Powerless Holden In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden sees the world as an evil and corrupt place where there is no peace. This perception of the world does not change significantly throughout the novel. However, as the novel progresses, Holden gradually comes to the realization that he has no power to change the situation. During the brief period of Holden's life covered in this book, "Holden manages to make us feel that the world is crazy"1. after Holden leaves Pencey Prep, he checks into the Edmont Hotel. This is where Holden's riots begin. Holden spends the next evening at this hotel which was "full of perverts and idiots. [There was] nonsense everywhere."2. His situation only gets worse from this point, as the more he looks at the world, the more depressing life seems. Around every corner Holden sees evil. See a world that appears completely immoral and unscrupulous. The three days that the novel covers place a struggling Holden in the vicinity of Manhattan. The city is decked out in Christmas decorations and splendor, yet, much to Holden's despair, it "rarely offers opportunities for peace, charity, or even genuine cheer."3. Holden is surrounded by what he considers drunks, perverts, idiots and screwballs. These beliefs that Holden has waver for a moment during a particular scene in the book. The scene is with Mr. Antolini. After Mr. Antolini patted Holden on the head while he was sleeping, Holden jumped up and ran outside thinking that Mr. Antolini was a pervert too. This is the only time during the novel that Holden thinks twice before considering someone a pervert after reviewing Mr. Antolini, Holden eventually concludes that perhaps he wasn't giving him a "volatile" pass. He wonders if he just likes patting kids on the head while they sleep. This is the only time in the novel that Holden actually considers the positive side of something. However, this event does not constitute a significant change. As Holden himself says, "It's not so bad when it's sunny, but the sun only comes out when it feels like it."4. The sun, of course, is a reference to decency through the common association of light and goodness. His perception of the world remains the same. The only belief that changes throughout the novel is Holden's belief that he can change the world..