Social Interaction in The Catcher In The Rye Essay

Catcher In The Rye

It is necessary to have social interaction to find oneself to test ones morals through conversations and experiences with others. The people one surrounds themselves with can affect the person they turn out to be. Without social interaction, one can never truly figure out oneself. It can help them with decision-making; determine their morals and actions, and the way they present themselves.

Because Holden's morals and beliefs are different from the society in which he lives in, he can't function normally in society. He speaks a lot about how he dislikes "phonies", people he sees as fake, and tries to separate himself from them. In chapter seventeen, Holden tries to rationalize himself being kicked out of school by saying he wants to accomplish something different and not just be a phony. "It's full of phonies, and all you do is study so that you can learn enough to be smart enough to be able to buy a goddam Cadillac some day, and you have to keep making believe you give a damn if the football team loses, and all you do is talk about girls and liquor and sex all day, and everybody sticks together in these dirty little goddam cliques (Salinger 131)." The reality angers Holden and he fantasizes about running away to escape society instead of trying to interact and understand people his own age, which makes him anti social.

One can develop numerous skills with social interaction. It can help one to create relationships with others from which they can learn how to function properly with people of all ages. These relationships can also help express ones emotions and teach them how to reason with people when arguing. One can develop more comfort in a variety of social situations, and when they become comfortable, theyll naturally be themselves. When one feels at ease with whom they are and what they bring to a conversation is all developed from interacting with people around them. When one feels comfortable with themselves, their focus is on the topic of the conversation and on the other people, not on themselves.

Without social interaction, its impossible to discover oneself. Holden doesnt understand why he behaves the way he does. He feels like he needs to protect himself from society and the people in it causing him to become lonely and isolated. He desperately needs love, but he prevents himself from looking for such interaction because he doesnt have a good role model to show him how to work together with others appropriately. Also, Holdens friendships and relationships never seem to last very long due to his rude behavior. For example, when he tries to rekindle the flame with Sally Hayes, it doesnt work out too well because she realizes he lacks courtesy.

If Holden wants to function correctly in a society, he can either change his morals or beliefs to fit his environment, or he can lash out at society and change his morals drastically to live as an individual without societys influences.