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Analyse the character of holden caulfield
Probing the complexities of holden caulfield
Analyzing holden caulfield
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The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger offers a protagonist to identify with. Holden Caulfield is a conflicted teenager that struggles with angst and anxiety about the adult world. He has a legitimate desire throughout the novel to search for beauty in human contact but is consistently shut down by the world’s ugliness. His hunger for something truthful is what causes him to be lonely. Although Holden preaches about phonies , he is guilty of being one himself. He shields himself from things relating to the adult world in order to protect himself from it’s deception. Ultimately the world proves to be too much for Holden as his apathy dissolves and spends time in a psychiatric ward. Holden resents the adult world but is tempted by its trappings. …show more content…
He enjoys the Museum of Natural History because “everything always stayed right where it was”(chapter 16 ) . The museum represents the world Holden wishes to live in . Where everything is simple and infinite. He is terrified by the unpredictable challenges in the world and interactions with other people. What Harold fails to realize is that trying to keeping everything the same and everyone innocent is a fools errand that only leads to madness. Phoebe is honest with Holden and not “phony” , a characteristic that he despises in people. Although Phoebe is younger than Holden , at times she seems more mature than him . She differs from Holdens view of childhood innocence. When Holden tells Phoebe that he doesn't like anything she say “ you don’t like anything that's happening”(chapter 9) and goes on to force him to name something that he does like. Which is hard for Holden to do. She can see that his bitterness towards the world is a reflection upon …show more content…
Holden has labeled the world as superficial while childhood is full of innocence and honesty. his distinct understanding of the adult world and the childhood world allows him to shield himself from the worlds disappointments. His armour of distrust is broken down during his experience with Mr. Antolini and shows how superficial his conceptions are.Mr. Antolini advice for education is unconventional as he says “someone will learns something from you...it isn’t educational its poetry”(chapter 24). He tells Holden to focus more on school because his voice needs to be heard. When Mr. Antolini puts his hand on Holden as a comforting gesture ,Holden mistakenly interprets it as sexual and upon further reflection regrets his quick judgments. When Holden admits his mistake , he is starting to question his practice of making judgements
So he stays the night at his former teacher, Mr. Antolini’s place. While Holden for the most part thinks of everyone as a phony, Mr. Antolini is one of very few exceptions. He makes it clear that this teacher was one that he trusted and was close to. Since Holden’s views holds him back from having close relationships with his peers, his relationship with his former teacher becomes more important. While he was sleeping on Mr. Antolini’s couch, Holden says that something happens. “Boy, it really scared the hell out of me.” He says. He wakes up to find Mr. Antolini patting his head. “Boy, was I nervous!” He admits he felt very uncomfortable in the situation and quickly ran out. An adult he had managed to form a trusting relationship with, something that was very rare for Holden, had done something to make him very uncomfortable. While it is unclear, it is very possible that Holden is misinterpreting Mr. Antolini’s actions. In his eyes, it is a “flitty pass.” It is made clear, however, that Mr. Antolini had been drinking and most likely he was not in his right mind. Once again, Holden’s views and the reality of the situation aren’t the same and he sees it as a
Phoebe tries to help Holden by asking him to name one thing he likes. However, when Holden mentions Allie, Phoebe tries to be his wake up call and remind him that Allie is dead (Salinger 171). This part in the novel shows how Holden is still attached to Allie, and will not forget about him. However, Phoebe tries to remind Holden that Allie is dead, attempting to make Holden let go of what happened in the past. Phoebe attempts to get Holden’s mind off of his removal from his school by asking him what he wants to become in the future (Salinger 172). This is when Phoebe’s words of advice and support start effecting Holden. Holden begins to think about his options, and what he truly wants to do in the future. “Why can’t I? Please, Holden! I won’t do anything-I’ll just go with you, that’s all! I won’t even take my clothes with me if you don’t want me to-I’ll just take my-” (Salinger 206). This quotation shows how supportive and encouraging Phoebe is towards Holden. When Holden tells Phoebe that he is leaving, Phoebe’s reaction is very affectionate. Phoebe brings a suitcase filled with her clothes, and begins to beg Holden to let her follow him. Phoebe’s encouraging words of advice, is another source of familial love for Holden to move on, and look forward towards his
