In the coming of age novel, The Catcher in the Rye, by JD Salinger, Holden (the main character) is sexually confused, afraid of growing up, and has a pessimistic outlook towards life, making him an emotional young man.
             Holden's negative attitude towards everything effects the way he thinks about existence.
             When Holden goes to the movies his reaction to the lady sitting next to him was, "You take somebody that cries their goddamn eyes out over phony stuff in the movies, and nine times out of ten they're mean bastards at heart" (140). Holden has strong feelings towards the movies and expresses them by being mean. Holden thinks the world around him is phony and that talking down about it will make him feel better.
             Holden is in a bar when he comments on the piano player, "It was very phony- I mean him being such a snob and all..." (84). Holden's insecurity is one of the reasons for his compulsive remarks of people being phony. His insecurities force Holden to clutch on to things in order him to feel content.
             Holden criticizes his new classmates at Pencey Preparatory, whom he has not even met yet. "It's full of phonies/.../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"(131). Just because Holden is uncomfortable in his school, he feels the need to disapprove of everyone. Holden is ostracized, and finds it hard to find acceptance in others, which is the reason for his loneliness and confusion.
             Even after all the help from Mr. Antolini, he still finds a way to scrutinize him while spending the night at his house, "What he was doing was, he was sitting on the floor right next to the couch, in the dark and all, and he was sort of petting me or patting me on the goddam head"(192). Holden completely ignores all the helpful advice that was given to him, and finds something negative to comp
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