Changes to The Catcher in the Rye
In the Catcher in the Rye, Holden has a philosophy that differs from most people at elite prep schools. He believes that most of the students enrolled there are phonies and have a certain path they will all take which includes a Cadillac and they will be either a lawyer or have some other similar career. Holden does not support this lifestyle partially because he doesn't want to grow up and leave behind his childlike innocence.
Through the story, we see Holden toying with the idea of staying a kid by his failure to advance from school and by his thinking that he should move to a ranch, and his thoughts about the carousel. Holden's thinking about Phoebe also lets us see how he thinks about childhood. Phoebe is younger than Holden so her presence makes him think about her childlike looks and thoughts. Holden also is severely affected by his brother Allie's death and I think he never truly healed from it so it has been stirring inside of him how Allie is stuck a kid in his memory and will never grow up. If Allie was still alive this may be different but it is hard to say. The difference in this story if Allie was still alive and he was able to watch him and Phoebe both grow and develop may have allowed him to see how growing up isn't that bad after all. His failure to complete school also shows that he doesn't want to advance and he just wants to stay where he is at because it is obvious he is smart but just not applying himself.
I feel like if this book was rewritten with Allie alive and possibly a different socioeconomic background it would of given Holden a whole different mindset about life and growing up. I feel like he would of had his siblings and would see them grow but would also be grateful for what he had because he wouldn't have all this money to burn or be going to prep school. I think a public school either in the current story or a new written version with Allie alive, Holden would be really different because he wouldn't just be around "phonies" and would have a newfound outlook on life. Holden altogether is a very unique character that is shaped by his surroundings that are happening to him. If his surroundings changed, I think he would change as a character based on his life and situation which is also why the ranch could have changed him if he did that in the book.
All in all I believe Holden was a good character with lots of opinions that would benefit from a change in his life or by having his brother be still alive. The prep schools he is put in don't seem to help change or reform him into applying himself so something deeper exists with Holden then we see while reading the book.
Your thoughts on what Holden's life would be like if Allie did not die is very interesting. I also think that it is Allie's death that is holding Holden (lol) back somewhat, and that if Allie did not die Holden wouldn't have this obsession with innocence and childhood. It also goes along with how his sarcasm, criticism, and general complaining stems from the trauma he felt when Allie died. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that a change in scenery would help Holden gain some perspective. In a way, I think he was frozen in time when Allie died, but everything around him kept moving. I think that Holden can't clearly view the world around him because he is stuck thinking about how Allie isn't there anymore. Maybe going to a place Allie would not have grown up in would offer Holden some peace to grow up himself.
ReplyDeleteGreat Post! I like that you thought about a different version of the story and how the author could have changed Holdens character. I think part of the reason that Holden is living that way and burning all of his money is that he does not have Allie as his role model anymore. Holden was always looking up to Allie and with Allie gone Holden lost his role model that showed him that not everything is bad (like growing up).
ReplyDeleteNice post! I definitely agree that Allie being alive would drastically change Holden's worldview. Holden description of his experience at Allie's funeral of realizing that everyone else could go home afterwards except Allie made me think that this is the first time Holden is actually experiencing injustice. I think this experience has a strong effect on Holden's behavior going forward.
ReplyDeleteReally interesting post! I agree with what you said but I think that changing his socioeconomic background would definitely change the story. Holden coming from a rich family definitely gives him a sort of elitist feel to his character, and he often just throws away his money on drinks and people. Perhaps he would instead be going through some other problems instead, that require him to mature in their own way.
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