CITR: Problems of Confrontation

IifIn Catcher in the Rye, it has a overwhelming message of lost opportunities due to the fear of confrontation. Holden always thinks about doing something, but then strays from it. For example, he "oughta go down and say hello to her, at least" (42 Salinger), but he strays from this idea due to his fear of confrontation and having a negative outcome. This happens quite often, and he later wonders more about Jane. He basically goes through this whole first part of the story in a fashion that allows him to not confront himself even. The writing style shows how he doesn't talk much about his feelings, but more his criticism of things. Instead of talking about his past, most of his words concentrate on his current environment showing his unwillingness to look into his past. This is well emphasized by the author's possible intention to not fully develop the side characters, so that we can feel the pain Holden is in when he regrets not doing something.