Though Holden never describes his psychological breakdown directly, it becomes clear as the novel progresses that he is growing increasingly unstable. How does Salinger indicate this instability to the reader while protecting his narrator's reticence?
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From chapter 15, Holden is starting to express his breakdown issues and problems to the readers, other characters in the story, and to himself. S.D. Salinger is expressing his narrator's issues by explaining it to the readers as if Salinger was Holden. Once Salinger does that process, he is able to express Holden's problem to the readers while protecting Holden's reticence.
ReplyDeleteSalinger focuses on Holden's emotions and his characteristics. After Salinger expresses Holden's breakdown issues, the readers can have another step of understanding how and why Holden performs his actions.
Salinger indicates Holden's instability by revealing to the reader certain thoughts Holden is having. Salinger shows that Holden is thinking a little about death and how much he would be missed if he was to die. He also shows how Holden feels about the way people remember their loved ones after they die. The way Salinger uses these thoughts instead of having Holden talk about them, allows him to show the reader Holden's psychological breakdown but still protect Holden's reticence.
ReplyDeleteI think Salinger expresses Holden emotions is because he wants the readers to feel Holden's pain. Holden is sad about death and everything and the author wants people to think that Holden is not ready to talk about it himself. So Salinger will step in and explain to the readers Holden psychological breakdown.
ReplyDeleteSalinger indicate Holden's instability to the reader while protecting his narrator's reticence by having Holden express his thoughts about his breakdown rather than actually telling himself or even any other characters in the book. These thoughts about his psychological breakdown is a personal discussion within Holden. The reason why I think Holden decides not share his psychological breakdowns with his friends and relatives, is because he feels uncomfortable for other people in his life to know about them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Sara said about how Salinger uses Holden's thoughts about his psychological breakdown as a thought rather than saying them out loud. Salinger wants Holden to share his secrets to the reader only because Holden's "secret" thoughts give a reason why he doesn't want to share them with his friends.
ReplyDeleteSalinger is slowly letting us know more about Holden. This allows us to know Holden better and figure out his ways. We are always learning something new about Holden and seeing different Holden's: a sensitive Holden, sad Holden, careless Holden, and etc.
ReplyDeleteSince Salinger is protecting Holden it keeps us interested. While reading the book we constantly question Holden and his ways. Without the narration protection the book would be a whole new book.
The fact that Holden is speaking as if he is telling someone his story is key. It's as if he is speaking to someone about the troubles in his life, however not at its entirety. Holden does this in almost every sentence in the book. He will speak of a subject and completely over-judge a situation, while trying to make you understand his perspective. I'm not saying he's going crazy, because he's not, however he speaks as if he has to prove everything in his life and at the same time acts as if his opinion is best. The word I'm looking for is biased. Growing up in a rich background, he wants to prove that he can be the underdog of any situation, as long as he proves it. The fact of the matter is that he will prove it by not telling the entirety of the situation. Thus making his opinion ultimately biased.
ReplyDeleteHolden also has this type of facade in which he will try to use to his advantage; where he continues stretch the truth to act as if he is the underdog. He really does continue to talk as if he's speaking to someone. At times it seems as if he will try and say something, but he won't really explain on what he means either. That is also what makes it confusing, because it shows two entirely different perspectives, however has one stand out more than the other.
The fact that Holden is speaking as if he is telling someone his story is key. It's as if he is speaking to someone about the troubles in his life, however not at its entirety. Holden does this in almost every sentence in the book. He will speak of a subject and completely over-judge a situation, while trying to make you understand his perspective. I'm not saying he's going crazy, because he's not, however he speaks as if he has to prove everything in his life and at the same time acts as if his opinion is best. The word I'm looking for is biased. Growing up in a rich background, he wants to prove that he can be the underdog of any situation, as long as he proves it. The fact of the matter is that he will prove it by not telling the entirety of the situation. Thus making his opinion ultimately biased.
ReplyDeleteHolden also has this type of facade in which he will try to use to his advantage; where he continues stretch the truth to act as if he is the underdog. He really does continue to talk as if he's speaking to someone. At times it seems as if he will try and say something, but he won't really explain on what he means either. That is also what makes it confusing, because it shows two entirely different perspectives, however has one stand out more than the other.
I think the first sign of his instability is when he sends the prostitute away after calling her to come over. He might have been scared, unsure, or insecure. Salinger tells us thoughts that Holden has but does not tell us. He explains to us how he has thoughts of death and what were to happen. He thinks of how others lives would be and if it would matter. He seems very insecure but tries to put up a front to hide it.
ReplyDeleteHolden struggles with society, his identity, and the death of Allie. He does not acknowledge the way he deals with these issues or the fact that they are causing him to be depressed.
ReplyDeleteThrough certain situations in the novel, Salinger expresses Holden's instability by using other character's reactions toward Holden and their opinions about him to show that he is unknowingly having a breakdown.
Salinger also allows the readers to make their own interpretation on Holden's possible breakdown by analzying the strange things he does, says aloud, or thinks. By doing this, he slowly reveals to us that something might not be right with Holden
Andy MacKenzie to me
ReplyDeleteshow details 10:17 PM (0 minutes ago)
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Salinger indicates Holden’s instability by showing the audience how Holden reacts to certain situations. For example, the prostitute that Holden calls for, she comes up to his room and all he wants to do is talk. Holden is scared because he is trying to act like an adult but failing by showing that he is to frightened and sends her away. When Holden takes Lucy on a date, he looses his temper and yells at her. She begins to cry and Holden leaves with out her. This is yet another failure by Holden. He starts to talk about death and what would happen if he died. Would people miss him, or even care? This is a big suggestion to the audience that Holden is going through a psychological breakdown.
