The Bar

So, for my scene to analyze, I chose the scene in which Holden hangs out in the "cheesy" hotel bar.

There really didn't seem to be any real plot movement or point to the scene, except to show some character development. We saw more of Holden's lying sarcastic nature, like when he told one of the women that he just saw a celebrity leave, knowing how pathetically obsessed they were with seeing one. He kept making comments on the women's lack of intelligence, though they really did seem frightfully stupid.

We also saw how he's a kind of creepy awkward player, or rather, he wants to be a lady's man but can't quite manage it because he's too young and socially challenged. He kissed the top of the blonde's head (even though he'd met her only five minutes ago and seemed to despise her from the start) and couldn't understand why she seemed offended.

Perhaps the women in the bar were meant to contrast to some of the other women/girls that Holden knows: their stupidity vs Holden's sister, who is very smart, or their lack of personality vs. Jane, who definitely has a personality.

My only real question after this scene is this: why is this kid so messed up? Because he is. And I really want to know why. I know it was hinted at in the beginning of the book, but I want to know for sure.