Tuesday, January 4, 2011

In The Cathcher in the Rye, how does childhood and adulthood Holden's vision of an ideal world?

For Holden, in an "ideal" world, everyone is still a bit
naive about life.  Holden wants to protect children from having to face the harsh
realities of life (thus his desire to be a "catcher in the rye").  He seems to feel so
protective of others based on his own distorted perspective of the world.  He hates the
falsity of other people, for example his school (Pencey Prep) which advertises its
ability to turn out extraordinary young men, but all Holden sees around him is liars and
thieves.  He sees his prep school as a microcosm of New York City, which is full of
degenerates. 


Holden's parents, too, show his disdain for
adulthood with their cocktail parties and high ranking social position.  They don't
"parent" Holden, rather they just send his off to one boarding school after another. 
There is no communication between parents and son.  Holden's sister Phoebe, however,
reflects the honesty of childhood.  She says what she thinks; she is unafraid to
confront life head on.  Adults seems to lose the ability to be honest and forthright
about things.  Holden hates that about the process of growing
up.


In an "ideal" world, people would always be honest and
true, not a bunch of phonies.

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