Over the years, society has become shallow, harsh, and primarily concerned with materialistic objects. This transformation has caused emotional changes in people themselves, causing a lack of engagement, anxiety and depression. Individuals have not realized the magnitude of the changes that American society has gone through and the negative effects they have had on many individuals' fundamental outlook on life. An exceptional book, Nine Stories, written by JD Salinger, describes the effects of living in a false society based on the characters of Eloise, Mary Hudson and the McArdles, whom Salinger describes as superficial and acquisitive. Salinger reveals through the stories "Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut", "The Man Who Laughs" and "Teddy" that society's obsession with materialistic objects has blinded individuals from the truly important values ​​of life, making their indifferent and critical attitudes. story "Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut", Salinger reveals through Eloise's shallow and cold mother, that living in a phony world can turn a loving individual into a bitter one. Eloise's only concern for valuable possessions manifests itself when she is chatting with her friend, as she exclaims, "My God, I have nothing sacred to wear." If Lew's mother ever dies, ha ha, she'll probably leave me an old monogrammed ice pick or something” (21). Eloise's experience in the artificial world makes her so cruel that she chooses materialistic possessions over a human being. What she doesn't realize is the harsh and prejudiced person she has become, due to living in a superficial world she has always despised. Eloise only cares about the objects she receives in life, without feeling any emotion towards her family. Formerly a... middle of paper ... due to the rise of materialism in American society. Through Salinger's many stories related to materialism, he describes how society has become blinded to truly important goods. in life like family and emotion. Through his snobbish characters, Salinger reveals that instead of improving our well-being, the rise of materialism has had exactly the opposite effect. These stories reveal the ridiculous aspects of what American society has come to value and the influence it has had on individuals. This desire for more expensive objects has created massive unhappiness, detachment in relationships, and isolation in all individuals it has impacted. Overall, Salinger reveals through these three significant stories that materialistic individuals are more prone to depression and alienation, and that they do not see things as they really are...