Throughout the whole novel Holden has always been in denial of everything. As stated by Freud, denial is the “Refusal to recognize a threatening impulse or desire” (Sigmund Freud). When he visited his ten year old sister Phoebe, she was trying to communicate with Holden but she was nervous that it would displease him. She stated “Because you don't. You don’t like schools. You don't like a million things. You don't…Why the hell do you have to say that?” I said. Boy was depressing me” (Salinger 169). Even though Holden is very fond of Phoebe he didn't bother to listen to what she had to say, this demonstrates that Holden is very in denial because he got very upset when Phoebe said that he dislikes everything. Which furthers shows how he is unable to recognize that what Phoebe is
Not just for Phoebe, but also for those people who cared for him. He mentions that "[he] could probably tell you what [he] did after [he] went home, and how [he] got sick and all, and what school [he’s] supposed to go to next fall, after [he gets] out of here, but [he doesn’t] feel like it." (213) The phrases “sick and all” and “after I get out of here” represents that Holden had gone to the hospital to receive physiological treatment. The phrase “what school [he’s supposed to go” also represents that Holden is applying himself for his future just like how his teacher wanted him to. Although Holden “[doesn’t] feel like it,” he is going to try so that he becomes a worthy person for not just Phoebe but also the people that he cares about.
A scene where she shows her influence over Holden is where Holden states, “I kept thinking about old Phoebe going to that museum on Saturdays the way I used to see, I thought how she’d see the same stuff I used to see, and how she’d be different every time she saw it… Certain thing is they should stay the way they are… I know that’s impossible, but it’s too bad anyway.” Holden shows his fear of change. He also demonstrates that he does not want to change, and does not want to grow up, but to stay as a kid.
Growing up and becoming mature can be an intimidating experience; it is difficult to let go of one’s childhood and embrace the adult world. For some people, this transition from youthfulness to maturity can be much more difficult than for others. These people often try to hold on to their childhood as long as they can. Unfortunately, life is not so simple. One cannot spend their entire life running from the responsibilities and hardships of adulthood because they will eventually have to accept the fact that they have a role in society that they must fulfill as a responsible, mature individual. The novel “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger follows the endeavours of Holden Caulfield, a sixteen-year-old teenage boy who faces a point in his life where he must make the transition from childhood to adulthood. In an attempt to retain his own childhood, he begins hoping to stop other young children from growing up and losing their innocence as well. As indicated by the title, “The Catcher in the Rye” is a book that explores a theme involving the preservation of innocence, especially of children. It is a story about a boy who is far too hesitant to grow up, and feels the need to ensure that no one else around him has to grow up either. His own fear of maturity and growing up is what leads to Holden’s desire to become a “catcher in the rye” so he can save innocent children from becoming part of the “phoniness” of the adult world.
...ut the exact flaw in his life that is holding him back from realizing his true potential in life. “you don't like anything thats happening” (p.g 169). At this point in the book Holden has been kicked out of Pencey prep, and comes home to phoebe while his parents aren't there hoping to find something he can carry on his journey out. Before he does anything he sees phoebe. Holden tells Phoebe that the school is full of “phoneys” and that the teachers are where he mostly got the idea of them being phoney. This quote from phoebe is basically telling Holden that he has a negative attitude towards life and basically everything he hasent experienced such as adulthood. Holden has a negative towards adult hood just because of the negative things he hears and has seen. Although Holden has never really given the thought of adulthood a chance, much less even experience adulthood.
In chapter 22, Holden is being exposed for being afraid to face the future and grow up while there is a paradox of child versus adult. Throughout the novel, Holden is immature and never wants to face reality. The major theme in the text is protecting innocence in children, and this is what Holden attempts to do with Phoebe. When he visits her in this chapter, he is surprised to see she is more mature than him. Phoebe calls him out for not liking anything when she says, “You don't like any schools. You don't like a million things. You don't”(220).
