Conflicts consume the entire novel, The Catcher in the Rye; most are internal conflicts within the main character, Holden Caulfield. He has failed out of a number of private schools, the latest at Pencey Prep. He has suicidal tendencies after his brother, Allie's death. The worry of where the ducks go in central park, if they just disappear like his brother did. Holden has gone through emotional pain and torture throughout his entire life while quite short he has experienced more emotional pain then most share in a lifetime.
             Holden tries to make himself look older than he really is by drinking alcohol and thinking like he actually has a sex life, but he doesn't. Drinking and smoking cigarettes are Holden's life. Wherever he goes he tries to order an alcoholic drink to make himself look older but, by drinking he is just adding to the depression that is raging in him. Which in turn make him lonely but, he won't try to make friends because of how he feels, depressed and hopeless. Of course a myriad of other factors attribute to Holden's depression and suicidal propensity.
             He is hypocritical even though he does not realize this. Holden will call people phony yet he himself is one. Another one of Holden's hypocritical inclinations is that he hates how people judge others based on their material possessions but, he does the same thing, judging others based on material possessions. Also how he acts like he does not care what people think of him but, inside he truly does care what they think. The fact that he hates people like Stradlater who act all high and might yet he tries to act the same way. He may not get away with it but, he still tries to act like a big shot.
             He has had thoughts of killing himself but, he calls himself a coward. At the end of the book he says he was sick and was sent to a rest home. This is so called "sickness" was most likely an attempt to end his life and now is in ...