Being apart of war is a life changing experience. Unfortunately, it also takes away many lives. This is the reason many people avoid being apart of that particular organization, but for Holden he has a different reason. He doesn't want to waste all those years doing tasks other than fighting. He doesn't mind fighting in the war or risking his life. In fact, he would actually volunteer to sit atop a atomic bomb as it blows up. This is proof he doesn't find meaning in the world and doesn’t see why people spend their lives doing these things.
What Holden needs is to be a part of something bigger than himself. Something that would help him discover himself, but Caulfield refuses to do this, and then in chain reaction propels him into a future of misery. Phoebe is just one of the many who tries to bring him to the truth, but even she, the most reasonable person in his life, cannot get him to open his eyes. This is one of many flaws that Holden Caulfield owns and his hope is not bright, because of it.
The Catcher in the Rye tries to teach us many lessons through irony. We learn we must go from innocence to experience and that peers and associates will help us build our lives to all they can be. Spending time with others is important and definitely not a waste of time as long as we choose the right people. Two people in the book signify that we need to choose the right people to spend time with. Jane Gallagher, a girl from Holden’s childhood, is an example of a friend who you want to grow up and learn from, because she makes you happy about being you. Carl Luce on the other hand tears on Holden for not being as good as Carl. This eventually makes Holden depressed and makes Caulfield take steps back from getting to where he needed to be.
The Army could be the right thing for Holden, because it might be filled with men with personalities like Jane’s. Holden just needs an epiphany so his future can be prosperous and he will finally have joy. We must all remember this, because it is nearly impossible to go places without incorporating with others.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Pencey
Do onto others as you would like to be treated is the golden rule. Students and teachers enjoy being treated with respect and honor, while being seen as equals. Irreverence is the only quality presented at some schools and this does not allow learning, and good experiences to coexist. Pencey Prep in The Catcher in The Rye is one of these schools. These types of learning centers must be changed for the sake of all who work there.
Like any other school with problems in its staff as well as an undisciplined student body, Pencey seems to take the level of hatred and violence to the extreme. Boys openly brawl and whip each other as tensions mount between student and mentor. This is what makes Pencey the root cause of Holden’s insanity. Teachers are sarcastic and unforgiving, while witty enough to make hurtful comments. Pupils are always lying and insensitive about the feelings, they openly mistreat their fellows. Pencey makes all of Holden’s insecurities worse, for Holden had been weakened by years of falling short in almost all aspects of life. He deteriorated until he was toeing the line, and was barely hanging on. Pencey turned out to be the most hostile of all his schools. Here he develops a hatred for human nature, and everything appears “phony” in his eyes. Every thing here turns Holden into a loose cannon, he then makes more bad decisions such as going to New York where the behaviors of people traumatize him, and sends him over the line.
Schools already provides an awkward environment for their students to learn in, and Pencey, one with a faculty that displays apathy on a daily basis creates a antithesis environment for children, which goes against the journey from innocence, for childhood should be a fun period of time. This is why such schools must be changed for it represents the worst in education.
Like any other school with problems in its staff as well as an undisciplined student body, Pencey seems to take the level of hatred and violence to the extreme. Boys openly brawl and whip each other as tensions mount between student and mentor. This is what makes Pencey the root cause of Holden’s insanity. Teachers are sarcastic and unforgiving, while witty enough to make hurtful comments. Pupils are always lying and insensitive about the feelings, they openly mistreat their fellows. Pencey makes all of Holden’s insecurities worse, for Holden had been weakened by years of falling short in almost all aspects of life. He deteriorated until he was toeing the line, and was barely hanging on. Pencey turned out to be the most hostile of all his schools. Here he develops a hatred for human nature, and everything appears “phony” in his eyes. Every thing here turns Holden into a loose cannon, he then makes more bad decisions such as going to New York where the behaviors of people traumatize him, and sends him over the line.
Schools already provides an awkward environment for their students to learn in, and Pencey, one with a faculty that displays apathy on a daily basis creates a antithesis environment for children, which goes against the journey from innocence, for childhood should be a fun period of time. This is why such schools must be changed for it represents the worst in education.
Phoebe
"Mom!" I yelled out to my mom. "When is Holden coming home?" I really couldn't wait to see him. I think it's been almost a year since I've seen him. I love him so much.
"I already told you he will be here on Wednesday!" She didn't sound too thrilled with my question.
"Why can't he come earlier? I'm dying to see him!" I really was dying to see him.
"Honey, sometimes you just have to wait in life for things to happen. You can't fast forward through time." I wasn't too thrilled with what she said. That really annoyed me, but I just wanted to drop the conversation. so I ended up planning an escape so I could visit Holden.
First, to make sure no one noticed my escape, I quietly opened my door just enough to get out. Luckily, Charlene was in the middle of her afternoon nap, therefore she didn't catch my run away.
Unfortunately, our apartment building has an elevator boy. Fortunately, there are windows in the halls that lead to the outside. So I climbed out of the window, and entered the free world. However, there was no time to slack. I quickly caught a cab on the go. That was the biggest mistake I made. I forgot to bring dough with me. At least the cab driver didn't ask for any dough until the ride was over, so I ran out of the cab at my stop before he even said a word about payment. I think this is part of the reason why Holden believes I am so smart. He would never have thought of doing that if a thousand years were given to him. Oh well, that is not something for me to brag about.
Anyway, once I finished running from the cab, I looked around to see if there were any maps nearby. Of course in New York, there is a city map everywhere you look. But I just wasn't sure. So I found out where Holden's dormroom was, and I walked right in on him. He left the door right open. Sometimes I wonder why killers don't just walk in on him when they have that kind of advantage.
"What the---oh sorry! I thought it was Carl Lu-" right before he finished his sentence, he interupted himself to say something else. "It's Phoebe! Why the-"
"Don't swear, Holden. There's no time for that. Mom and Charlene still don't even know that I'm gone yet! My door is locked and there is music playing really loud."
"You're a genius. Who teaches you these smart things to do?"
"Uh, I just learn them when-" I paused." "Are those three F's?" I couldn't believe that he might be failing Pencey. He's failed enough schools already.
"Yes, but that's not important. I'm passing English literature. I think if you pass at least one class, then you can graduate."
"No, I'm pretty sure you have to pass classes. Dad's gonna kill you!"
"He's not gonna kill me, I can asure you of that."
"No, he's gonna kill you."
"Are you gonna keep arguing with me."
