What Holden Hates
Unavoidable occurrences draw his negative attention, which explains the numerous times he faces such experiences that he hates. All throughout the novel, it is clear that Holder hates his childhood; the division in society and the phoniness of people. From the beginning of the novel, Holder introduces his childhood in a way that does not seem to be of his liking. He states, “… The first thing you’ll probably want to know is where was born, and what my lousy childhood was like… But don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth” (Slinger, 1).
His disinterest in talking about his childhood and the act that he dubs it as “lousy’ shows that his past is something he does not like to go further into since he does not like it. Additionally, he constantly refers back to Allis’s death, which occurred when Holder was thirteen. Holder explains how bad it affects him by saying, “… They were going to have my psychoanalysis and all, because I broke all the windows in the garage… L slept in the garage the night he died” (39). Holder speaks highly of Allis’s intelligence and innocence.
Allele seems to be one of the few people Holder genuinely cares about and this signifies that Holder’s loss greatly scars his holding. Lastly, it is revealed that Holder had pervert experiences when he was younger. In the incident with Mr.. Anatolian, Holder finds himself sweating and he knows he is because he experiences something pervert. He mentions that it has happened to him about twenty times as a kid. It is clearly indicative that Holder’s childhood is scarred because he loses his own innocence, which explains his hatred of his younger years.
Another concept that Holder hates is the division and inequality that society creates. He has a strong opinion about cliques. Holder acknowledges that “the basketball players stick together, the intellectuals and the members of the Book-of-the- Month club stick together” (131). Holder is bothered by the fact that people only follow the status quo only hang out with people that have the same interests. He hates the division this creates because he feels he cannot fit in with the groups because of the set boundaries. Secondly, Holder expresses how he hates money because it creates inequality among social groups.
At the time he eats his breakfast at a diner, he says, “That depressed me. I hate it f I’m eating bacon and eggs or something and somebody else is only eating toast and coffee” (110). This shows that Holder hates the gap between rich and poor as it is unfair that people with money can afford to eat well when there are others who cannot afford to eat a hearty breakfast. Finally, Holder reveals that he hates how religion, specifically Catholicism, creates a boundary. He recalls a conversation he has with Louis Sanely, a Catholic.
Holder states, “Then, after a while, right in the middle of the goddamn conversation, he asked me, “Did you happen to notice where the Catholic hurt is in town, by any chance? ” The thing was, you could tell by the way he asked me that he was trying to find out if was a Catholic. He really was” (1 12). From Holder’s tone, this suggests that Louis’ inquiry ruins the conversation solely because he hates how Catholics are more eager to converse with others if they are also Catholic. Essentially, it is thoroughly apparent that Holder hates that there is inequality and division in society.
Finally, Holder’s greatest hate in the world is the phoniness that comes from Others. All throughout the novel, Holder digresses about people he finds phony and the degree of hatred he has towards their phoniness. He talks about his older brother, DB, noting that he is a brilliant writer but hates that fact that he becomes a “prostitute” in Hollywood (2). Holder does not like that DB goes around looking like a big shot with his jaguar. He also does not like that DB wastes his talent in writing storyline for movies. This alludes to the next significant concept that Holder hates.
Holder strongly dislikes movies in general and the people that love to see movies. He finds that movies are phony because it is just acting; the content of film is far from reality. Holder claims that people who enjoy movies are phony because they are just drawn to the superficial. Again, Holder demonstrates his hatred of phoniness through movies. The last aspect he hates about the phoniness Of people is the arrogance and essence of superiority that is evoked. Holder explains that Pence Prep “molds boys into splendid, clear-thinking young men who play polo” (2).
However, he feels it is full of phoniness that Pence is feet with the idea that the school is full of polo players and hot shot students. In reality, no one plays polo and it is a standard school. Evidently, Holder demonstrates his hatred of phoniness through his numerous complaints and criticism of others. Through his failed connections and poor relationships with people, it is apparent that Holder has serious issues about society and his past. Holder becomes preoccupied with observing the phoniness and flaws of society; and the lousiness of his childhood because he genuinely hates these things.
