Read the following quote. Discuss the possible meanings of this quote within the context of the novel. How does the title of the novel "fit" within Holden's philosophy and Salinger's portrayal of the human condition? Are there any other instances in the novel where Holden voices similar concerns?
"Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around - nobody big, I mean - except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff - I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be." Ch. 22
DUE TUES., MARCH 17!
This passage fits the title because it shows what kind of person Holden really is. This quote possibly means that Holden wants to be a person that knows what to do in life. At this point in the story, Holden is lost and does not know what he wants. Holden want to become a person with a plant in life.
ReplyDeleteThis quote fits the title by how we finally know what the theme of the novel is about. Readers want to learn the meaning of the novel's title, and we finally do.
Holden voices concerns that most teenagers are concerned with today. Holden is reflecting his troubles with other teenagers.
Throughout the novel we've been hearing about how Holden is trying to be a hero of some sort. He talks about how he wants to help others here and there. We never really get a concrete description out of him, on what he plans to do about it. He explains how he felt bad for the nuns, how he feels about how vulnerable women are, and how susceptible children are if they're misguided. I think that this is probably the first time we get a description of what Holden wants to do in life, but it's still too vague. He never really pointed out a specific profession, he just says he wants to be everyone's benefactor.
ReplyDeleteHe makes terrible decisions in his life that cause him to suffer consequences. Holden doesn't see it as a problem because he's ignorant. He thinks that everything that's wrong in his life is the fault of other people around him. With that mindset, that's what causes him to think that he has the ability to help others around him. He feels that since he's learned what can happen if you make specific decisions, that he can also be the person that can tell others not to make the same mistakes.
He wants to be able to do all of these things, but he can't because he's not doing anything about it. He drops his education, which doesn't help him in trying to gain a profession in the field of social help; the problem there is the fact that if he really wanted to help the vulnerable people in the world, he'd become a shrink. The even bigger problem is that he is so messed up mentally with his view of society, that he can't even stay in school long enough to pursue a career in a normal fashion.
This quote could possibly mean that Holden wants to "catch" kids, or prevent them, from falling into something such as adulthood or bad actions. That if he caught them, their simple perspective of the world would be protected and wouldn't be broken by the real complications of everything in the world.
ReplyDeleteThe title fits within Holden's philosophy and Salinger's portrayal of the human condition by what they both believe are problems people have in the world. In this novel, Salinger shows depression, nervous breakdowns, and some sexual explorations. This shows use what Salinger feels people have problems with and Holden, being the main character, shows this by doing these actions throughout the book. The title shows that Holden would like to stop others from going through these problems by his explanation of being "the catcher in the rye".
The quote could possibly mean that Holden doesn't want kids going through what he is going through such as not knowing what to do in life and having adults not understanding him and just being out in the world doing whatever he wants without anyone telling him what is right and wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe title fits within Holden's philosophy and Salinger's portrayal because of the way they describe human issues that are very common in the world today. Holden shows these issues in everyday life by doing the actions and showing us how the results were for him after he did these things. Salinger shows us these issues by telling us and explaining them to us.
Holden despises the greedy, materialistic world he lives in. He sees growing up as turning into a phony adult. When Holden wants to run away with Sally and escape the world, we see the side of him that truly hates growing older.
ReplyDeleteHolden relates to children on a good level. His relationship with Phoebe and Allie shows that he gets along with children more than people his own age, which could be because of his immaturity.
The quote symbolizes that Holden wants to protect the children from growing up, so he wants to "catch" them before they fall off the "cliff" (or become part of the corrupt world). He wants to protect their innocence.
This fits in with the novel because Salinger expresses the situations Holden goes through - all of which are a part of growing up and finding oneself. It also fits with Holden's philosophy because throughout the novel, Holden rather imagine the world differently than how it truly is.
I agree with Amanda when she said, "The quote symbolizes that Holden wants to protect the children from growing up, so he wants to "catch" them before they fall off the "cliff" (or become part of the corrupt world). He wants to protect their innocence. " because he thinks that everyone besides himself is phony. And the only people that act like him are children.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Sara when she said, "The title shows that Holden would like to stop others from going through these problems by his explanation of being "the catcher in the rye"." because he wants to "save" (catch) the children from falling into "phoniness"
This thought of Holden hits the heart of the novel. This quote tells me that Holden is beginning to understand the meaning of responsibility and that he is beginning to change to a new and improved Holden. Holden wants to try to fix the wrongs he has done in the past by letting other people who haven't experienced his major falls know about it. He would like to see how his life would've looked like by changing his behavior. The way he used the word "catch" in his quote, means that he wants to catch other kids before they fall off track in their life and their goals.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Matt said. Holden has the potential of accomplishing goals. It's just that Holden does not have the will power to actually perform his promises. A word that i could describe him is a "procrastinator" because he leaves all of his actions to a later time. But when the time comes, it's already too late for him. It seems to me that Holden does not learn from his mistakes and continues to repeat his steps and almost completely destroyed his life.
ReplyDeleteIn this passage, it shows Holden becoming a young man who has accepted the different responsibilities in life. Holden is turning his life around in a way because he once was this boy who admitted that if someone needed some help, he would not help them. now Holden is in a way becoming a young adult that is caring for the well beings of some children. Holden is changing. I believe that his sister Phoebe has helped him see that people need others. The title fits this book because it is showing a boy take life the way it is and allowing nature to take its course.