"I'm not arguing." He always thinks I'm arguing with him. It annoys me so much.
Oh well, I didn't want to start my visit with Holden like this. I was only going to be able to stay with him for about another hour. By then, my mom or Charlene would've found the brains to figure out that I actually wasn't in my room.
"I have to go meet a girl at a quarter till noon, so I'll only be able to talk to you for five more minutes."
Great, the time I plan out the best escape to visit Holden, he can't talk. This happens to me a lot, though. I'm used to it.
"Okay, I guess then I 'll be off to home now. So long." I was trying to act as depressed as I could, because Holden usually falls for it. And it did!
"Hey, do ya want me t' take ya back home?"
"No, it's fine. I guess I'll jus-"
"No. You're coming with me."
I really wasn't in the mood to argue with him, so I let him take me home. It was actually better, because I got home before my mom noticed I was gone. However, Charlene made a sirk as if she knew I was gone the whole time, but I just wasn't sure. It's all fine. But then the next thing I did was call Holden up. My spirits lifted as I heard the phone on the opposite end of the line pick up, but no sound existed.
"I already told you he will be here on Wednesday!" She didn't sound too thrilled with my question.
"Why can't he come earlier? I'm dying to see him!" I really was dying to see him.
"Honey, sometimes you just have to wait in life for things to happen. You can't fast forward through time." I wasn't too thrilled with what she said. That really annoyed me, but I just wanted to drop the conversation. so I ended up planning an escape so I could visit Holden.
First, to make sure no one noticed my escape, I quietly opened my door just enough to get out. Luckily, Charlene was in the middle of her afternoon nap, therefore she didn't catch my run away.
Unfortunately, our apartment building has an elevator boy. Fortunately, there are windows in the halls that lead to the outside. So I climbed out of the window, and entered the free world. However, there was no time to slack. I quickly caught a cab on the go. That was the biggest mistake I made. I forgot to bring dough with me. At least the cab driver didn't ask for any dough until the ride was over, so I ran out of the cab at my stop before he even said a word about payment. I think this is part of the reason why Holden believes I am so smart. He would never have thought of doing that if a thousand years were given to him. Oh well, that is not something for me to brag about.
Anyway, once I finished running from the cab, I looked around to see if there were any maps nearby. Of course in New York, there is a city map everywhere you look. But I just wasn't sure. So I found out where Holden's dormroom was, and I walked right in on him. He left the door right open. Sometimes I wonder why killers don't just walk in on him when they have that kind of advantage.
"What the---oh sorry! I thought it was Carl Lu-" right before he finished his sentence, he interupted himself to say something else. "It's Phoebe! Why the-"
"Don't swear, Holden. There's no time for that. Mom and Charlene still don't even know that I'm gone yet! My door is locked and there is music playing really loud."
"You're a genius. Who teaches you these smart things to do?"
"Uh, I just learn them when-" I paused." "Are those three F's?" I couldn't believe that he might be failing Pencey. He's failed enough schools already.
"Yes, but that's not important. I'm passing English literature. I think if you pass at least one class, then you can graduate."
"No, I'm pretty sure you have to pass classes. Dad's gonna kill you!"
"He's not gonna kill me, I can asure you of that."
"No, he's gonna kill you."
"Are you gonna keep arguing with me."
"I'm not arguing." He always thinks I'm arguing with him. It annoys me so much.
Oh well, I didn't want to start my visit with Holden like this. I was only going to be able to stay with him for about another hour. By then, my mom or Charlene would've found the brains to figure out that I actually wasn't in my room.
"I have to go meet a girl at a quarter till noon, so I'll only be able to talk to you for five more minutes."
Great, the time I plan out the best escape to visit Holden, he can't talk. This happens to me a lot, though. I'm used to it.
"Okay, I guess then I 'll be off to home now. So long." I was trying to act as depressed as I could, because Holden usually falls for it. And it did!
"Hey, do ya want me t' take ya back home?"
"No, it's fine. I guess I'll jus-"
"No. You're coming with me."
I really wasn't in the mood to argue with him, so I let him take me home. It was actually better, because I got home before my mom noticed I was gone. However, Charlene made a sirk as if she knew I was gone the whole time, but I just wasn't sure. It's all fine. But then the next thing I did was call Holden up. My spirits lifted as I heard the phone on the opposite end of the line pick up, but no sound existed.
The Ducks
Because his brother Allie died with little warning, Holden Caulfield believes that everything around him will suddenly disappear, leaving him alone in the world. He's so obsessed with this that on his quest through New York, Holden desperately tries to find where the ducks go when their pond freezes over. He doesn't want anything, even the feeblest of creatures, to leave him alone for a second of the day. The picture I created represents Holden's fear of isolation, which is symbolized through the duck slowly fading away.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Phonies
To be fake
Is not good
Holden realizes this
And trys to prevent it
But does this happening
Make him the phony?
Does maturity make
the mature, clowns?
Or does misplaced innocence
Do this?
Holden is the evidence
That the latter is true
You must not strive
To be him
For then you
Will be the foolish phony
Is not good
Holden realizes this
And trys to prevent it
But does this happening
Make him the phony?
Does maturity make
the mature, clowns?
Or does misplaced innocence
Do this?
Holden is the evidence
That the latter is true
You must not strive
To be him
For then you
Will be the foolish phony
The Carousel
B. Wahlgren
It starts out encompassing our lives. This incorporates joy into our lives. It induces longing into those who have lost it, for it is with us for the briefest of periods. Youth can be the driving force behind people, but it can also sadden people with the prospect of losing something so relevant. One must not live in the past, humanity must embrace the present and future.
Holden Caulfield can see his childhood flashing before his eyes as he stares wistfully at his sister as she enjoys a carousel as well as the joyful subtleties of youth. Holden misses the days where he can roam his neighborhood without a care, and the world was his to enjoy and explore. Now Holden strives to rekindle those experiences and incorporate them into his every day life. The problem is Holden is going against the nature of growing up. An individual is supposed to gain knowledge as is body matures and his thoughts become more rational. Holden strives to go against nature’s way and continue to live in ignorance. This is why he can’t adapt to new schools, his grades fail, and he slowly turns insane. Children are bewildered when they are introduced to new situations, or when they meet new people. For this reason Holden is reluctant to show affection with the other gender even though his mind tells him.
Humanity strives to achieve youth, and force it to surround their lives, but attempting to return to youth when one is past is a futile cause, yet millions find themselves caught up in the relentless search to locate it. One must not reside in the past, but embrace the present and future, for even old age can bring the best experiences.
