Comparing 'Holden And Asher In Catcher In The Rye'

Both Holden and Asher come from well off families. Had they lived in less fortunate families, their lives would be very different. Though it’s possible that Asher could become the man he is at the end of the book from more humble beginnings, it is almost impossible that Holden’s story could happen the way it did without his family and its wealth. Holden’s entire experience depicted in the novel hinders on many coincidences, however his disregard for money is of note. Holden carried with him a substantial amount of money with him throughout the story. Someone with less money to run around with wouldn’t decide to crash in a hotel for a few days. Holden would not even be able to attend any of the prestigious schools he mentions if

Asher could very well have lived a similar life to the one the book already presented. Being discovered as an artist is never anything short of luck. The story could have still had Asher’s father working for the Rebbe and not be so well off. This conclusion most likely stems from a horrid understanding of the Jewish community and the lives of its leaders. Asher may not wake up to fresh orange juice everyday nor would he be treated to so many summer outings as a child but he could still be a member of the Jewish community, and still, in time, trade it for the world of art. Asher’s depression and inability to control his gifts may have played out very differently in a poor family. Perhaps his parents would try to capitalize on his gifts by selling his paintings. His mother wanting him to “make the world sweet and pretty” (Potok 18) could be the desire of his commissioners rather than the wishes of his distraught mother. A more likely possibility is that Asher’s parents would more actively suppress Asher’s talent, seeing Asher’s drawings as distractions rather than opportunities. This would likely cause young Asher even more strife then it already did in the book. Holden would similarly be denied the freedom to be a “slacker”. He wouldn’t be able to be “the only dumb one in the family” (Salinger 23), he couldn’t just wander through life aimlessly from school to school. He’d have to study hard or drop out in order to help