Contradictions

Throughout the course of The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden contradicts himself quite frequently. Throughout the course of the novel, Holden reveals his very strong feelings as to things in everyday life. Some of these things include movies, church, and many others. He will talk about how he hates these things in his life and how he doesn't understand them, but the next minute he shows concern for them. For example, at the beginning of the novel he talks about how he hates movies. Holden states, "If its one thing I hate, it's the movies," (Salinger, 4). But then later on in the novel, he goes an attends a movie with Ackley. Not only does he contradict himself concerning movies he also does this with the church. He talks about how he hates church because Catholics are "always trying to figure out if your catholic" (Salinger, 112). But later in the novel, he gives $10 to two nuns just as a donation. I think that Holden contradicts himself so much because he is never happy. His deep depression causes him to not know what he wants in his life, so he is constantly contradicting himself.