It starts out encompassing our lives. This incorporates joy into our lives. It induces longing into those who have lost it, for it is with us for the briefest of periods. Youth can be the driving force behind people, but it can also sadden people with the prospect of losing something so relevant. One must not live in the past, humanity must embrace the present and future.
Holden Caulfield can see his childhood flashing before his eyes as he stares wistfully at his sister as she enjoys a carousel as well as the joyful subtleties of youth. Holden misses the days where he can roam his neighborhood without a care, and the world was his to enjoy and explore. Now Holden strives to rekindle those experiences and incorporate them into his every day life. The problem is Holden is going against the nature of growing up. An individual is supposed to gain knowledge as is body matures and his thoughts become more rational. Holden strives to go against nature’s way and continue to live in ignorance. This is why he can’t adapt to new schools, his grades fail, and he slowly turns insane. Children are bewildered when they are introduced to new situations, or when they meet new people. For this reason Holden is reluctant to show affection with the other gender even though his mind tells him.
Humanity strives to achieve youth, and force it to surround their lives, but attempting to return to youth when one is past is a futile cause, yet millions find themselves caught up in the relentless search to locate it. One must not reside in the past, but embrace the present and future, for even old age can bring the best experiences.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Mr. Antolini
A life raft is floating right before your eyes. You swim towards the raft, with the storm becoming more and more treacherous. Right as you reach to grab it, time runs out. A monstrous wave strikes your back, making you immobilized. There is nothing you can possibly do to free yourself from the horror. Life is slowly fading from your sight. Eventually, all hope is gone.
Mister Antolini is a very wise man, and was Holden Caulfield’s former teacher at Whooton School. One day, Holden randomly called Mr. Antolini to have a visit with him. Once he arrived, all they talked about was Holden’s future and how he needed to react if he didn’t want to become insane. Unfortunately for both of the two, Mr. Antolini’s advice didn’t travel a long distance. However, it drew some effect. If all things went wrong, death would’ve been the result for Mr. Caulfield. Even though the outcome wasn’t death, it wasn’t anything great.
Insanity is the final position in which Holden ended up in. You can’t ridicule Mr. Antolini for this destination, because he did absolutely everything that he could do to help Holden. He was the only human on Earth in the novel that even cared about the way Holden treated his life. If Mr. Antolini was never in Caulfield’s life, he would have never made it past seventeen years of age.
Holden is another one placed in the world of insanity. Fortunately for him and others in his type of situation, there are other peers that can lure them into places of experience and joy. However, to completely endure this opportunity you must accept these peers’ advice.
Mister Antolini is a very wise man, and was Holden Caulfield’s former teacher at Whooton School. One day, Holden randomly called Mr. Antolini to have a visit with him. Once he arrived, all they talked about was Holden’s future and how he needed to react if he didn’t want to become insane. Unfortunately for both of the two, Mr. Antolini’s advice didn’t travel a long distance. However, it drew some effect. If all things went wrong, death would’ve been the result for Mr. Caulfield. Even though the outcome wasn’t death, it wasn’t anything great.
Insanity is the final position in which Holden ended up in. You can’t ridicule Mr. Antolini for this destination, because he did absolutely everything that he could do to help Holden. He was the only human on Earth in the novel that even cared about the way Holden treated his life. If Mr. Antolini was never in Caulfield’s life, he would have never made it past seventeen years of age.
Holden is another one placed in the world of insanity. Fortunately for him and others in his type of situation, there are other peers that can lure them into places of experience and joy. However, to completely endure this opportunity you must accept these peers’ advice.
Baseball Glove
Most people have a small momento to remember a special person that has gone away from their lives. Even the smallest things can have great meaning to people. In Holden Caulfield’s it is a peculiar baseball glove worn by his younger brother, Allie.
Holden Caulfield is not one to enjoy things. He finds negative in nearly everything he does. The only thing he has ever learned to enjoy are his siblings, but each one is eventually weeded out from his burning sense of love for them in their own way. For example, D.B. is the best writer Holden know and he enjoys being with him, but things take a turn for the worse as D.B. decides to leave for Hollywood to write scripts for movies. To make matters worse, movies are one of the top things on Caulfield’s list of his most hated things and then the fact that his brother is going away to make them just disgusts him beyond belief.
Next, Holden’s brother Allie was always kind to Holden and he truly understood him. This meant a lot the Holden, because nobody else in his life was able to do that, but then tragedy struck and Allie died at age 11. Holden was distraught on such a high scale he spent the night in the garage smashing windows with his fists. He eventually broke both of his hands but that still couldn’t keep his mind off the horrible loss. Now, all Holden has to hold on to is a unique baseball mitt of Allie’s. When Allie was alive, he played left field on his baseball team. Due to the fact that not many balls come out to where he was, he spent time reading his baseball mitt. What made this glove so special is that Allie wrote enjoyable poems all over them so he had something to do when he was bored. Now those poems, and that hunk of leather is all Caulfield has to hold on to in remembrance.
Tragedy strikes in our lives, but we must make the best of it. Holden struggles with this so greatly that he must not believe it happened. He must cling to the last piece of Allie that he has and hold on to it with all of his strength. Many of us will resort to the same thing when the time comes and it is debatable whether it is the right move, but it is a move and that is the most important thing.
Holden Caulfield is not one to enjoy things. He finds negative in nearly everything he does. The only thing he has ever learned to enjoy are his siblings, but each one is eventually weeded out from his burning sense of love for them in their own way. For example, D.B. is the best writer Holden know and he enjoys being with him, but things take a turn for the worse as D.B. decides to leave for Hollywood to write scripts for movies. To make matters worse, movies are one of the top things on Caulfield’s list of his most hated things and then the fact that his brother is going away to make them just disgusts him beyond belief.
Next, Holden’s brother Allie was always kind to Holden and he truly understood him. This meant a lot the Holden, because nobody else in his life was able to do that, but then tragedy struck and Allie died at age 11. Holden was distraught on such a high scale he spent the night in the garage smashing windows with his fists. He eventually broke both of his hands but that still couldn’t keep his mind off the horrible loss. Now, all Holden has to hold on to is a unique baseball mitt of Allie’s. When Allie was alive, he played left field on his baseball team. Due to the fact that not many balls come out to where he was, he spent time reading his baseball mitt. What made this glove so special is that Allie wrote enjoyable poems all over them so he had something to do when he was bored. Now those poems, and that hunk of leather is all Caulfield has to hold on to in remembrance.
