WHAT A CHARACTER

The first character that comes to mind when I thought about this prompt is Holden Caulfield. What struck me about his character is the way that he can be a walking contradiction. He literally “hates” the world, but can’t accept the fact that the world he “hates” is what he lives in and won’t change for a while. Holden calls almost everything phony and fake but he carries himself as a phony even though he doesn’t see it. As readers and bystanders of his story, we can come to the conclusion that Holden is a pessimistic, angst-filled teenager. What defined Holden as a memorable character are the types of dialogue he says and thinks. His “stream of consciousness” allowed the readers to really have a connection and understanding of Holden’s character. The author also gave Holden a grungy type of diction, especially with the use of profanity, to enhance Holden’s character. Indirect and direct characterization also helps readers understand the gist of what Holden is all about. Even though Holden seems to live a life without remorse, readers understand deep down inside that Holden is the complete opposite of his actions.