I think a theme of The Catcher in the Rye that has become pretty clear in the later chapters of the book is that everyone has to grow up. Holden Caufield clearly has not grown up, and that is why he is in his current social situation. Holden definitely wants to grow up; you can tell by the way he is always going to bars and trying to get drunk. However, Holden is just like a little child still. He is still really immature. He is easily offended by other people and quick to judge. He is also unable to handle the responsibilities of adult life. For instance, school. While he is not totally stupid, he fails out of every school he goes to and he does not accept responsibility for doing so. Also, people from Holden’s past, like Luce, clearly see that Holden is not growing up at all and remains really immature.
I have seen things like this in my life from meeting friends from a long time ago. After not seeing them for a long time, they always seem really different. Old friends can even be annoying sometimes if they haven’t grown up or become more mature.
Troy,
ReplyDeleteI like how you related Holden being immature by going out too bars because it is very true. Holden has a lot of growing up too do he does a lot of uncaring things such as not caring about his education. One of the most important factors in your life is your school and he doesn't take it seriously when that’s how you have a future is due to your schooling. By failing out of four different schools shows a lot about your character and he has a lot of growing up too do in his life.
I like how you mentioned a relative fact about you meeting your friends awhile ago because i have done the same thing. Like you said some friends are annoying and you loose them too immaturity, but that comes with growing up. Friends come and go and change over time with coming of age. Growing up shows who you and helps you establish who your true friends are.
Troy,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your analysis that Holden longs to be an adult, but is not willing to assume the responsibility to become one. He cherishes childhood innocence, and does not want to lose that happiness, but he would still like to be treated as an adult. His reluctance to accept emotional and mental change causes him to stagnate in maturity. In effect, he cannot relate well to others who may be of higher mental maturity than him, such as Luce. While Luce exhibits characteristics of immaturity (he did not want the other boys staying in his room after he was done speaking, and he refused to allow comments into his conversations from fear that he would upstaged intelligently), he presents a constant to measure Holden’s maturity. Luce has grown somewhat since he left Whooton School, and now looks down on Holden’s sexual comments.
Holden’s immature attempts to act as an adult sabotage his attempts to live within society. He is constantly striving to impress those who are older than him (for example, Luce, the three women at the Lavender Room), and exhibits poor money managing skills as Holden spends all of his savings on alcohol, bars, and taxis.
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