Tragedy strikes in our lives, but we must make the best of it. Holden struggles with this so greatly that he must not believe it happened. He must cling to the last piece of Allie that he has and hold on to it with all of his strength. Many of us will resort to the same thing when the time comes and it is debatable whether it is the right move, but it is a move and that is the most important thing.
Ackley
After Holden moved out, things have been a lot different 'round here. He's the only one of those guys that ever talked to me and things 've been awful lonely since he went insane. I tried to make a good impression on the new kid, Stradlater's new roomie, but that didn't turn out well. Here's how it went:
I was in Stradlater's room cutting my toenails. I swear I have to cut 'em every three seconds or they start gettin' uncomfortable. Anyway, I was just cuttin' in there outta force of habit. I used to talk to Holden but when he got nixed I just stayed outta force 'a habit. There was some new kid there that day though. Scared me half to death when he came through the door, all silent and such. I nearly cut off my toe thanks to him. But he was a new guy so I had a chance at him becomin' my friend. I mean, he wouldn't know the things 'bout me that most find repulsive.
Anyway, I kinda struck up a conversation tryin' to make a good impression. I like to look at people's stuff and I can't sit still for my life, so I got up and started lookin' through his stuff while I talked.
"I'm Ackley," I said, tryin' to sound tough and all, not givin' him any details. I looked through his clothes. All of 'em were like six size too big. Maybe he was one 'a those guys that wear their clothes real loose. "You know the guy your replacin' went insane. He was crazy in general, but one day he just snapped like a twig. Now he's in one 'a those whatchamacall'em crazy-houses."
"I'm James." he said. He sounded like one 'a those total snob guys who think they're better than you. He seemed a lot like Stradlater. He had a fancy brush and all. Stradlater spends more time gettin' fancy than all 'a us combined.
I went to the mirror so I could see my pimples. I swear I could fry somethin' on my face 'cause 'a all the grease. Anyway, I kept on talking, trying to get some details.
"Where'd ya come from? And have you met Stradlater yet? He's your roomie ya know."
"I'm from Boston. Yeah, I met Stradlater. I'm sure he appreciates you looking through his stuff."
I gulped. I swear my Adam's apple went down into my stomach and then came back out twice as big. Stradlater doen't like people goin' through what's his, and he has enough fight in him to beat you up. Before he went insane, Holden got in a fight with Stradlater and he got the tar beaten outta him.
"Now don't rat on me to Stradlater, now." I said. "Just be a good guy and let it drop." I heard footsteps in the hallway and ran outta that room faster than I ever ran before.
So that's my story. Maybe I'm destined to be an outcast. Maybe I'll never make a friend. I'd tell you the end but I don't want to depress the life outta you. It sure depressed the life outta me.
Stradlater
by B. Wahlgren
This is a day in the life of Stradlater, Holden Caulfield’s former roommate, and these are some of the insecurities he experiences.
Awwww crap, the stupid sun, stupid light, stupid morning, stupid school I think to myself, as I realize I’m still at Pencey. I stare at my roommate who moved in since my last one, Holden Caulfield, ran out. He was a crazy sonovagun, and my new roommate Ernest Morrow is a bit more on the sound sign. Anyway that jerk Caulfield messed up my English essay when I sweet talked him into doing for me, and then yelled at me for going on a date with some friend of his. I had t’ beat his lights out after that. So, now things are normal and boring. Walking outta my dorm I run into this shrimp, James Bartelet, who was supposed to have finished my social studies project because I was on a date. I gotta new girlfriend cuz that Jane Gallagher dame was way too intellectual for me. We just sat in her darn car and she ran her mouth about things I don’t understand. The only stuff we did understand was when we chewed the fat. You know the stupid pleasantries and crap.
Anyway back to that dumb Bartelet, I’m gonna need some major help because that old moron ditched my homework, and that stupid Mr. Spencer’s gonna get my case and I am going blow. I glance down the hall and see the escapee sneaking away and I block his exit.
“Hey what’s ya beef pal, with the trouble you jus caused me I oughtta.” I left the sentence hanging.
“But, Stradlater I had three other bozos’ paper to do. You’re just another idiot.”
“Hey, listen I tol’ja ‘t do my homework, and ‘y didn an ‘n ‘y gonna pay the price.”
Bartelet replied “Awwww who needs ya anyhow, drop dead Stradlater.”
That’s when I hit him. An amazing left hook to the jaw that jus abou broke it off his face. He dropped to his knees and I kicked ‘im over on his side. He was jus about crying in rage and pain. I stalked away fuming, what the crap was with that jerk. The smell of the cliché overcooked eggs, and cheap ham filled my nostrils. The food here sucks and all the jerks who eat jus depress me more. Man, I hate it hear. Scanning the crowd I spot some dames and walk over there suave as crap. We talk about all the fake stuff which would be the upcoming vacation, firmly implanted in the front of our minds.
After breakfast I stagger into my room to shave by the can, and get ready for Mr. Spencer’s class, stupid maps, stupid droning on, and on, and on. Upon entering he’s immediately on my case.
“Stadlater, where the heck’s your homework, did your victim not write it for you or what.” That’s Mr. Spencer witty as heck. Geez I’d like shove the Vick’s nose drops up is rear end, for all the crap he’s shooting.
I reply, “ Sorry Mr. Spencer I had ‘t do all my other homework and I jus got lost and for ‘g about the paper.”
“I’m sure.” Spencer can be quite the sarcastic sonovagun.
“Well if you done believing me, your wrong sir.” I sneered the word. This seemed to fulfill the old fart’s desire to taunt.
“Back to your seat then,” cold as heck.
The day shoots by in front of my face and I go off after the classes to shave my darn face by the can before Ackley shows up. Now Ackley is this total jerkface, creeper, stalker, call him what you will. He hates my guts; probably thinks I’m a conceited little idiot. I don’t care what the heck that bub thinks, if he talks t’ m’ I’m gonna punch his teeth through. I walk into bathroom, to my luck the jerk is right their squeezing some stupid pimple of his.
He stares up at me with this sallow eyes.
“Oh it’s you.”
“Yeah it’s me, whaddya care jerk.” He gave me a glare that coulda bumped offa frog.
“Git outta here huh?”
“Nah.”