-Andy M.
I agree with natalie when she said "since Salinger is protecting Holden it keeps us interested." With Salinger doing this, it keeps the reader thinking about Holden and his personality.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Alvin when he said "the readers can have another step of understanding how and why Holden performs his actions." With Holden's psychological breakdown becoming a little more clear, the reader is able to put together reasons why Holden acts the way he does and why he feels certain ways.
Throughout the whole novel, Holden is having breakdowns from so many things that are taking place in his life. One situation that is hitting him hard is his brother Allie’s death. There are times where Holden doesn’t realize that he is having a breakdown. We, the readers, can see that he is having a breakdown because Salinger shows us the reactions of others towards things he says and does. Also, Salinger shows Holden’s breakdowns by having him tell us his thoughts and what he would in situations, for example if someone was to mess with him.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Amanda when she said "Salinger allows the readers to make their own interpretation on Holden's possible breakdown by analzying the strange things he does, says aloud, or thinks. By doing this, he slowly reveals to us that something might not be right with Holden." I agree with her because now that we see what he's thinking, we can get a better sense of who Holden is and how he reacts in situations. When someone talks their thoughts out loud, you know that there is something serious going on in their lives.
ReplyDeleteI really don't agree with Sara when she says something about how Salinger tells Holden's thoughts instead of having Holden tell them because there are times where Holden is telling us readers his thoughts and what he would have done or do in situations. Salinger is not always telling Holden's thoughts.
ReplyDeleteSalinger illustrates Holden`s instability through Holdens thinking process. In Chapter 15 Holden begins to become sad and depressed about everything, however never states these feelings to a person. Salinger is allowing the reader to understand the mind set of Holden but when Holden has company the shield goes up and he becomes defensive. Salinger is letting the reader see two sides of Holden.
ReplyDeleteSalinger indicates the instability by the thoughts Holden is having. He is thinking about death and certain aspects of it. He thinks about who is gonna miss him if he dies. The way he uses those thoughts about death instead of having Holden actually say it out loud allows Salinger Holden's psychological breakdown but still protect his reticence.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Amanda when she says, "Salinger also allows the readers to make their own interpretation on Holden's possible breakdown by analzying the strange things he does, says aloud, or thinks." Salinger doesnt come right out and say that Holden is havng a breakdown he gives us clues but leaves most of the interpretation up to us.
I agree with Natalie when she said that since Salinger is protecting Holden it keeps us interested. It gives Holden a sort of mystery about him. We are always wondering what crazy thing he may do next.
Matt, how is it that Holden speaking as if he is communicating to a person key? what makes that a key move from Salinger?
ReplyDeleteyou stated it is key but what is so key about it?
I agree with Natalie about Salinger keeping Holdne quite interesting because we see all these different sides of Holden. Understanding the different sides of Holden allows the reader to not get bored but also understand the actions he commits.
-Alexis M
Salinger is avoiding telling the readers that Holden has a problem because this is a coming of age book and it relates to the teens of today and they don't like for their business to be told out loud, but when someone knows the information; they don't mind discussing it. Holden has problems because almost everything he has ever done, Holden has always quit. Holden won't admit that he has a problem. The author explains the problem to the reader by using context clues.
ReplyDeleteThe author is showing instability in Holden by the way Holden acts. He seems to be the type of boy that needs someone by his side to give himself the feeling of being wanted. I think Holden might be depressed because he might just miss his brother. I agree with Sara because when people are depressed they change their whole attitude and it could be because of a death in the family.
I also agree with Sara and Jose because even though Holden is a boy that wants someone but don’t know how to express it, he is also a boy that has problems accepting that he has problems. Salinger shows this through Holden’s thoughts. The way Salinger uses these thoughts instead of having Holden talk about them, allows him to show the reader Holden's psychological breakdown but still protect that Holden has problems.
-Faith
Holden continues to be not ready to talk about his problems, but you can tell by the way Salinger presents some of the characteristics of Holden that he is really having problems. He constantly has signs of depression and almost a sense of wanting others to notice him all the time. This sense of him feeling alone allows the audience to get a better understanding of Holden.
ReplyDeletesalinger uses different methods or ideas to show Holden's breakdown, he doesnt make holden say that he is emotionaly in pain. i agree with kevin alonzos: "Holden express his thoughts about his breakdown rather than actually telling himself or even any other characters in the book." because salinger did exactly what kev A said.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of the comments typed here. Because Holden does show his weakness in a different way, more like a teenage way. The age period Holden is in it's the one when they think that the world is against them. Salinger hesitates to say or talk about Holdens problem. He is not straight forward about it because like Mrs. Hinshaw said teeenagers don't like there buisness our there. Well most of the teenagers. I also thing that Holden shows depression sign when he is critizing other people around him and he kind of isolates himself, like being quiet.
ReplyDelete-Jessica R.
Holden has been having unstable thoughts.
ReplyDeleteSalinger is showing how Holden is having death thoughts. Holden wonders who is going to miss him if he dies. Holden seems like a very depressed teenager, that is how Salinger presents him. Salinger shows Holden's thoughts he doesn't present Holden talking about them. I believe Salinger is trying to show how Holden feels and thinks about situations.