ReplyDeletei agree with Kevin. Holden is starting to take things more seriously and is also being able to see that life is more that what meets the eye. Meaning Holden looks at the way people carry themselves and the way people respond to certain things, but Holden was able to see that people makes sacrifices. Phoebe gave Holden all of her money. All she wanted was for the best for Holden. that is the thing that changed Holden to see a real meaning in life and that life comes with sacrifices.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Amanda, when she said that the quote symbolizes that Holden wants to protect the children from growing up, so he wants to "catch" them before they fall off the "cliff". It shows the maturity that Holden has developed. It also shows that Holden is becoming someone who watches over the people younger than him. Holden is a changed young man. Holden is guiding them from the corrupt world and he is protecting them from going down the wrong path that he took
ReplyDeletei agree with Alvin when he said "Holden voices concerns that most teenagers are concerned with today." Throughout the novel, Holden goes through many things that teenagers even today can relate to as well as learn something. He allows teens,who read the novel, to get a different meaning out of it.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Matt when he said "Holden makes terrible decisions in his life that cause him to suffer consequences." Holden's decision to not do well in school causes him to not be thinking about a good profession that he could pursue. His bad decision to blame the wrongs of his life on others causes him to have a bad view about society.
Jessica said...
ReplyDeleteI agree with Amanda when she says that Holden is trying to protect the children from growing-up. Because the way Holden is seening thing is that growing up is a horrible thing. By horrible I think he means like there's more problems in your life and more "phony" people to meet. The description Holden gives about the cliff is a simile to a changing point from a children to a adult. He gives the viewing point negative on a adult world but yet I am not so sure he knows what it is actually like. Holden acts more like a child then an adult in this novel. Even thought in some points in the novel he trys to act mature and grown he is not. He is more confused then anyone at that does points in the book. Holden also has his positves because even thought he is not fully asuring to us readers that he knows how the adult world is. He is still trying to help younger kids in that so called "cliff". Many teenagers at this point in life can relate to Holden. Because Holden shows confusion in his inner emotions, but infront of everyone in society he shows that he knows everything and he has the best life. But really they are ashame of what they are or want to show a more excitin g life. THey also want to show how they are not confused about anything but yet they are they just rather not show that side of them.
The quote is about how Holden is trying to stop the kids from being like him. In the story Holden is the type of person who lies and doesnt like other people for no reason.
ReplyDeleteSo in other words Holden is trying to do better because he doesnt want the kids to be like him he wants the kids to succed and be a good person in life and he feels in order for him to be a better person he needs to save this kids from falling off the cliff.
I agree with Jessica when she says Holden ia trying to preven tthe kids from growing up because Holden sees being grownup as a bad thing so he wants the kids to be a kid forver so they can have fun.
The quote fits well with the novel and Holden. Holden in the quote is trying to prevent children from going what he went through. He does not want others to go through life with no one. He states that he will be there when they are lost and catch them. The quote is a reflection of what he wishes he had. Deep down, Holden wants someone to rely on and help him. He wants someone to be his catcher in the rye.
ReplyDeleteThe only time he shows great concern like this, is when he is discussing Jane.
I agree with Kevin and Faith about Holden taking life a little more serious. He is taking life more seriously because he realizes eventually he can not hide himself through judging others.
-Alexis M.
The title of the novel fits in this quote because Holden explains how he must keep the younger children from falling off the cliff. Therefore, it is named Catcher in the Rye. The audience has been waiting to understand the meaning of the title, now after reading this quote we have learned the meaning. This quote has a bigger meaning than the title of the book. This is the side of Holden that we haven’t seen throughout the entire book. Holden is very confused in this part of the story, he is experiencing a psychological break down which makes him depressed. Holden wants to feel like a normal person. By expressing his feelings for these young children he pulls himself together for a little bit. What Holden is doing, which is saving these kids from the life he had. He is shielding the children from becoming like himself
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jasmin, the way she explains that Holden is protecting the children form growing up like him. I think that he finally realizes how bad of a situation he is in and he wants to correct it and wished he could of prevented it.
-Andy M.
I believe the quote is trying to tell us the meaning of the books name Catcher In The Rye.
ReplyDeleteThis quote could mean a few things. This quote is showing us a caring side that we haven't seen throughout the whole novel in Holden.
Holden could also be growing up, and maturing. This shows he wants protect those children from not following into his foot steps. He wants to save them before they fall.
What Jasmin said "Holden might not want kids going thorough what he did " I have to agree with that. Holden doesn't want them falling in his foot steps.
ReplyDeleteWhat Alvin said "This quote fits the title by how we finally know what the theme of the novel is about." Yes we finally figured out the theme of the novel, I like how Alvin put it. This is really the way way we found out.
ReplyDeleteI believe the quote is saying how Holden is actually different from everyone around him. He wants to do something out of the ordinary and he actually admits that it's weird. I believe that the title and the quote actually describe Holden in a perfect way without saying what he actually is. Holden doesn't want people to figure him out, and if they want to they would have to go through alot in order to do so
ReplyDelete