ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
- Why does Holden seem so ambivalent about the adult world?
- Why does Holden fear or resist change?
- Why does Holden struggle to develop meaningful relationships with his family and peers?
SAMPLE POST:
Why does Holden seem so ambivalent about the adult world?
When describing the difference between what ads at Pencey promise and what the school is really like, Holden reveals how suspicious he is of the adult world . He doubts that "they do any more molding at Pencey than they do at any other school." (Salinger 2) Holden implies that schools do not make us who we are and might even give us a false impression of who we could or should become.
"One of the biggest reasons I left Elkton Hills was because I was surrounded by phonies." (Salinger 13). Holden shows he's ambivalent to the adult world because he finds adults to be "phonies" who don't understand him. At Elkton, the headmaster would go around and greet and talk to parents on Sundays with a fake smile on his face, which drove Holden crazy.
ReplyDeleteFrom Ellis C.
ReplyDeleteWhen Holden is talking about old Spencer he says, "...you wondered what the heck he was still living for" (Salinger 6). This shows that Holden is ambivalent to the adult world because even though he likes Spencer he questions his existence. A page over Holden mentions that Spencer doesn't have it that bad but this doesn't change the fact he's still inquiring over his life.
When Holden is talking to Spencer, he asks Holden if he had talked to his parents about this situation, he responds, "no sir i haven't communicated with them, because ill probably see them wednesday night when i get home". Holden struggles to to develop a meaningful relationship with his parents because he doesn't even care that much to even personally call them and tell them himself that he has gotten kicked out of his school.
ReplyDeleteWhen Holden is just closing Spencer's door to go back home, he hears Spencer yell "Good Luck!" Holden says, ' I hope not. I hope to hell not. I'd never yell 'Good Luck!' at anybody. It sounds terrible, when you think about it." This shows one reason that Holden might be unable to develop good relationships with his family and peers because he always has an upset comment to make about everyone.
ReplyDeleteWhen Holden is in old Spencer's room, he starts to ponder the idea of acting one's age and thinks, "Sometimes I act a lot older than I am-I really do-but people never notice it. People never notice anything" (Salinger 9). This reveals a reason why it might be difficult for Holden to develop relationships. He believes that people do not notice anything that he does or says and that they are not considering him closely enough.
ReplyDeleteWhen Holden is talking to old Spencer, he says, "Look, sir. Don't worry about me, I mean it. I'll be all right. I'm just going through a phase right now. Everybody goes through phases and all, don't they?" (Salinger 5). This shows that one of the reasons Holden is resisting change is because he doesn't realize how he unusual he is. He uses the excuse that he is "going through a phase" and thinks that he will eventually change without trying.
ReplyDeleteWhile discussing his school work, Mr. Spencer starts to read Holdens history paper aloud Holden thinks, "I had to sit there and listen to that crap. It certainly was a dirty trick." This shows that Holden stuggles to develop meaningful relationships with his family and peers, because he refuses to listen.
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From Serena M.
ReplyDeleteWhen reflecting back on his time at Elkton Hills, Holden thinks, "One of the biggest reasons why I left Elkton hills was becuase I was surrounded by phonies…they had this headmaster, Mr. Haas, that was the phoniest bastard I had ever met"(Salinger 13). It is clear that Holden is ambivalent to the adult world because he finds adults who do not understand him, and may not agree with him, to be "phonies". It really annoys him when his old headmaster would flash a fake smile toward many parents of students.
When Holden is talking with Mr. Spencer his mind starts to wander off and he begins to think about people's perceptions of him as someone who acts younger than their age. "I act quite young for my age sometimes. I was sixteen and now I'm seventeen and sometimes I act like I'm thirteen" This passage shows that Holden is aware that sometimes he does not act to his age, but later on in he talks about how sometimes he acts older than his age but adults don't notice which shows that he cares about this perception of him and while he believes it to be partly true he is annoyed that grown ups assume it to be completely so.
ReplyDeleteWhen Holden in nears the end of his conversation with Spencer he replies, "Oh, I feel some concern for my future, all right.Sure, Sure I do... But not too much, I guess" (Salinger 14). This specific quote demonstrates why Holden resists change because he doesn't fully realize how much his education will affect his future. Instead he tries to ignore this troubling fact after Spencer tells him that, "[He] will," regret his actions. Thus showing the reader why Holden is hesitant to grow up.
ReplyDeleteHolden has a hard time creating relationships with other people because he is so critical of them and because of lack of trust between himself and others. "I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life" Here Holden admits to his habit of lying. It is very hard to trust someone when you don't know if what they're telling you is the truth. And that is the situation that anyone who knows Holden is put into. This makes it almost impossible for Holden to have strong relationships with others and this makes him very self dependent and alone. This could also be why he criticizes others so much, to try to show to himself that he is better off alone and without those strong relationships with others.
ReplyDeleteWhen Holden is describing Ackley he says, "I never even once saw him brush his teeth. They always looked mossy and awful...I wasn't too crazy about him to tell you the truth" (Salinger 19). This shows that Holden has trouble developing meaningful relationships, because he points out peoples flaws, instead of looking for their positive factors. He is not very fond of a lot of people because of this
ReplyDeleteOld spencer has just read Holden's "essay" to him out loud. After he does this Holden says, "Idont think I'll ever forgive him for reading me that crap out loud". Holden likes old spencer but won't forgive him for what he's just done. It's things like this that makes Holden feel ambivalent about the adult world. He doesn't want to be a part of a group of people that embarrasses other people the way that he has just been embarrassed by old spencer.
ReplyDeleteWhen Holden is talking to Spencer, Spencer asks, if Holden had told his parents about flunking out of school, Holden says "no sir, I haven't communicated with them, because I'll probably see them Wednesday night when I get home." Holden struggles to develop a relationship with his parents because he doesn't talk to them.
ReplyDelete"Game, my ass. Some game. If you get on the side where all the hot-shots are, then it's a game, all right - I'll admit that. But if you get on the other side, where there aren't any hot-shots, then what's a game about it? Nothing. No game". Holden is ambivalent about the adult world because he doesn't like how life works. If you don't go to a good school and get a good education, then life will suck for you, and Holden is annoyed by this.
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of the chapter Holden says" I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life." This relates to the essential question of why Holden can't develop relationships.If you are lying all the time then you can't really develop a good relationship with anybody.
ReplyDeleteHolden is talking with old Spencer, but decides he has to leave quickly, saying, "But I just couldn't hang around there any longer, the way we were on opposite sides of the pole, and the way he kept missing the bed whenever he chucked something at it, and his sad old bathrobe with his chest showing, and that grippy smell of Vicks Nose Drops all over the place" (Salinger 15). Holden notices a lot of small things, and is very critical of others. He seems to get easily annoyed and disturbed by little things, which could make it hard for him to develop meaningful relationships with others. But when old Spencer says he's just trying to help him, Holden bolts out of there.
ReplyDeleteWhen Holden describes Ackley "And not only that, he had a terrible personality. He was also sort of a nasty guy." (Salinger 19) It shows how Holden is very judgmental, and doesn't bother to know any qualities from anyone.
ReplyDeleteHolden said "And not only that, he had a terrible personality" It shows that he hasn't been looked good in front of people. So holden struggles to develop meaningful relationships with his family and peers.
ReplyDelete