ipl-logo

How Does Holden Become A Part Of The Stupid Rubbernecks

949 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Techniques and conventions to do with mental health in the catcher in the rye

Holden is not Ready to Become a Part of the “Stupid Rubbernecks” The passage chosen comes from Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. It begins with Maurice the hotel elevator door man and his worker Sunny. They came to his room seeking the five dollars that was owed to them as Holden only paid Sunny ten. The situation puts fear into Holden and is unable to deal with that emotion. After Sunny gets the five dollars and Maurice gives Holden a good punch to the stomach, they leave the room. Holden is furious about the events prior and depicts how he would get his revenge on Maurice. Lastly as Holden lies in bed he loses the little faith he had in the world and thinks of suicide. Throughout this passage, Holden experiences the fact that the real …show more content…

As a result of Holden’s own character he is unable to identify and deal with his fear and rejoices the end of the situation. Maurice has Holden pinned against the door. Holden feels intimidated as he says that it were as if Maurice was “standing” on top of him. This selection of detail which describes what it feels like for Holden in the situation that shows the domination that Maurice has over Holden. It also demonstrates the fear Hoden has. Sunny finds his wallet and simply removes the five that she was owed. His inability to deal with the scary situation Holden puts himself into leads to a climax where Holden “started to cry.” Holden wouldn't ever admit that it was a cry of fear instead he diverts it saying he “was so damn mad and nervous and all.” This selection of detail or lack thereof for the reason behind his crying shoes he cannot deal with fear. Prior to Maurice leaving the hotel room Holden receives a “terrific punch to the stomach.” This selection of detail describing the punch that is used calling it terrific a means that it was both forceful and felt good to Holden. This punch ended the fear experienced by Holden making it a “terrific” one. The power Maurice has over Holden results in fear, which as an emotion Holden despises as he is unable to describe it and rejoices the the end of the fear’s reign on him. Being unable to deal with fear by simply submitting and never identifying it as fear is one of the least manly things one can

Show More
Related
147 Words | 1 Pages

Reveals about situation: This quote serves a vital role in characterizing Holden. Specifically, it reveals how Holden actually does feel sympathy for others, but he does not know how to express his feelings externally. Thus emphasizing how Holden struggles with more person vs. self conflicts opposed to person vs. person conflicts.

Read More
1431 Words | 6 Pages

The anti-hero is an essential part of literature. Anti-heroes are complex characters that have serious negative and positive personality traits that directly affect their lives. They allow one to relate to a character that may be more human than a “simple” protagonist or antagonist. Both Holden Caulfield from J. D. Salinger’s Catcher in The Rye, and Willy Loman from Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman are similar, and should both be considered as anti-heroes because of their endless similarities. Holden and Willy are both depressed, both of their families view them differently because of the actions their conditions cause them to do and do not have many people supporting them in their lives.

Read More
245 Words | 1 Pages

Evans is incorrect for assuming that the emotions Holden expresses are fabricated. In fact, Holden is a young man who feels incredibly deeply, but he often subconsciously chooses to conceal those feelings, like adolescents are known for doing. For example, when Old Maurice and Sunny come to his hotel room and abuse him to get the money he ‘owes’ them, he reveals, “I was still sort of crying. I was so damn mad and nervous and all“ (Salinger 103). He feels truly upset as a result of this personal injustice.

Read More
934 Words | 4 Pages

Realizing this, Holden weeps in remorse. Also, he weeps in hope because he has reached bedrock. The only direction available for Holden to go is up. Through losing in life, and being a sorry, cigarette smoking highschooler, Holden knows he did it his way. Amused by his failure, Holden endured hell to find what he truly loves, and needs to be: a catcher in the

Read More
1493 Words | 6 Pages

In the paradoxical personality of Holden we discover something much deeper. As Holden makes himself out to be tougher than what he actually is, Salinger introduces stubbornness. Holden’s true nature of gentleness and sensitivity offered throughout the book often brings bedlam into his life, though Salinger brings into

Read More
858 Words | 4 Pages

Holden begins flirting with them “strictly from hunger” and immediately gets rejected (Salinger 77).In response to rejection, Holden quickly starts to degrade them by claiming the “three witches'' are “laughing like morons'' (Salinger 78). This illustrated another defense mechanism from Holden. His instantaneous response is to cheapen the value of these women, strictly due to his embarrassment from rejection. In addition, Holden associates himself with these women exclusively because he feels he does not have connections–with anyone–and is trying to force them to feel contempt. Another example of Holden’s point of view portraying the theme is when he challenges Maurice–a pimp who demands more money after Holden spends time with one of his prostitutes–to a physical fight.