“C’mon man you really need t’ getta life.” Suddenly I’d had enough of this. Mr. Spencer, Ackley, Jane Gallager, and Pencey. Darn school where everything has to be so darn perfect, crap what the heck is with all the people in this school. Think they’re always so perfect. I thought I was so caught up with this swanky lifestyle. In a fancy prep school with the world at m’ fingers. Bullcrap. I stormed up to m’ room and pulled the darn covers over my head. Gosh I needed t’ g’ away from here. Eventually I reside into a troubled sleep, wondering in the back of my mind if my stupid peers are having similar thoughts.
--
This short story speaks to the fact that Pencey can give anyone a hard time, but one can tell that Holden takes it three times worse. He has had troubles with his health, his grades, and mostly his sanity. Being in a situation such as this every day would cause one to become insane.
This is a day in the life of Stradlater, Holden Caulfield’s former roommate, and these are some of the insecurities he experiences.
Awwww crap, the stupid sun, stupid light, stupid morning, stupid school I think to myself, as I realize I’m still at Pencey. I stare at my roommate who moved in since my last one, Holden Caulfield, ran out. He was a crazy sonovagun, and my new roommate Ernest Morrow is a bit more on the sound sign. Anyway that jerk Caulfield messed up my English essay when I sweet talked him into doing for me, and then yelled at me for going on a date with some friend of his. I had t’ beat his lights out after that. So, now things are normal and boring. Walking outta my dorm I run into this shrimp, James Bartelet, who was supposed to have finished my social studies project because I was on a date. I gotta new girlfriend cuz that Jane Gallagher dame was way too intellectual for me. We just sat in her darn car and she ran her mouth about things I don’t understand. The only stuff we did understand was when we chewed the fat. You know the stupid pleasantries and crap.
Anyway back to that dumb Bartelet, I’m gonna need some major help because that old moron ditched my homework, and that stupid Mr. Spencer’s gonna get my case and I am going blow. I glance down the hall and see the escapee sneaking away and I block his exit.
“Hey what’s ya beef pal, with the trouble you jus caused me I oughtta.” I left the sentence hanging.
“But, Stradlater I had three other bozos’ paper to do. You’re just another idiot.”
“Hey, listen I tol’ja ‘t do my homework, and ‘y didn an ‘n ‘y gonna pay the price.”
Bartelet replied “Awwww who needs ya anyhow, drop dead Stradlater.”
That’s when I hit him. An amazing left hook to the jaw that jus abou broke it off his face. He dropped to his knees and I kicked ‘im over on his side. He was jus about crying in rage and pain. I stalked away fuming, what the crap was with that jerk. The smell of the cliché overcooked eggs, and cheap ham filled my nostrils. The food here sucks and all the jerks who eat jus depress me more. Man, I hate it hear. Scanning the crowd I spot some dames and walk over there suave as crap. We talk about all the fake stuff which would be the upcoming vacation, firmly implanted in the front of our minds.
After breakfast I stagger into my room to shave by the can, and get ready for Mr. Spencer’s class, stupid maps, stupid droning on, and on, and on. Upon entering he’s immediately on my case.
“Stadlater, where the heck’s your homework, did your victim not write it for you or what.” That’s Mr. Spencer witty as heck. Geez I’d like shove the Vick’s nose drops up is rear end, for all the crap he’s shooting.
I reply, “ Sorry Mr. Spencer I had ‘t do all my other homework and I jus got lost and for ‘g about the paper.”
“I’m sure.” Spencer can be quite the sarcastic sonovagun.
“Well if you done believing me, your wrong sir.” I sneered the word. This seemed to fulfill the old fart’s desire to taunt.
“Back to your seat then,” cold as heck.
The day shoots by in front of my face and I go off after the classes to shave my darn face by the can before Ackley shows up. Now Ackley is this total jerkface, creeper, stalker, call him what you will. He hates my guts; probably thinks I’m a conceited little idiot. I don’t care what the heck that bub thinks, if he talks t’ m’ I’m gonna punch his teeth through. I walk into bathroom, to my luck the jerk is right their squeezing some stupid pimple of his.
He stares up at me with this sallow eyes.
“Oh it’s you.”
“Yeah it’s me, whaddya care jerk.” He gave me a glare that coulda bumped offa frog.
“Git outta here huh?”
“Nah.”
“C’mon man you really need t’ getta life.” Suddenly I’d had enough of this. Mr. Spencer, Ackley, Jane Gallager, and Pencey. Darn school where everything has to be so darn perfect, crap what the heck is with all the people in this school. Think they’re always so perfect. I thought I was so caught up with this swanky lifestyle. In a fancy prep school with the world at m’ fingers. Bullcrap. I stormed up to m’ room and pulled the darn covers over my head. Gosh I needed t’ g’ away from here. Eventually I reside into a troubled sleep, wondering in the back of my mind if my stupid peers are having similar thoughts.
--
This short story speaks to the fact that Pencey can give anyone a hard time, but one can tell that Holden takes it three times worse. He has had troubles with his health, his grades, and mostly his sanity. Being in a situation such as this every day would cause one to become insane.
Jane Gallgher
You’re slowly slipping away. Your health and your sanity are slipping away. Your last reserves of hope lie in sentimental thoughts. Thoughts of happier times in a more joyful place. These thoughts sluggishly fade into obscurity as current dilemmas close in on your mind. Eliminating chance for ecstasy and change. The book The Catcher in The Rye shows several examples of this. When one thing such as this is the only things that can save a broken soul. It must be chased relentlessly until it can be found , so it can save the broken individual.
Holden Caulfield has been living a life full of disappointment and distress. He has been able to evade depression's grasp, but it slowly has caught up to him. His recent grades and the prospect of being sent back to already distraught and concerned parents frightens him. Therefore he chooses to attempt to blend into the New York poverty lifestyle briefly. This however is what sends him off the deep end. Visions of poverty, obscenity, and cruelty disturb him and he longs for the comfort of his childhood. A former neighbor of Holden, Jane Gallagher, provided him with the happiest times of his young life, for she is charismatic enough to relieve him of the burdens of life. Simple days of sitting on a porch in summer talking about irrelevant things appeals to most people, for modern life is too complex. Jane Gallagher provides him with a fun period of time where he can be true and honest for the first and last time in his life. He develops a close relationship with this valued companion, and to see her acquainted someone as conceited as his roommate just breaks his already grief stricken brain. His conscience fails to assist him when he is at his weakest stage. He makes bad decisions which include an overdose of alcohol, involvement in an illegal trade, and worst of all he never comes in contact with Jane. Holden has plenty of opportunities to call his best friend, but he never can dial the phone. Jane ties him to sanity. She is the rope holding a boat to a dock, when one cuts the rope the boat floats away.
