In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden acts two different ways toward males, depending on their ages. While he venerates children, he is passive-agressive to those who are his age and older.
Holden compares every male to his dead brother Allie. Allie was his idealized male figure--uncorrupted, smart, artistic. All other males--including his father, his brother, and himself--pale by comparison. He mentions his father only in passing, and he calls his older brother an artistic "prostitute." Most others are deemed "phonies." Holden wears his red hunting hat to honor Allie (who had red hair). In terms of gender, Holden feels inferior to his brother, obvious signs of survivor's guilt.
Holden sets himself up to fail with males who are his age and older. He verbally instigates fights with Stradlater and Maurice, who beat him up because he asks for it. Although he calls himself a "pacifist," Holden likes to feeling victimized by these stronger, more macho males.
Holden is either extremely jealous of other, heterosexual males or he is paranoid and homophobic of other homosexual males. He hates Stradlater because he openly brags of his sexual promiscuity before his date with Jane, and he hates "flits" (homosexuals), especially after Mr. Antolini makes a pass at him (or so he claims). Regardless, Holden has sexual identification issues.
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