In this world the majority opinion always wins, and the minority opinion lost and forgotten. In Catcher in the Rye, the minority represents the character, Holden, and the majority represents society and the people around him. The novel illustrates a point through Holden’s experiences that the ways of society are set and no one man can alter them. Holden tries very hard to rebel against society. He drops out of several schools rejecting the societal norm that people should do well in school. He drinks alcohol even though he is under aged, and he lies to almost every person he meets. Holden also judges people very critically. Clearly he makes a valiant effort for his cause but he ends up failing in the end. Holden ends up on the street with no money and is forced to go home. While he was on his adventure he never really achieved anything that benefited him. Holden just felt depressed all the time and couldn’t make friends or have fun with himself. His drunkenness forced him to realize the situation he was in and it made him even more depressed. When Holden pushed against society, society pushed back with a much larger force proving that no one man can alter the ways of it.
I liked your view on how Holden is the one man minority and the world is the majority. I never really thought of it that way but it makes sense. Although I’m not totally sold on the idea that he tried really hard to rebel. I believe that he is more passive in his rebellion and at times when he tries to connect with others totally rejects his rebellion just to fit in. His only true moment of triumph is when he punches Stradlator and then is immediately pinned to the ground. But I do agree that he judges a person too harshly for someone who abandons their ideals to connect with others. And yes in the end he was left with nothing and stuck in an insane asylum with no friends and with the occasional visit from his family. So I do agree on some parts with you, I disagree about Holden’s so called “Rebellion”.
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