Read More
1184 Words | 5 Pages

Holden says, “This next part I don't remember so hot… I tried to sock him, with all my might, right smack in the toothbrush, so it would split his goddamn throat open.” (Salinger 49). In this scene, Holden pounces on his roommate, Stradlater, when he tells Holden he just spent the night with Jane Gallagher, Holden's close childhood friend. Holden had always viewed Jane as a symbol of purity and innocence, so learning that his roommate may have put the works on her leaves him rather devastated. Stradlater is known for his infamous reputation with girls, and Holden knows that deep down

Read More
1022 Words | 5 Pages

People do not expect the death of a loved one to occur at such a young age, and so abruptly like Allie 's death. The smashing of the windows shows the huge impact that he had on Holden, and how upset he was that he no longer had his brother by his side. Holden was uncertain in how to deal with this upsetting change in his life, resulted in aggressive behavior. Holden was also exposed to another traumatic event in his life during his time at Pencey. After being introduced to one of Holden 's classmates Castle he states, ¨Finally, what he did, instead of

Read More
503 Words | 3 Pages

Trying To Look Honest by Hannah T. In the “trying to look tough” passage Holden is trying to be vulnerable with the reader, but he doesn’t know how to and he fears potential judgment. Holden begins the “trying to look tough” paragraph by saying that he “didn’t give a damn how [he] looked. ”(99) as he puts on his hunting hat.

Read More
656 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout the book, Holden is struggling to get by. The death of his brother Allie has left him in a tough spot. Holden doesn’t exactly know how to deal with this. The different stages of grief are represented through Holden. Holden shows denial and anger when he flashbacks to one of his memories after his brother’s death.

Read More
1142 Words | 5 Pages

The beginning of Holden’s journey starts with the innocence and naivety of childhood. Childhood is the stage that ignorance is bliss with no care in the world. Holden goes to a prestigious boarding school for boys and he believes that everyone in that school is a phony in some way. Holden is an observant character as he stays in the background, but he can also cause the most trouble. Like a child, he asks many questions and he is very curious to the point that he can be annoying.

Read More
915 Words | 4 Pages

In particular, an instance of Holden’s willingness to die for a noble cause rather than living is his encounter at the Edmont Hotel with Maurice and Sunny, the prostitute who he doesn’t even have sex with. When Holden is confronted by the duo to steal five dollars from him, he speaks out and refuses to pay. His efforts were to no avail though, as he not only gets punched but also his money taken away from him. After pretending to be shot, he finally reveals what he felt like doing, which “…was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out the window.”

Read More
837 Words | 4 Pages

Holden struggles with growing up and facing reality. There are many examples of Holden’s immaturity that are displayed in many forms such as facing responsibilities, his speech, his actions, and etc. Holden’s outlook on adult life is that it is superficial and brimming with phonies, but childhood was all about looking pleasing and innocent. He wants everything to stay the same and for time to stop. As Holden progresses in age, he will discover more about becoming mature in the

Read More
728 Words | 3 Pages

Holden begins trying to be older than he actually is, still scared to lose innocence he grasps so hard to be a different person. He is a teenage boy in a grown up’s world. Trying to be an adult isn 't as easy as it seems and Holden is starting to learn that. “She had a terrifically nice smile. She really did.

Read More
1238 Words | 5 Pages

Although Holden feels ready to get his first time over with, when Sunny takes

Read More

More about How Does Holden Become A Part Of The Stupid Rubbernecks

Related Topics

Open Document