Holden Caulfield (who is the main character of the book) seems to be a very pessimistic person. In my reading of the catcher in the rye i have been noting every use of the words "phony" and "depressing" (or depressed). Now, the books story is being told like it is Holden in the future (relative to the story) telling of the past (relative to the "future" story telling Holden)
He uses the word "depressing" in contexts like when he is in an empty hotel lobby, or in New York City when he is walking alone and he can hear people laughing with their dates. The word is usually used along side "lonesome".
He uses the word "phony" like when he is alone walking in NYC and he can hear guys with their dates "laughing like hyenas" about something that isn't even funny. That to him is a phony thing to do. Or giving a phony polite handshake or giving a phony name like "Jim Steele" just for the heck of it.
The question then is, is Holden pessimistic or realistic?
