What does Holden Caulfield reflect on during his time in New York City?

Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye," spends a significant portion of the novel reflecting on the phoniness he perceives in the adult world around him. His experiences in New York City serve as a backdrop for these thoughts, as he encounters various characters and situations that reinforce his belief that many adults are insincere, superficial, or hypocritical. This perception of phoniness highlights his struggle with growing up and the loss of innocence, making his disdain for adult behaviors a central theme of the narrative. Holden's reflections reveal his deep sense of disillusionment and his desire to protect the innocence of youth, particularly that of his younger sister, Phoebe.

Though the character does touch on the importance of family and deals with existential themes of youth and authenticity, it is his critical view of adult phoniness that remains a dominant and defining aspect of his reflections in the novel.