Phoebe is Holden’s little sister, she is ten years old and is loved dearly by Holden. Perhaps Holden loves Phoebe so much because he loves childhood so much. Throughout the entire book Holden’s longing for eternal childhood is shown. “Phoebe, who represents innocence and purity in a world that reeks of phoniness and corruption. She is the only family member with whom Holden wants to keep any kind of meaningful connection. Through his relationship with Phoebe, Holden longs for the innocence of childhood that will soon be lost to him.” (Privitera) But Phoebe isn’t the only one that shows the childlike trait, Allie, Holden’s dead brother, does too. Dying as a child, Allie technically never let go of his childhood. Holden loved Allie and always spoke so fondly of him. Hold describes him as, “the nicest member of the family in lots of ways. He never ...
He decides to sleep in the waiting room of Grand Central Station. It is during this time period that Holden has time to think. He starts thinking about how he is going to run away; his plan is to say goodbye to Phoebe and then travel to a place where no one knows him and start over. This reveals how Holden tends to isolate himself. It is when Holden meets up with Phoebe that he decides not to leave. Phoebe serves as comfort to Holden and he does not want to lose that. When Holden is around Phoebe, he fits in. This is the comfort and acceptance he is looking for, so he decides to
The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, is a classic novel about a sixteen-year-old boy, Holden Caulfield, who speaks of a puzzling time in his life. Holden has only a few days until his expulsion from Pency Prep School. He starts out as the type of person who can't stand "phony" people. He believes that his school and everyone in it is phony, so he leaves early. He then spends three aimless days in New York City. During this time, Holden finds out more about himself and how he relates to the world around him. He believes that he is the catcher in the rye: " I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in a big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around-nobody big, I mean-except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What have I to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff..." (173). He briefly enters what he believes is adulthood and becomes a "phony" himself. By the end of the story, Holden realizes he doesn't like the type of person he has become, so he reverts into an idealist; a negative, judgmental person.
Holden tries to preserve his own innocence, and the innocence of others by not letting go of childhood memories and through his desire to suspend time. Holden views the adult world as corrupt and full of phonies. He admires childhood because of how it is free of corruption, and untouched by the adult world. IN order to preserve his own innocence Holden often attaches himself to childhood memories. The Museum of NAtural History is one of Holden’s favourite places . He mentions that his grade one teacher Miss. Aigletinger used to take his class there every saturday. While writing about the museum he says, “The best thing, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was” (121). This shows how Holden wants to preserve his innocence because he expresses how he likes how everything stayed the
Although Phoebe Caulfield may be Holden's younger sister, she is someone whom Holden looks up to for support and advice. She is one of the few people he feels great affection for and he talks about her with obvious happiness. Everything that he says of Phoebe is something that brings contentment to him and he becomes gentle and avoids the jokes that usually fill his sentences. Everything he says sounds touching. It is obvious that being with children such as Phoebe makes Holden very happy.
When Holden comes home for the first time in months him and Phoebe sits Holden down and says "you don't like anything that's happening... You don't like any school.You don't like any million thing. You don't,"(Salinger.169). Phoebe is tired of Holden complaining about is life and how it is so miserable. Phoebe directs her full attention to the problem hoping it will bring perspective to hold in and show him how bad is over exaggerated behavior is. Also it shows that Phoebe, an unlikely listener, actually go out of her way to help her brother. Near the end of the book, Holden tries to get Phoebe to go back to school so she can't join him in leaving. Phoebe says, "I said I'm not going back to school. You can do what you want to do, but I'm not going back to school. So shut up"(Salinger.208). Phoebe saying "shut up" shows how she hurt Holden psychologically , but it proves to Holden that someone actually cares about him and his well-being. Holden feels the need to address his inconsiderate and reckless actions, because if he doesn't, they are not only going to affect him, but the people he cares about around him.
...causes problems with all of the "pure" women that he has ever known, whether it is his mother or Jane, and he knows that he can fix all of that with Phoebe. She is the only girl that he is able to fully attach himself to without having to deal with romance. Holden can love Phoebe, and Phoebe can love Holden, but it can still be entirely innocent love.