In the story Catcher in the Rye Holden Caufield is the messy, mixed up main character. He represents the outcome of what happens to a person after tragedy. I see his personality as 'crushed confidence'. Allie's (Holden's younger brother) death seemed to impact him quite a bit. In the story when Holden writes his roommates assignment he writes about his brother. He writes “you would have liked him”, I thought this was striking that he’s referring to “you” (38). It proves that in Holden’s head he believes that everybody would love Allie, because Allie was “the nicest in a lot of ways” and “terrifically intelligent” (38). Allie, of course, is Holden’s FOIL character. He was Holden’s opposite and balanced him out. Without his brother he had become a lonely.
I think that Holden describes himself as “lonesome” because he doesn’t know how to connect to people anymore (48). He had held his guard up, and gained extreme trust issues once he realized that somebody as perfect as his brother could still be taken from him. It created Holden become semi socially awkward and not able to connect and make friends. Ackley was Holden’s only friend while away at school. Ironically enough, Holden doesn’t like Ackley, the way he looks or the way he acts by that mean. But, as much as he talks negatively, Ackley seems to be his closest friend throughout the first chapters. I think this is the perfect example of Holden’s struggle to connect. His friends aren’t real, because he wont allow himself to get close to anybody after his brothers death.
by Aleia Amaya
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I definitely agree with you. It is so sad how hard the teenage years are on Holden. No teen should have half the self- doubt and confusion he possesses. I'm almost wondering if 'The Catcher in the Rye" will be about how Holden will attempt to build his life back up and realize who he truly can be. Also, we may find out some of the ways Holden is actually better than his overachiever brother in Hollywood, or Allie.
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ReplyDeleteI also think that Allie's death had a major effect on Holden's life, and also that it might be why he feels so lonely all the time. I really wonder if Allie hadn't died if Holden would look at life and people with a little more happiness, and if school would have had any meaning to him.
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