Catcher In The Rye
Holden Caulfied: Saint, Snob, or Somewhere In-between? Although J.D. Salinger has only one novel to his credit, that novel, The , is recognized as an exceptional literary work. The key to the success of The is the main character, Holden Caulfield. There are many different critics that view Holden in many different ways. Some believe Holden to be a conceited snob, while others see Holden as a Christ-like figure. It is my opinion, however, that Holden is somewhere in the middle. Holden Caulfield is a character who has a definite code of honor that he attempts to live up to and expects to as abide by as well. Since the death of his brother Allie, Holden has experienced almost a complete ...
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Upon his return to New York City, Holden does not go home. Instead, he chooses to hide out from his family. According to Ernest Jones, "with his alienation go assorted hatreds – of movies, of night clubs, of social and intellectual pretension, and so on. And physical disgust: pimples, sex, an old man picking his nose are all equal cause for nausea" (Jones 7). Holden feels Previts 2 as though all of these people have failed him in some way or that they are all "phonies" or "corny" in some way or another. It is Holden’s perception of those around him as "phonies" and again according to Jones; "Holden’s belief that he has a superior moral standard that few people, only his dead brother, his 10-year-old sister, and a fleeting friend [Jane] can live up to" that make him a snob (7). Presenting Holden as "snobbish" hardly does him justice. Critics such Frederick L. Gwynn, Joseph L. Blotner, and Frederic I. Carpenter view Holden ...
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cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff…" Previts 3 Not only is Holden Christ-like in his desire to protect those who are "innocent" but he, like Jesus, truly "loves his neighbors, especially the poor in goods, appearance, and spirit" (Gwynn 14). Not only does Holden give ten dollars to the nuns in the station, but he is also depressed by their meagre breakfast and the fact that they will never be "going anywhere swanky for lunch" (Salinger 110). He also worries about the ducks freezing in Central Park, sympathizes with the ugly daughter of Pencey’s headmaster and even Sunny the prostitute (Carpenter 24). ...
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"Catcher In The Rye." Essayworld.com. February 18, 2004. Accessed November 22, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Catcher-In-The-Rye/3246.
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