Holden Caulfield is yet another soul lost in the complex realm of human behavior. It disgusts him, and he needs to travel back to a lost time. People lost in cases such as this have only one choice and that is to simplify. Humanity can heal from blows to the chest, arms and legs, but once you cut the rope, there is no hope.
Holden Caulfield has been living a life full of disappointment and distress. He has been able to evade depression's grasp, but it slowly has caught up to him. His recent grades and the prospect of being sent back to already distraught and concerned parents frightens him. Therefore he chooses to attempt to blend into the New York poverty lifestyle briefly. This however is what sends him off the deep end. Visions of poverty, obscenity, and cruelty disturb him and he longs for the comfort of his childhood. A former neighbor of Holden, Jane Gallagher, provided him with the happiest times of his young life, for she is charismatic enough to relieve him of the burdens of life. Simple days of sitting on a porch in summer talking about irrelevant things appeals to most people, for modern life is too complex. Jane Gallagher provides him with a fun period of time where he can be true and honest for the first and last time in his life. He develops a close relationship with this valued companion, and to see her acquainted someone as conceited as his roommate just breaks his already grief stricken brain. His conscience fails to assist him when he is at his weakest stage. He makes bad decisions which include an overdose of alcohol, involvement in an illegal trade, and worst of all he never comes in contact with Jane. Holden has plenty of opportunities to call his best friend, but he never can dial the phone. Jane ties him to sanity. She is the rope holding a boat to a dock, when one cuts the rope the boat floats away.
Holden Caulfield is yet another soul lost in the complex realm of human behavior. It disgusts him, and he needs to travel back to a lost time. People lost in cases such as this have only one choice and that is to simplify. Humanity can heal from blows to the chest, arms and legs, but once you cut the rope, there is no hope.
The Parents
Winchester Academy and Reformatory Scholarship Application
Filed By: Amy Caulfield
Applicant: Holden Caulfield
Relation to Applicant: Mother
My Holden has attended many fine schools in an attempt to find the right one for him, the latest being Pencey Prep. He was expelled from Pency because he failed four of his five classes. Instead of coming straight home though, he decided it would be best to roam New York without supervision, neglecting to tell us where he was. When we received the letter of expulsion, my husband was filled with rage, but I was filled with worry. You see, we've all been on edge since our other son died of leukemia. Thankfully, our daughter Phoebe had secretly met with Holden during school one day, and when her teacher contacted us, we knew she must be with him.
Before the secret meeting, we had no idea what Holden had been doing, but when he came home, we were able to get the details. He was able to find housing well enough -- hotels and friends houses -- and because of his height, he was able to buy enough beer to be drunk for a week on. In fact that's exactly what he did. A mixture of beer and the insanity that had built since his brother's death was released then and when we found him, he was completely delusional.
Holden suffered a complete nervous breakdown, at least that's what those doctors that we had to pay for with an arm and a leg told me. The stress that was ever present in his life had finally gotten too great and his mind just shut down. We just can't trust him anymore, but we don't want to be the cause of another breakdown. When we heard about your school, we knew that God above had given us another chance to raise our boy to be a fine young gentleman.
Filed By: Amy Caulfield
Applicant: Holden Caulfield
Relation to Applicant: Mother
My Holden has attended many fine schools in an attempt to find the right one for him, the latest being Pencey Prep. He was expelled from Pency because he failed four of his five classes. Instead of coming straight home though, he decided it would be best to roam New York without supervision, neglecting to tell us where he was. When we received the letter of expulsion, my husband was filled with rage, but I was filled with worry. You see, we've all been on edge since our other son died of leukemia. Thankfully, our daughter Phoebe had secretly met with Holden during school one day, and when her teacher contacted us, we knew she must be with him.
Before the secret meeting, we had no idea what Holden had been doing, but when he came home, we were able to get the details. He was able to find housing well enough -- hotels and friends houses -- and because of his height, he was able to buy enough beer to be drunk for a week on. In fact that's exactly what he did. A mixture of beer and the insanity that had built since his brother's death was released then and when we found him, he was completely delusional.
Holden suffered a complete nervous breakdown, at least that's what those doctors that we had to pay for with an arm and a leg told me. The stress that was ever present in his life had finally gotten too great and his mind just shut down. We just can't trust him anymore, but we don't want to be the cause of another breakdown. When we heard about your school, we knew that God above had given us another chance to raise our boy to be a fine young gentleman.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Holden Caulfield
If you really want to know, I just got back from a walk down in old Central Park South. Near the bench that only has half its paint. I mean it can barely even stand up when a fat man sits on it. I’m not kidding. Anyway, on the way back I found this dopey coin just laying on the street corner. It had this old lady in a gold dress on the front. Probably something from the European dumps. That’s what my dad used to call them. And just as I picked it up, some gray dog came running at me. I thought I wasn’t gonna make it outta there. Luckily, some random creep came and caught the dog and took it in this truck. So I ran the heck out of there, and came here.
But now I’m here listening to Ackley drone on and on about some girl he went on a date with. In my room. He was even touching all my clothes that I was going to wear tomorrow. He really was. If you really want to know, this is what he was talking about:
“And so I was telling her that if I were to go to Massachusetts then wedn’t be t’gether anymore.”
I don’t know why, but for some reason I didn’t shoot myself. It was really that boring.
“But all she’d say was ‘But we can still communicate if we just-‘ Hey! I told you you’d better be listn’n! Why can’t you just do something right?”
I thought about giving him some stupid reply, but I figured that I liked that way my face looked right now. So I just walked into the can to pretend that I was combing my hair. I never comb my hair. At least Ackley didn’t know that. I mean if it was Stradlater I was talking to, man! He would beat the lights outta me! I really mean it. It’s not that I’m a wimp. Well, I’m definitely not the strongest guy out there, but I’m not too bad. I could lift a couple hundred pounds when I was fifteen. But anyways, I probably shouldn’t tell you all what Stradlater’s done to me before.
“If you’ren’t gonna come out here on my count of three, then I’m gonna leave‼”
Wow. That was the most perfect thing that he could possibly say. So I just shut the door and didn’t say a word to him. It worked. It really did!
