Why does Holden Caulfield always lie in THE CATCHER IN THE RYE? There's underlying reasons...

As Holden Caulfield states on page sixteen of The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger, "I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life...It's terrible." But his lies are not used for simple reasons--he uses deceptive techniques in order to escape personal relations. After the death of his brother, Allie, Holden alienates himself to prevent personal bonds. When his self-inflicted alienation is threatened by attempts at personal connection, Holden uses …

…discussion. Finally, he finds personal contact with his parents unbearably personal, especially his mother's hysterics, and so he lies accordingly. Therefore, personal contact is not something that is easily handled by Holden, who uses deception for prevention and protection. But do lies really prevent and protect, or do they harm and cripple? As George Herbert once said, "Dare to be true: nothing can need a lie; A fault which needs it most, grows two thereby."