I chose to write about blog option two:
In The Catcher in the Rye,
Salinger portrays Holden as sensitive yet rebellious. As immature yet
independent. As intellectual yet lazy. The contrasting ideas of Holden’s
character make him very complex. The contradictory characteristics of Holden
help the audience see a more dynamic character, someone more realistic and
relatable.
In chapter 10, Holden comments on how smart his whole family is,
specially his sister. He says “You should she her. You never saw a kid so
pretty and smart in your whole life” (67). His appreciation of intellect shows
that he values knowledge and is actually smart. He later contrasts this idea by
saying, “I’m really the only dumb one” (67). This makes him seem like he
recognizes that he isn’t smart and he is okay with it, when in reality we know
he has the potential to be intelligent from his commentary on his sister
Phoebe.
Holden is portray as a very young and immature character when he
is at the bar. He is constantly comparing himself to others and recognizing
that he is younger or weaker or not as tough. First Holden approaches the girls
at the bar, who were older than he was, and asks them to dance. This makes him
seem self-confident and mature until one of the girls asks him how old he is.
He remarks, “That annoyed me for some reason. ‘Oh, Christ. Don’t spoil it’” (72).
He is no longer confident in himself once she’s asks him his age. He suddenly
seems embarrassed and immature when just a moment ago he seemed to be the
opposite.
Many Romantic and Transcendentalist writers used very similar
techniques of creating characters that were undefinable. Readers would see them
one way, but in the next chapter could learn something new that completely
altered their view. These writers placed emphasis on individualism. Walt
Whitman wrote many poems that glorified the idea of individualism. In Song of Myself it says, “I too am not a
bit tamed-I too am untranslatable” (Whitman). In many ways Holden is not tamed
by society or other people’s beliefs. The audience is not able to define Holden,
making him “untranslatable”. Holden encompasses the individualistic ideals that
are present in Transcendentalist’s and Romantic’s writings.
I think it's interesting how you talked about Holden feeling very self-confident when he first talks to the girls at the bar. He seemed very full of himself and throughout that whole interaction, I felt like Holden thought he was better than the girls. This made me think of a scene in chapter 12, when Holden runs into Lillian at Ernie's. After talking to Lillian and her boyfriend, he says "But I certainly wasn't going to sit down at a table with old Lillian Simmons and that Navy guy and be bored to death" (Salinger 114). This makes it seem like Holden thinks he's much better than Lillian and he doesn't want to waste his time with her. How do you think this adds to the complexity of Holden's character?
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment! I think when Holden refuses to sit with Lillian at the bar it helps keep the readers on their toes. Just as you think you can begin to define Holden as humble since he talks about how great his siblings are, he seem cocky once again. It leaves Holden as an undefinable, complex character as we can never fully put him in a box.
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