Over the years, society has become superficial, harsh, and primarily concerned with materialistic elements. This transformation has caused emotional changes in people themselves, causing lack of engagement, anxiety and depression. Individuals have not realized the amount of changes that American society has gone through and the negative effects it has had on many individuals' basic outlook on life. An exceptional book, Nine Stories, written by JD Salinger, describes the effects of living in a fake society through the characters Eloise, Mary Hudson and the McArdles, who Salinger describes as superficial and greedy. Salinger reveals through the stories "Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut", "The Laughing Man" and "Teddy", that society's obsession with materialistic objects has blinded individuals from the truly important values ​​in life, making their attitudes indifferent and judgmental . story "Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut", Salinger reveals through his superficial and cold mother Eloise, that living in a fake world can transform an individual from loving to bitter. Eloise's only concern for valuable possessions is shown while gossiping with her friend, as she exclaims “God, I have nothing sacred to wear. If Lew's mother ever dies, ha, ha, she'll probably leave me some old monogrammed ice pick or something” (21). Eloise's experience in the artificial world causes her to become so cruel that she chooses materialistic goods over a human. What he doesn't realize is the harsh and prejudiced person he has become, due to living in a superficial world that he has always despised. Eloise only cares about the objects she gets in life, without feeling any emotion towards her family. From once being a... middle of paper ...... due to the rise of materialism in American society. Through numerous stories relating to materialism, Salinger describes how society has become blind to truly important possessions. in life such as family and emotions. Through his snobbish characters, Salinger reveals that instead of improving our well-being, the rise of materialism has done exactly the opposite. These tales 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 items has created mass unhappiness, detachment in relationships, and isolation in all individuals it impacts. Overall, Salinger reveals through these three significant stories that materialistic individuals are more prone to depression and alienation and do not see things for what they truly are..