I first tried to read Catcher in the Rye last fall, when several unpleasant events forced me to live without cable or a working computer for a month or so. I had heard it was one of those books, a classic, a life-changer, required reading for a adolescent.
I wasn't impressed.
I didn't think much of Holden. He seemed whiny, and with his 1940's slang and rambling style of speaking, half the time I had no idea what he was talking about. There seemed to be no interesting plot, no conflict or excitement or even emotion, from what I could see. I abandoned the book after a few days, unfinished.
This time around, I feel myself liking it a bit more. For some reason, I can relate to Holden. I'm interested in his life, his growth. I want to know if he'll ever see Jane again, and if he'll end up going back to school. I'm invested in this foul-mouthed, red hat wearing delinquent.
And I like it.
(I missed the midnight mark. Oh Noez!)
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Between Two Worlds
"Catcher in the Rye" is famous for it's gritty, realistic portrayal of adolescence.
Holden is the definition of teenage angst. With his careless attitude and "rebel without a cause" persona, he embodies what teenagers have felt for eons. The feeling of being between two worlds, the realm of childhood innocence and the mature society of adulthood. I think Holden is both a child and adult, as all teenagers are. We occupy the space between.
Holden shows his childlike side when he lets his emotions get ahead of him and he fights Stradlater. This shows he still has childlike thoughts and feelings. He shows his more adult side when he thinks deeply about things like the falseness of the people around him.
Holden is the definition of teenage angst. With his careless attitude and "rebel without a cause" persona, he embodies what teenagers have felt for eons. The feeling of being between two worlds, the realm of childhood innocence and the mature society of adulthood. I think Holden is both a child and adult, as all teenagers are. We occupy the space between.
Holden shows his childlike side when he lets his emotions get ahead of him and he fights Stradlater. This shows he still has childlike thoughts and feelings. He shows his more adult side when he thinks deeply about things like the falseness of the people around him.
Empathy, Sympathy and Judgement
What do I feel? Do I Empathize or sympathize? Am I judging?
I empathize with Holden. I'm familiar with what he's feeling. I know what it's like to be on the outside, looking in. I know what it's like to lose a family member. I feel for Holden, with his loneliness and alienation. He's different, and he knows it. He doesn't know how to fit in to society, and doesn't seem to particularly want to.
I empathize with Holden. I'm familiar with what he's feeling. I know what it's like to be on the outside, looking in. I know what it's like to lose a family member. I feel for Holden, with his loneliness and alienation. He's different, and he knows it. He doesn't know how to fit in to society, and doesn't seem to particularly want to.
On Alienation
Hmm. My first blog entry.
Holden is obviously alienated. He feels alone. He feels like no one understands him. One of the interesting things about the book is how distanced Holden is from the world. It doesn't seem like he has any real friends, and he isn't even that close to his family, save for his sister Phoebe and his late younger brother Allie.
He wanders through his life without close friendship and without motivation. He doesn't like most of the people around him, especially the adults. He feels alone because he doesn't want to become one of them, unlike his peers.
Who hasn't felt alienated? I, for one, feel alienated a lot. Because of this, I empathize with Holden. More on that next entry.
Holden is obviously alienated. He feels alone. He feels like no one understands him. One of the interesting things about the book is how distanced Holden is from the world. It doesn't seem like he has any real friends, and he isn't even that close to his family, save for his sister Phoebe and his late younger brother Allie.
He wanders through his life without close friendship and without motivation. He doesn't like most of the people around him, especially the adults. He feels alone because he doesn't want to become one of them, unlike his peers.
Who hasn't felt alienated? I, for one, feel alienated a lot. Because of this, I empathize with Holden. More on that next entry.
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