The Young Hunter in the Rye by JD SalingerJ. D. Salinger's remarkable and esteemed novel, Catcher in the Rye, reflects the hypercritical views of a troubled teenager, Holden Caulfield, towards everyone around him and society itself. This character has a distinct vision of a world where morality, principle, intelligence, purity and naivety should prevail over money, sex and power, but clearly in the world he lives in these qualities have been exiled . Holder desperately clings to and views innocence as one of the most important virtues a person can have. However, his son becomes a misfit as society is corrupt and he craves companionship, any kind of connection with another to feel whole and understood again. Ironically, despite his persistent belittling and denouncing of others, he does not apply the same critical and harsh views to himself. In Holden's eyes, society has influenced people to lose themselves. He is outraged by how easily citizens would bend to society's ways to fit in and prevail in it. He claims his brother DB, a talented writer, has undersold his potential in Hollywood. In his mind, DB could be seen as a prostitute who sold herself, or her services, to whoever was the highest bidder. Ernie is also portrayed in the same way that DB is, as the skilled and gifted pianist was depicted as using his talent to gain fame and money. Holden found himself disgusted by Ernie's corniness and the way he showcased his talent by passionately playing the piano to entertain and amaze audiences. Stradlater is also portrayed as someone who has sold himself out, not because of his talent, but because of his looks. Holden angrily called him a real hotshot for taking advantage of his appearance to gain any kind of favor. Disappointment, anger, and frustration filled Holden's heart as he saw these people give up their innate abilities for something that wouldn't last forever; fame and money. Holden's inability to adapt to society led to hatred towards it, and instead of admitting that he too was guilty, he criticizes all the people in the cliques because of their deceitfulness and dishonesty. For starters, he finds himself disliking Pencey as a school because its motto states that it turns kids into upstanding, respected members of society. However, Holden soon declares that the school is hypocritical as it does nothing to achieve their motto and as a result, most of the kids end up remaining the same people who once came to school and for some it has turned them into cheaters ( which Holden won't do). stand for).