“There is nothing better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time. "[1] Everyone faces adversity in their lives, and how we deal with problems is what sets us apart from each other. In Siddhartha and The Catcher in the Rye, both Holden and Siddhartha face a variety of problems. These difficulties, if not faced, can be debilitating; however, if the victim tries to solve them, the problems become obsolete. Both Holden and Siddhartha face great adversities, these difficulties include: relationships, emotions, fate and suicide these problems, the way they were addressed was extremely different. The differences between Holden, a teenager who abandons his studies without regard for the future; the Buddha, "The One who has awakened", are very evident. Siddhartha, as a result of becoming Buddha, treated his peers similarly to Holden; but for the most part he treats people very differently. In his age of wealth, Siddhartha regards everyone as his inferiors: "He himself does he felt different from the others, superior to them". [2] Holden also faces feelings of superiority; this is demonstrated by him calling everyone “fake” or how he judges everyone. Holden's ruthless judgment of others was based on keys as unimportant as having cheap suitcases or poor dental health. These judgments led Holden to a deeply rooted hatred of people and feelings of great superiority; even though he himself was an impostor. While Holden continues to perceive everyone as his inferiors throughout the novel; Siddhartha did not. He changes his views dramatically when he grows tired of his wealth and approaches... middle of paper... a way to resolve his inner torments. In "Siddhartha" and "The Catcher in the Rye" both protagonists face a similar set of problems. What distinguished them from each other was their attitude towards the problem and the way they approached it. Holden had a persistent level of forgetfulness when it came to these issues; therefore they continued to remain unsolved. Siddhartha took note of what caused his pain, or how he treated people, and acted accordingly. Siddhartha would learn from his sadness and his mistakes. Holden would only dwell on his mistakes making them more intense. Both Holden and Siddhartha faced difficulties in relationships, emotions, destiny, and suicide. However, the ability to strive for self-improvement and success by freeing oneself from all problems is what leads Siddhartha to become Buddha and Holden to a psychiatric ward..