Later I thought about giving Jane a buzz. It wouldn’t leave my mind. It just wouldn’t. But when I got into the phone booth, I wasn’t in the mood to do it. So what I did, I called Stradlater just for the heck of it. I don't know why, but when he answered I told d him I was in a rush. He wasn't too thrilled that I even called him in the first place.
"Yeah, Stradlater." he said.
"Hey it's me, Holden." I said back,
"Don't you have some sort of a session goin' on now?"
Of all things to say, why couldn't he just have said something like 'Hey, it's good to hear from you!' or 'You're still at Pencey, right?'? But he just had to ridicule me.
"Uh... I just got back from Oral Expression." Stradlater is so dumb. You could tell him that you just arrived from a UFO and are going on a date with a space alien. He couldn't tell if you are lying or not.
"Well, don't keep bothering the heck out of everyone in the state. There's not enough people in Pennsylvania to die from your boring lies."
Crap, so he did know I was lying. But there was nothing that he could do to me now. I was well over a hundred miles away from his filthy body. But right then I hung up on Stradlater. Not because I was afraid of him, but because I was supposed to meet Carl Luce. Old Luce. If there's one guy in the world who could tell you if everyone in a bar was a flit or not, it was him. Just something about him makes himself so arrogant. It's probably because he hangs around with everyone who goes to the preppy schools with him. that bothers heck out of me.
Anyway, when I entered the Wicker Bar, old Luce wasn't even there. And I was fifteen minutes late! I guess he probably got impatient and left after a minute passed. Oh well. It's not like I was dying to see him. He can really get on your nerves.
So when I left the bar, I quickly ran to catch a cab. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was very low on dough. I really was. Luckily, I only went to Central Park instead of my dorm room. Central Park is only about five miles away from the Wicker Bar. My room is closer to an hour away.
Lately when I've been going to the park, I just sit down on the bench that faces right at the pond with all the ducks. It's really peaceful there. I still wonder where all the ducks go when winter comes. Do they fly south where it's really warm? Or do they all hide in some cave that's underground? and the fish. What do they do? The guy in my cab said they just freeze in the water. They make their own food inside the ice and just stay there comfortably. That cab driver is definitely phony. He doesn't even know a thing what he's talking about.
I just remembered now that I have an appointment with Phoebe at the zoo. I'm so excited! I haven't talked to Phoebe in almost a whole year! I need to start giving her more buzzes. I'm bored all the time. It's really annoying sometimes. I feel very depressed. I need to start talking to more people. Maybe I just hang out with the most depressing people in the world. I really don't know right now. I'll have to see how the zoo goes.
But now I’m here listening to Ackley drone on and on about some girl he went on a date with. In my room. He was even touching all my clothes that I was going to wear tomorrow. He really was. If you really want to know, this is what he was talking about:
“And so I was telling her that if I were to go to Massachusetts then wedn’t be t’gether anymore.”
I don’t know why, but for some reason I didn’t shoot myself. It was really that boring.
“But all she’d say was ‘But we can still communicate if we just-‘ Hey! I told you you’d better be listn’n! Why can’t you just do something right?”
I thought about giving him some stupid reply, but I figured that I liked that way my face looked right now. So I just walked into the can to pretend that I was combing my hair. I never comb my hair. At least Ackley didn’t know that. I mean if it was Stradlater I was talking to, man! He would beat the lights outta me! I really mean it. It’s not that I’m a wimp. Well, I’m definitely not the strongest guy out there, but I’m not too bad. I could lift a couple hundred pounds when I was fifteen. But anyways, I probably shouldn’t tell you all what Stradlater’s done to me before.
“If you’ren’t gonna come out here on my count of three, then I’m gonna leave‼”
Wow. That was the most perfect thing that he could possibly say. So I just shut the door and didn’t say a word to him. It worked. It really did!
Later I thought about giving Jane a buzz. It wouldn’t leave my mind. It just wouldn’t. But when I got into the phone booth, I wasn’t in the mood to do it. So what I did, I called Stradlater just for the heck of it. I don't know why, but when he answered I told d him I was in a rush. He wasn't too thrilled that I even called him in the first place.
"Yeah, Stradlater." he said.
"Hey it's me, Holden." I said back,
"Don't you have some sort of a session goin' on now?"
Of all things to say, why couldn't he just have said something like 'Hey, it's good to hear from you!' or 'You're still at Pencey, right?'? But he just had to ridicule me.
"Uh... I just got back from Oral Expression." Stradlater is so dumb. You could tell him that you just arrived from a UFO and are going on a date with a space alien. He couldn't tell if you are lying or not.
"Well, don't keep bothering the heck out of everyone in the state. There's not enough people in Pennsylvania to die from your boring lies."
Crap, so he did know I was lying. But there was nothing that he could do to me now. I was well over a hundred miles away from his filthy body. But right then I hung up on Stradlater. Not because I was afraid of him, but because I was supposed to meet Carl Luce. Old Luce. If there's one guy in the world who could tell you if everyone in a bar was a flit or not, it was him. Just something about him makes himself so arrogant. It's probably because he hangs around with everyone who goes to the preppy schools with him. that bothers heck out of me.
Anyway, when I entered the Wicker Bar, old Luce wasn't even there. And I was fifteen minutes late! I guess he probably got impatient and left after a minute passed. Oh well. It's not like I was dying to see him. He can really get on your nerves.
So when I left the bar, I quickly ran to catch a cab. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was very low on dough. I really was. Luckily, I only went to Central Park instead of my dorm room. Central Park is only about five miles away from the Wicker Bar. My room is closer to an hour away.
Lately when I've been going to the park, I just sit down on the bench that faces right at the pond with all the ducks. It's really peaceful there. I still wonder where all the ducks go when winter comes. Do they fly south where it's really warm? Or do they all hide in some cave that's underground? and the fish. What do they do? The guy in my cab said they just freeze in the water. They make their own food inside the ice and just stay there comfortably. That cab driver is definitely phony. He doesn't even know a thing what he's talking about.
I just remembered now that I have an appointment with Phoebe at the zoo. I'm so excited! I haven't talked to Phoebe in almost a whole year! I need to start giving her more buzzes. I'm bored all the time. It's really annoying sometimes. I feel very depressed. I need to start talking to more people. Maybe I just hang out with the most depressing people in the world. I really don't know right now. I'll have to see how the zoo goes.
The Red Hunting Hat
The Catcher In The Rye is a novel filled with symbolism to aspects in life. One of the most important symbols in the book was Holden’s red hunting hat. This clothing item represents how Holden Caulfield doesn’t wish to become experienced throughout his journey in life. Whether or not this decision appeals to him, it remains a risk for Holden’s future.
