"The Catcher in the Rye": Motif~ "You"

     Throughout the piece of literature, The Catcher and the Rye by J.D. Salinger, the particular motif of the term "you" is woven through about every incident that Holden encounters.  For example, upon hearing someone laugh while walking through the streets at night, Holden says, " 'New York's terrible at night when somebody laughs.  You can hear it for miles.  It makes you feel so lonesome and depressed' " (Salinger, 70).  Moreover, Holden uses "you" to describe how one may feel in a certain situation.  But, in reality, Holden is depressed and lonesome.  There is no doubt in my mind that Holden uses the term "you" to account for how he actually feels about a particular situation.  I believe, because Holden repeatedly fails to confront and conquer his problems, he also cannot own up to his personal feelings about matters.  Also, when thinking back to his joyful days with Jane Gallagher, Holden says, " 'You never even worried with Jane, whether your hand was sweaty or not.  All you knew was, you were happy.  You really were' "(Salinger, 66).  Because Holden lives a very unstable life, I predict it is not easy to recall himself as being completely happy.  So, Holden uses "you" to tell his story, without having to forget his current gloom and admit he actually was happy.