In the book The Catcher In the Rye by J. D. Salinger, the main character, Holden Caulfield, treats money and social standing with conflicting attitudes and perspectives. In many ways Holden rejects money and scoffs at people who are rich and, in his opinion, "phony." He fantasizes about being poor and living in a working-class environment. But at times, Holden acts rich and snooty around certain people. If Holden really adores the idea of poverty, why does he act so fake in certain situations?
             Holden outright opposes money, and everything associated with it. He calls anything related to money "phony." These "phonies" include many people that he is somewhat close to, such as his classmates and roommates at Pency, his parents, and people he encounters while in New York. Why does Holden look at these people with such a harsh eye? Holden is talking to Sally and she responds to his idea of running away with a much more conservative one, a life that sounds exactly like his parents'. He is disgusted by the idea and he "was getting all depressed again" (133). A few moments before this he states how he absolutely "hates...everything, [he] hate[s] living in New York and all. Taxicabs, and Madison Avenue buses, with the drivers and all and... being introduced to phony guys who call the Lunts angels" (130). He continues criticizing everything in his live: his school, his friends, and humanity as he knows it. Holden is completely sick of his life, and he is fed up with phony p!
             eople, such as Sally, who says "marvelous" every other word, and his classmates, who drink, smoke, and talk about sleazy girls all day. When Holden says "money really talks" (69), he is expressing the fact that money and social standing can tell you everything about a person. But is that always the fact? Can't a person be rich and "real?" Many people have worked hard to earn mone...