Often when people read books they miss crucial elements that later become obvious once reread. For example, this hunting hat symbolizes Holden's grasp to remain innocent. Mister Caulfield always had this garment since he was child, and pleaded to never give it up. The hat never had terrific beauty, just sentimental purpose. Just like various toddlers; they cling on to clothing, whether it fits or not. Holden clings on to his hat, the same way he holds on to his past. However, in order to continue through life people must accept the fact that everyone will become experienced at some point, whether they like it or not. Unfortunately, Holden believes the opposite. He believes that if he tries to keep attached to his hat or if he excludes "phoniness", he won't have to deal with anything in the world unappealing to his aspiration. Maybe the hat is what's really phony.
Ending up in an insane asylum is not a person's primary goal to achieve, or even a secondary. However, Holden ended up in one anyway, but it wasn't his personal goal. His dopey red hunting hat got him inside this asylum, and that's where the story narrates from. When Holden held his hat, wore it, or even talked about it in the story, he was doing something rebellious to maturity. That's a strong power for a piece of clothing to contain. Apparently it's enough to drive someone's life in a certain direction.
Often when people read books they miss crucial elements that later become obvious once reread. For example, this hunting hat symbolizes Holden's grasp to remain innocent. Mister Caulfield always had this garment since he was child, and pleaded to never give it up. The hat never had terrific beauty, just sentimental purpose. Just like various toddlers; they cling on to clothing, whether it fits or not. Holden clings on to his hat, the same way he holds on to his past. However, in order to continue through life people must accept the fact that everyone will become experienced at some point, whether they like it or not. Unfortunately, Holden believes the opposite. He believes that if he tries to keep attached to his hat or if he excludes "phoniness", he won't have to deal with anything in the world unappealing to his aspiration. Maybe the hat is what's really phony.
Ending up in an insane asylum is not a person's primary goal to achieve, or even a secondary. However, Holden ended up in one anyway, but it wasn't his personal goal. His dopey red hunting hat got him inside this asylum, and that's where the story narrates from. When Holden held his hat, wore it, or even talked about it in the story, he was doing something rebellious to maturity. That's a strong power for a piece of clothing to contain. Apparently it's enough to drive someone's life in a certain direction.
The Museum
As you walk down the road you spot a quaint ice cream shop you used to visit regularly in your childhood. Reminiscences are revealed in your mind and you start traveling down Memory Lane. You are filled with fond recollections of laughing, smiling, and the sweet taste of vanilla. Now you wish to, someway, somehow, travel back to those care-free times. This event happens to Holden Caulfield as he passes by the local museum he visited every Saturday as a child. He knows the interior like a book and would always cherish his visits. His little facts about the museum show of the dreaded road from innocence to experience that he is traveling on.
The Catcher in the Rye has a different take on a common theme from the time period it was written in. Innocence to experience has always had the main character wanting to become experienced and wise, but in this novel it is quite the opposite. Holden Caulfield is afraid of maturity and losing his childhood. In cause, he tries everything to prevent himself from going down that path. In the end this leads him to a tragic fall and is put into an asylum. He sees proof of the starting of his journey while he visits the museum. He sees that his knowledge has grown from the first time he set foot in the beautiful exhibits to the present, and he becomes scared because of this and then goes absolutely insane.
This may happen also with average citizens that are stubborn and unwilling to gain experience. You can fight it, but in the end you will lose more than just your childhood. You must make sure you keep on going with innocence to experience even though you may lose some ecstasy along the way. It is an important part of life and you must not fight, because if you do, you will end up like Holden, in a dark and miserable place.
The Catcher in the Rye has a different take on a common theme from the time period it was written in. Innocence to experience has always had the main character wanting to become experienced and wise, but in this novel it is quite the opposite. Holden Caulfield is afraid of maturity and losing his childhood. In cause, he tries everything to prevent himself from going down that path. In the end this leads him to a tragic fall and is put into an asylum. He sees proof of the starting of his journey while he visits the museum. He sees that his knowledge has grown from the first time he set foot in the beautiful exhibits to the present, and he becomes scared because of this and then goes absolutely insane.
This may happen also with average citizens that are stubborn and unwilling to gain experience. You can fight it, but in the end you will lose more than just your childhood. You must make sure you keep on going with innocence to experience even though you may lose some ecstasy along the way. It is an important part of life and you must not fight, because if you do, you will end up like Holden, in a dark and miserable place.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The Catcher in the Rye
Falling off a cliff is like being a child who is moving from a state of innocence to one of experience. The drop is sudden, with little warning and the fall is a time of fear and regret. The worst part of life comes at the bottom; a dark, hopeless nightmare. Luckily, the only way to go from there is up, towards a bright future. Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye, is an exception. He caught himself during the fall, close enough to the bottom to be partially experienced. Instead of trying to climb up, though, Holden lives his life near the bottom, in a permanent state of agony. He tells his sister Phoebe that his dream job is to catch children who are about to fall over the cliff, because he doesn’t want them to end up like him.
Staying innocent is a rare disease that Holden suffers from. He is old enough to be experienced, but because he is wise, he rejects the idea, knowing what pain he’ll have to go through to get there. Everyone one is to him a phony and some part of Holden understands that phoniness is a side-effect of experience. Seeing this, he cannot accept becoming more mature; more phony. He decides to stay in a state of innocence, endangering his sanity. In the end, his refusal to mature, his refusal to become a phony, causes him to go steadily insane.
With maturity comes new emotions, and because Holden refuses to mature, he sees these emotions in everyone else as phony. Because of his lack of emotions, he feels isolated and he believes everyone will be like him if they become experienced. He wants to be the catcher in the rye so he can save everyone from being like him.
Staying innocent is a rare disease that Holden suffers from. He is old enough to be experienced, but because he is wise, he rejects the idea, knowing what pain he’ll have to go through to get there. Everyone one is to him a phony and some part of Holden understands that phoniness is a side-effect of experience. Seeing this, he cannot accept becoming more mature; more phony. He decides to stay in a state of innocence, endangering his sanity. In the end, his refusal to mature, his refusal to become a phony, causes him to go steadily insane.
With maturity comes new emotions, and because Holden refuses to mature, he sees these emotions in everyone else as phony. Because of his lack of emotions, he feels isolated and he believes everyone will be like him if they become experienced. He wants to be the catcher in the rye so he can save everyone from being like him.
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