The Catcher in the Rye is a monologue: one person talking to another person. For Holden, that other person is (1) his psychiatrist, and (2) his reader. What does Holden want from you? Can you provide it? Is it easy?
As a group, we have not read up to the part where Holden is talking to a psychiatrist. Although, I think if he is talking to one, then it is clear what he wants from the reader. The fact that Holden is talking to a psychiatrist means that he wants someone to listen to him. Throughout the novel, I have noticed Holden being very lonely and always wanting someone to talk to that understands him and that he can open up to. For most of the novel he describes that person as his little sister Pheobe. I don't know what happend for that to change, and for him to go to someone else for help instead of her. I hope that I can provide what Holden wants, he, as mentioned before wants someone to listen to him. I think I'm doing that by reading this story. Also, because I am really enjoying reading it, it is easy for me to be doing what he wants me to. Early, I predicted that Holden would start going to a psychiatrist after first, hearing his friend mention and foreshadowing it, and second, because he always talked about being lonley. All in all, what Holden wants is being provided by the reader, me, and possibly the psychiatrist. Dear Ms. Kim our group hasn't read up to the part about the psychiatrist so I did my best!
As Candice has stated before, we have not yet discovered that Holden is talking to his psychiatrist. I do however know this from talking with other people who have read the book. The connection that he attempts to establish with the reader (and subsequently his psychiatrist) is one of understanding. It's obvious from the way he speaks that he could care less about gaining friends (I know, it's hard for a fictional character to obtain that anyways) but I believe that some could see his monologue as one of loneliness. To me, that is far from the truth. All throughout the book he explains his life with many unnecessary side stories and I think this shows that he is trying to get the readers (and again, his psychiatrist) to get to know him. Much like the real world, when getting to know one another, we strive to have people understand us. It is impossible to become anything more than an acquaintance without that understanding. Upon quick thought, I have discovered that my understanding of Holden is not one of confusion but of fair acceptance. We are given enough information about him that we can be granted that judgment. Although he seems slightly confusing at times, it is easy to see the type of person he is. He’s just a sensitive teenager who masks his loneliness behind a rough and tumble exterior. Thanks so much to Melissa for reminding me of this. Have a good weekend all! Happy 420!
Holden's ultimate goal throughout the book is to find someone, anyone, who will listen to him. The story is all about him confiding in the reader and, in the end as you find out, his psychiatrist. As I am reading the book, I am fulfilling his wish to be heard. It’s easy for me to give Holden what he wants because I very much enjoy the book. I also sympathize for him and sometimes relate to him like a real person, which also allows hearing him come easily to me. I think that being a person close in age with Holden, would allow him to realize an established connection and knows that I could easily relate in some way with what he’s dealing with. Holden wants us to understand what he’s experiencing in his life. When people talk, the listener almost always feels obligated to give advice. In this case, I know Holden does not want anyone to really say anything back. All he wants is someone to hear about all that he’s feeling and about the emotions that he has been suppressing. Remember: HUGS NOT DRUGS, kids. Have a good weekend(=
As my other group members have clearly stated that we have not read up to the part in which Holden is speaking with his pyschiatrist, it becomes blantly clear as to the severities of his depressional state. In realizing his state and exactly how much Holden's lonelyness effects him, for himself to come to terms with acknowledging his state of mind. In being able to provide Holden with an alley of expression in which us the reader, is able to take in his emotions, is a way for him to express his emotions. It is definatly not an easy task for myself as a reader to provide what Holden wants. As his character has developed, he seems to not know what he wants, therefore being difficult to provide what he needs exactly. Once Holden determines what he wants i believe that this will make his life alot more clear and he will be able to let people into his life and share his experiences in which others will be able to learn from.
4 comments:
As a group, we have not read up to the part where Holden is talking to a psychiatrist. Although, I think if he is talking to one, then it is clear what he wants from the reader. The fact that Holden is talking to a psychiatrist means that he wants someone to listen to him. Throughout the novel, I have noticed Holden being very lonely and always wanting someone to talk to that understands him and that he can open up to. For most of the novel he describes that person as his little sister Pheobe. I don't know what happend for that to change, and for him to go to someone else for help instead of her. I hope that I can provide what Holden wants, he, as mentioned before wants someone to listen to him. I think I'm doing that by reading this story. Also, because I am really enjoying reading it, it is easy for me to be doing what he wants me to. Early, I predicted that Holden would start going to a psychiatrist after first, hearing his friend mention and foreshadowing it, and second, because he always talked about being lonley. All in all, what Holden wants is being provided by the reader, me, and possibly the psychiatrist. Dear Ms. Kim our group hasn't read up to the part about the psychiatrist so I did my best!
As Candice has stated before, we have not yet discovered that Holden is talking to his psychiatrist. I do however know this from talking with other people who have read the book. The connection that he attempts to establish with the reader (and subsequently his psychiatrist) is one of understanding. It's obvious from the way he speaks that he could care less about gaining friends (I know, it's hard for a fictional character to obtain that anyways) but I believe that some could see his monologue as one of loneliness. To me, that is far from the truth. All throughout the book he explains his life with many unnecessary side stories and I think this shows that he is trying to get the readers (and again, his psychiatrist) to get to know him. Much like the real world, when getting to know one another, we strive to have people understand us. It is impossible to become anything more than an acquaintance without that understanding. Upon quick thought, I have discovered that my understanding of Holden is not one of confusion but of fair acceptance. We are given enough information about him that we can be granted that judgment. Although he seems slightly confusing at times, it is easy to see the type of person he is. He’s just a sensitive teenager who masks his loneliness behind a rough and tumble exterior. Thanks so much to Melissa for reminding me of this. Have a good weekend all! Happy 420!
Holden's ultimate goal throughout the book is to find someone, anyone, who will listen to him. The story is all about him confiding in the reader and, in the end as you find out, his psychiatrist. As I am reading the book, I am fulfilling his wish to be heard. It’s easy for me to give Holden what he wants because I very much enjoy the book. I also sympathize for him and sometimes relate to him like a real person, which also allows hearing him come easily to me. I think that being a person close in age with Holden, would allow him to realize an established connection and knows that I could easily relate in some way with what he’s dealing with. Holden wants us to understand what he’s experiencing in his life. When people talk, the listener almost always feels obligated to give advice. In this case, I know Holden does not want anyone to really say anything back. All he wants is someone to hear about all that he’s feeling and about the emotions that he has been suppressing. Remember: HUGS NOT DRUGS, kids. Have a good weekend(=
As my other group members have clearly stated that we have not read up to the part in which Holden is speaking with his pyschiatrist, it becomes blantly clear as to the severities of his depressional state. In realizing his state and exactly how much Holden's lonelyness effects him, for himself to come to terms with acknowledging his state of mind. In being able to provide Holden with an alley of expression in which us the reader, is able to take in his emotions, is a way for him to express his emotions. It is definatly not an easy task for myself as a reader to provide what Holden wants. As his character has developed, he seems to not know what he wants, therefore being difficult to provide what he needs exactly. Once Holden determines what he wants i believe that this will make his life alot more clear and he will be able to let people into his life and share his experiences in which others will be able to learn from.
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