When we feel depressed, our brain has a self-defense mechanism that helps us plow through our hard times. These mechanisms are different for each person. Holden's is to suddenly image the next few moments of his life as a movie, where he becomes the center of attention for once, similar to Olive Penderghast, in the movie Easy A.
Friday, May 10, 2013
"The goddam movies. They can ruin you."
Chapter Fourteen gives an insight into Holden's very interesting religious views for the first time. He has an atypical look at religion that is by no means arbitrary. In fact, his conclusions he draws about Christianity and Jesus are based on his experiences. For example, he firmly believes that Jesus never sent Judas to hell. He is sure that one of his Disciples would have, but he once "bet a thousand bucks" that Jesus didn't. Holden most appreciates Jesus's ability to forgive, because he has a hard time forgiving people and forgiving himself. He cannot forgive himself for preventing Allie from coming with Bobby go to Lake Sedebego, and this is why he repeatedly tells Allie, "Okay. Go home and get your bike, and meet me in front of Bobby's house."He wants so badly to believe that Jesus will forgive him, because knowing that helps him stay somewhat sane when everything goes wrong.
When we feel depressed, our brain has a self-defense mechanism that helps us plow through our hard times. These mechanisms are different for each person. Holden's is to suddenly image the next few moments of his life as a movie, where he becomes the center of attention for once, similar to Olive Penderghast, in the movie Easy A.
Holden says, "I'm sort of an atheist," (99). Do you believe him? Do you think that he really believes that "those goddamn movies...ruin you" (104)? Do you think these lines are examples of instances when Holden contradicts himself? Why or why not?
When we feel depressed, our brain has a self-defense mechanism that helps us plow through our hard times. These mechanisms are different for each person. Holden's is to suddenly image the next few moments of his life as a movie, where he becomes the center of attention for once, similar to Olive Penderghast, in the movie Easy A.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
When Holden says that he is "sort of an atheist,", I can believe him at the moment. With all that he is going through, it seems hard to believe in anything. Also, him being alone throughout this brings a lot of time to think, and Holden, being one who hates phonies, can find many aspects of any religion that are extremely hard to believe. He is a child with not much discipline, so he takes a lot from a child's perspective. Church is one that kids do not enjoy, and not having a parent to keep him in line will make church even harder to attend ore respect.
ReplyDeleteI do believe him when he says that movies can ruin you. Mainly because it is a personal opinion. Throughout the book, I can not remember a movie that he does not trash. Also his entire opinion on Hollywood would help him lean towards this opinion. Although he does say that movies can ruin you, he does seem to go to the movies a lot. He also remembers many of them in great detail which could hide a deeper liking for movies.
He does not seem to contradict himself too much about him being an atheist, but I do believe he thinks the movies can ruin you, but that does not mean that he would not enjoy a movie so I do not think it is possible to contradict that the movie can ruin someone, but if he is implying that he hates movies, than that is contradicted by his knowledge for movies, and constant viewings of movies.
I can also believe Holden is an atheist in that moment. With everything that he is going through and sometimes what everyone in our society is going through.. it makes it hard. I don't think all movies can ruin you. It really just depends on the plot and the characters. There are some really amazing movies out there that really send a message to whoever is watching it. He doesn't seem to contradict himself too much about the whole religious topic but when he is talking about the movies, it does seem like here and there, he contradicts himself. I think most people do contradict themselves though.. Sometimes something may sound really good in our head but once we say it outloud, we regret it so we have to take back what we said by contradicting ourselves. Other than that, this was really well written! Great job!
ReplyDelete