in hope of shelterign from the depression and societys harsh elements under the red hunting hat. In order to find security， Holden， even though immature， tries to act like an adult by smoking and drinking in hopes that he will find companionship. He even admits， though， “ Im a goddamn minor.”

Tracing back to the reason resulting in Holdens lack of security， the World War Ⅱ plays the most important role. On one hand， the war brings staggering profits for America； but on the other hand， it produces a terror among the civil， especially the adolescents. Although American youths dont take part in the war， they gain the information about the war through the media. The war forces too many people to become destitute and homeless， and it produces a lot of blood and sacrifices. They are dread of the war， death and harm. So they are in their search fo finding a secure place to protect themselves. This is exactly the reason leading to the Holdens insecurity.

Ⅲ.Compulsive Lying

Compulsive lying is another important charateristic of Holden. It results from his sense of insecurity. The reason that the children often choose to lie to defend themselves lies in two aspects： partly because they will get punished if they tell the truth； partly because they will gain what they want in their daydreams（lies） which they have no way to obtain in the reality. The lies convey what they frighten and pursue. Instead of admitting to others of a wrongful deed， they try covering up the mistake or avoiding it in hopes that they wont get in any trouble. As for Holden， its no exception. Holden brags about how he lies in the first half of the book， “Im the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. Its awful. If Im on my way to the store to buy a magazine， even， and somebody asks me where Im going， Im liable to say Im going to he opera. Its terrible.”

Throughout the whole novel， he goes on definitely proving that he is “ the biggest liar you ever saw in your life.” Most of the things he does or says in the book are lies that， only by his narration， the reader could decipher between. However， the characters in the book dont know when he is lying. So， throughout the book， Holden goes about making many false relationships or just bluntly lies to others. Its his lack of security that forces his compulsive lying， which is a way of him to free from the contradiction， to escape from the cruel reality.

Ⅳ. Viewing the whole world as “phony”

One of the main things that characterize Holden is the way that he views the entire world as “phony”. One of the most oft-used words in Holdens lexicon is “phony”. He is constantly detecting sham motives in the people around him. The advertisement for Pencey Prep disturbs him； the picture of a horse jumping over a fence gives， in his opinion， a false image of the school. In Holdens judgment， Pencey is a home for dishonest， spoiled children， and not for idealized horsemen-to-be. In Holdens mind， the world around him is full of phoniness， his roommate Ward Stradlater， his history teacher Mr. Spencer， the headmaster of Pencey Prep Mr. Thurmer， his girlfriend Sally Hayes， even his long-respected English teacher Mr. Antolini. Holdens view of the world as “phony” is a very strong one. Holden thinks that the majority of the people in the world are putting on some sort of an act to impress or befriend people.

With characteristic ambivalencem， Holden， while preparing to enter the adult world， indulges in fantastic daydreams. His dream of escaping from reality， an an anonymous deaf-mute to an idyllic cabin near the woods mirrors the romantic dreams of the poets. His vision of the beautiful and unreal girl he will marry is typical of his sentimental solution to the problems of life. All these are in fact his escapism from the reality after all his diligence comes to nothing. His voice for a peace and beautiful paradise is too much small， which makes him to face his psychiatrist in the rest room at the end of the story.

Ⅴ. Having His Special Ideal

Although Holdens innocence regarding issues of school， people and sexuality has already failed， he still has his own special ideal， to be a catcher in the rye to protect others from knowing about these adult subject， which first comes to him is when he is wandering in the street of New York City.

He is feeling depressed and finds himself on Broadway trying to purchase a record for his sister. Holden notices a poor family walking in front of him. This unit is composed of a fatherm mother and “little kid”. Holden notices the child who is walking in a straight line in the street and humming a tune to him. Holden approaches him to determine the tune he is singing. This tune is “If a Body Catch a Body Coming Through the Rye.” Then after that， he sits with his sister Phoebe at home. Phoebe asks him what he wants to be after he grows up， he tells Phoebe what he wants to be is “ a catcher in the rye”， and he imagines himself standing at edge of a cliff as children play around him. He would catch them before they run too close to the cliff.

The reason why he wants to be a catcher in the rye lies in the following truth： Holden thinks that the world around him is polluted with full of phonyes， desire and money， which is not good for the childrens growth both in body and spirit. He wants to protect them from being affected by the repulsive soceity.

Conclusion

Holden represents the lonely American youth seeking to establish a moral code based in transcendent values. His ambition to be the “catcher in the rye” symbolizes his desire to establish a moral order. His desire for independence， sense of insecurity， compulsive lying， viewing the whole world as “phony” and his special ideal all can be understood and accepted. Holden is a hero， but he is not heroic in the traditional sense. Rather， he fits into the modern anti-heroic hero. He is not conventionally successful in his undertaking. Obviously， Holdens strength does not rest in the traditional success. He is heroic in the deepest sense because he truly battles against shame and corruption. Through the analysis of his characteristics， the readers can get an overview of the psyche of the “Beat Generation” post World War Ⅱ in America and will pay more attention to the healthy growth of todays young generation. This paper contributes to a better understanding of our todays young children， who meet with all kinds of troubles in their growing path. So， as instructors， as well as parents， we should give children what they want，such as more freedom， independence， sense of security，etc.

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（作者單位：廣東省博羅中學）