How deep is Holden?

When I read this book in high school, I remember that I really struggled to find a way to relate with it. Coming from a small town, I had never been to a boarding school (or even a private school) and going to New York City was a huge treat that happened maybe once a year. After re-reading the novel this week, I realized I was not so stuck on that factor but on Holden himself. I found his language endearing even in instances when it was annoying, and I admired how quickly a character was formed from all of his idiosyncrasies. What I find interesting about Holden now is how he seems to accidentally bump into truth. No one can really argue that he’s trying to be profound – Salinger makes sure of this through his language and what can be seen as Holden’s lack of maturity – but even if Holden is spontaneous, all over the place, and quick to judge, now and then he notices something worthwhile. For example, I think his relationship with Phoebe is very interesting, and I was really struck by his description and nostalgia of the museums. When I read this novel I see potential in Holden, although not in the way that perhaps his father saw it, or in a way that could be cultivated by going to Percey. I feel like Holden is more sensitive and can see more in the world than the average person. At the point in his life where the novel is written, I don’t think he can see this himself, but perhaps eventually when he matures or “finds his identity” or whatever you want to call it, he might turn into a truly insightful person. Ohmann writes that “Holden’s sensitivity is the heart of the book” and I agree. Though at times his language and actions can be frustrating, Holden’s sensitivity (or lack of, in some cases) is the element that is the most thought-provoking. The contrast between his perceptiveness and his limitations as a 17-year-old can be seen as both frustrating and heart-breaking. Ohmann says “Readers (adults, at least) understand more, and in this gap a poignancy grows.” (65). Overall, I believe that Holden is a deeper character than the text sometime