HoldenHolden is the protagonist in J.D. Sallingers "The Catcher in the Rye". He is the protagonist because throughout the whole novel you read through his point of views and go through all of his conflicts. Holden also happens to be a dynamic character because he starts off not liking anyone or anything, throughout the book he starts to care about the innocence of children and his sister.
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Allie's DeathThe death of Holden's younger brother Allie helped show why Holden was the way that he was. Holden's depression started on the night of Allie's death, Holden says "I was only thirteen, and they were going to have me psychoanalyzed and all, because I broke all the windows in the garage. I don't blame them. I really don't. I slept in the garage the night he died, and I broke all the goddam windows with my fist, just for the hell of it"(Salinger 39).
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Need to be individualHolden holds a very strong hatred for "phonies" all throughout the book, this causes him to feel the need to be by himself all the time. His need for individuality last throughout majority of the book, his focus on watching people rather than interacting with them. Holden talks about this early in the book when he says, "I remember around three o'clock that afternoon I was standing way the hell up on top of Thomsen Hill. [...] Practically the whole school except me was there"(Sallinger 2).
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RebellionThe whole entire premises of Holden's character is breaking the rules getting into trouble and avoiding the "phonies". Holden rebels against his age's social norm by drinking, getting prostitutes, running away from home, etc. Holden's rebellion helps us understand why he behaves the way he does. In one part of the book Holden orders a prostitute and says, "Anyway, I kept walking around the room, waiting for this prostitute to show up. I kept hoping she'd be good-looking. I didn't care too much though. I sort of just wanted to get it over with"(Salinger 93).
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Missing Love From ParentsHolden's loneliness stems from a lack of love from his parents. Growing up Holden was ignored by his parents. Holden adapted the feeling of not being loved and not knowing how to love. Holden later learns what it's like to love and care for something from his little sister Phoebe. Holen says to Phoebe, '"Wait a second—take the rest of your dough, too." I started giving her the rest of the dough she'd lent me." "You keep it. Keep it for me," she said. Then she said right afterward—"Please(Salinger 204).
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