Themes from the Catcher in the Rye and a Raisin in the Sun

Hypocrisy is a rampant negative force in society. This is not a new phenomenon; authors have long been writing on the subject of hypocrisy. In Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger used hypocrisy as a major source of distrust towards others in the mind of the protagonist. In Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry uses hypocrisy as a source of conflict between the character "Mama" and the rest of her family. Through both Catcher in the Rye and Raisin in the Sun, hypocrisy is a major cause of distrust between characters.

In Catcher in the Rye, Holden simultaneously lauds others for their hypocrisy while being a hypocrite. Holden states, "No, everybody's fine at home...it's me. I have to have this operation" (58). When Holden convinces this stranger of his outright fabrication, he does not consider himself to be a "phony", as he considers others when they lie. Holden ignores his own lies and does not even attempt to reconcile his thoughts on the lies of others and his own Holden even recognizes that he is a liar, "I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life... If I'm on my way to the store to buy a magazine [I'll say] I'm going to the opera" (36). Holden's lying is a way to keep people at arm's length and protect his true self from being seen by others. Holden is afraid that if his true self is seen, he will be ostracized by everyone. The fear of revealing himself to others supplements his distaste.

[INTRODUCTORY SENTENCE]. [FIRST QUOTE]. [COMMENTARY 1]. [COMMENTARY 2]. "MAMA (Quietly) Can't you give people a Christian greeting before you start asking about money?" (70). She justifies looking down upon those around her because she sees herself as a faithful Christian, often making subtle comments about how they should be behaving. MAMA does not see this as being a wrong doing though because she does not examine her own actions the way she does others. In the Bible it states not to judge others, but in what Mama is doing by trying to be more Christian than others she is breaking this rule in the Bible therefore making herself "less Christian". (Outro).

Hypocrisy degrades the trust between people. Within major institutions such as the church, the media, and