Holden Dialectical Journal

1. She was really a moron. But what a dancer. I could hardly stop myself from sort of giving her a kiss on the top of her dopey head – you know – right where the part is, and all. She got sore when I did it.

"Hey! What 's the idea?"

"Nothing. No idea. You really can dance," I said. "I have a kid sister that 's only in the goddam fourth grade. You 're about as good as she is, and she can dance better than anybody living or dead."(Chapter 10, page 71-72) Although Holden values intelligence in women, Holden often lets physical appearances cloud his judgment. Most people think like Holden do, and that is if someone is beautiful, he/she will likely be chosen over a person who is not as attractive. Holden is a sixteen year old teen, who is

Holden is infatuated by, not in love with, this girl he meets at the lavender room of the Edmont Hotel. This is another mistake he makes. Love and infatuation are both intense emotions that one feels for another person. These feelings are often confused for one other by many people, but the two feelings differ in their actuality of love, intensity and final outcome. Infatuation is the state of being completely carried away by unreasoning passion or love; addictive love. Infatuation usually occurs at the beginning of relationship when sexual attraction is central, while love can be described as feeling of intense affection for another person. It is most often talked about as an emotion between two people, hence is also sometimes referred to as interpersonal love. Infatuation feels like all-consuming euphoria similar to recreational drug use (addictive chemical reactions in the brain), and results in emptiness, and consequences of choices made while under the influence of mind numbing temporary lust. Now, love feels like a deep affection, filled with with contentment and confidence, which results in security, peace, and a solid partnership. In love, partners communicate and negotiate an appropriate expectation, which requires plenty of selflessness and polite assertiveness. The point is that infatuation is a dangerous thing that can lead to one’s destruction. No? For example, Romeo and Juliet did not love each other, but were merely infatuated by one another. Their

It is more about comforting her than anything else. Holden is a teenager who suffers from serious mental illnesses, but nonetheless, he is a caring individual. He was enduring a dilemma and chose not to elaborate on it, and as a result, his psychological state became fragile and he became unapproachable, but if he chose to discuss the problem with a loved one, a potential solution could have been found, along with psychological health. That is where he made his mistake, and became mentally unstable. As much as he tries to downplay the fact that he does not care about Jane by using diction like ‘hell’ and ‘bastard’, but he truly cares. The point is that one should constantly be proud of who he/she is and not try to hide it. One should be proud of being a good friend, be proud of who he/she is, be proud of oneself every time he/she makes a good decision, be proud of all the small things one has accomplished, be proud of one’s unique strengths, and do not leave it to another person to make one feel like ‘he/his is enough’; leave it to oneself. Also, there are advantages to this. By being proud of who one is, one’s confidence skyrockets, one becomes honest and likeable. Life becomes worth living, and nearly stress-free. Once this occurs, one becomes energized, appreciates everything and becomes healthy (physically, mentally and spiritually). There will be no more sleepless