Salinger, Holden Caulfield struggles with accepting that what his ideals are in his life are not what actually exist in the outside world. Holden has experienced several traumatic loses in his life that have caused him to believe in what he does. In Holden’s mind, after his younger brother Allie’s death, all children are incapable of seeing the complexity of the adult world. He sees them all as innocent children, but cannot understand that this innocence diminishes as the children become adults. If you copy this essay your teacher will know.
Mr. Murray wants his son to be a strong, manly man, with the ability to provide and look after his family. Mr. Murray does not see David as a strong independent man, but more likely as a little wimp who cannot take care of anybody or himself. He is a bit harsh on David and treats him as an adult and he tries to form him into, that man he wants his son to be when he has to start a new family. He could hear the disappointing in the voice of the father. When his father becomes aware that David is playing with his sister and her dolls, he puts David down for engaging in feminine activities instead of interacting with boys his own age Page 46 line 13 from the button to the top, you hear that David’s father has a harsh tone in his voice, when David is playing with his little sisters dolls: “Damn grown boy playing with dolls”.
In his opinion, Allie stands for the purity that Holden looks for in the world. Holden admits that he admires Allie more than he admires Jesus and even prays to Allie at one point, rather than to him. Thus, Allie is Holden's role model, whom he judges the rest of the world against. When he dies, this event nearly wrecks Holden's life. Now as a depressed and lonely teenager, Holden expresses his grief by showing constant anger towards his friends, especially when he goes on a date with Sally Hayes in chapter 17.
They both know that Willy has a job as a traveling salesman, but that he is no longer making enough to support his family. Out of pride Willy rejects Charley’s offer, but Charley insists on offering him the job again later. Furthermore, Willy creates disputes during the card game and at Charley’s office. Immediately following his immature tantrum, Willy expresses his frustration and disappointment about his inability to support his family as well as the downfall of Biff’s potential. Despite Willy’s immature and stubborn behavior, Charley does his best to console Willy and offer assistance as needed- he provides Willy with the money he needs to support
The record symbolizes Holden. He so desperately wants to grow up but with growing up, he doesn’t want to lose his childlike innocence. But in that constant struggle, he ends up shattering himself completely, just like the record. Then in comes Phoebe, saying that she’s going to keep him, even though he’s beyond repair. Another example of her keeping him shows up at the end with the merry go round.
Therefore he is constantly seeking his dad’s approval: “Yes”, said the boy forcing himself to acknowledge Jim’s kindness and affirmation. But Jim is not his dad.” Here it is obvious that it’s only the dad’s approval and confirmation that he is good enough for his dad. He is general a weak minded boy and is easily influenced by others i.e. when he is finally leaving for the trip he doesn’t really want to go because his mother has repeatedly expressed how bad an idea the trip is and so forth. The boy and the father’s relationship is quite self-conflicting as both parties are scared of loosing each other but they are also scared of committing to each other.
It's awful"(p.16). The quote shows that he knows his guilty of lying, but he doesn't repent. Holden says, "that's the nice thing about carrousels, they always play the same song"(p.210). The quote shows that Holden doesn't like changes and doesn't want to be a change; he wants to remain the same, but he doesn't make sense because he also wants to be change himself to be "the catcher in the rye" to protect the children who are going to the cliff(p.173). Most of him in the novel, he is a liar who always says the things that don't make sense.
The “earliest recollection” of the father is filled with imagery such as “stubble of his cheek” and “ sound …boots galumphing along”. The lifestyle of his father still haunts the narrator still as he automatically wakes at four believing that he’s making his father wait, however he then realizes that his father is no longer there and he is “foolishly alone.” Salt is infused with the memory of the narrator’s father due to the amount of time he spent in the sea. The father “smelled of salt” and “tasted of salt.” The narrator placed his father on a pedestal and cannot deal with his
When he comes home, she is up and he likes to think the day will be ok now. Paddy begins to take on the role of protector. He wants to believe in his da, but at the same time, he doesn't like him. He knows that he was lied to about the autograph in the book, and he doesn't like the way he is treated. He doesn't feel like he can run to him anytime, he has to feel out his mood and approach carefully.
In the novel Catcher in the Rye, the author expresses how a traumatic event in Holden’s life leads to the emergence of his alternate persona. This event was when Holden’s brother, Allie, died from leukemia. The author characterizes Holden as a kid who doesn’t appear to have many feelings. Most of the feelings he does talk about are very negative. However, when he discusses his brother, he gets characterized as a bit emotional.