Chapter 19, Past Cultural Views on Gays, the Catcher in the Rye:

       In Chapter 19 of "the Catcher in the Rye" we encounter Holdens opinion on gays  for the first time after him seeing them at a bar. Calling them "flits" we also see his personal view on them through the use of the term as an insult to a friend. This scene asked for me to dig deeper on what the views on gays were back in the 1950's or maybe if they were even recognized at all.
       Today's modern views on gays vary between each individual, but with equality being a prime thing of peer pressure in group discussion and with mass media covering more social and political events, I believe modern times have brought a new light on gay equality for the better. To see how far this movement has become let's look at where the gay community was at, specifically during the 1950's.
      The 1950's were not a place of major change in gay rights but events and organizations that were formed during this era set the ball rolling for later years. The Mattachine Society, the first major gay organization was formed during the early 50's and would give rise to the unity of gays giving them a bigger voice. It did also include the release of The Homosexual in America: A Subjective Approach which was seen as a one of the most important  works of the gay movement. Gay bars were scarce but where mainly found near very large cities, like San Fransico, places like these were formed as gay centers mainly from when the rejected gays from the military who where dropped off here and not wanting to face humiliation from there home town, stayed there. Holdens view may have not reflected the society as a whole but with many other factors in the book I believe it to be traced back to the author J.D Salinger's personal opinion. I believe J.D Salinger to of had a negative view towards gays partially due to his role in the military, I'd think that gays being excluded from the draft and not having to fight overseas would create a negative vibe especially from the armed forces.
      Examining the chapter would also further revel Holden's actions around others but I think what made this chapter stand out was the encounter with the gays maybe furthering the conclusion of Holden having a past encounter  trouble at home. If you think we had more time with Holden, do you think he would ever bring up an event like that?

Chapter 24: Holden's Past: Darker than We Expected

In chapter 24, Holden goes and visits Mr. and Mrs. Antolini. Mr. Antolini was Holden's English teacher at Elkton Hills. Mr. and Mrs. Antolini are very kind to Holden, but there are a few strange things that occur. The strangest of all, is that when Holden goes to bed, he is woken up by Mr. Antolini stroking his head. Holden is terrified by this, and flees immediately. Once this incident happens, he says, "That kind of stuff's happened to me about twenty times since I was a kid. I can't stand it." These 2 sentences tell us so much about Holden's past. It becomes apparent to us that Holden was sexually abused as a kid. I do not think that Mr. Antolini was really going to do any harm to Holden, but the fact that it has happened in the past shows us that just the fact that Mr. Anotlini stroked his head scared Holden enough to run away. While this piece of information gives us a glimpse into why Holden is so depressed and has so many trust issues, it still leaves many questions unanswered, like who abused Holden. The fact that Holden was abused gives us a lot of information, but I think that the fact that J.D. Salinger left out the details is very smart. If Holden were to just tell us all of the details, it would not go along with Holden's character at all. He has a hard time talking about things that happen to him in the first place, let alone when he is terrified and when it is about such a hard topic. I think that Salinger made a very wise decision in not giving all of the details that we so crave. After reading this chapter, we know that Holden's past was may darker and harder than we expected.

Chapter 23: The Fear of Not Being Caught.

     In Chapter 23 of The Catcher in The Rye, a few of Holden's usually well hidden emotions appear a little more obviously to us. Holden still gives us quite a few of his signature contradictory comments, particularly towards the end of the chapter however, they are a little more easily decoded. At the end of this chapter, Holden is in the midst of trying to run away when he says to Pheobe, "not that they would've killed me or anything if they'd caught me home, but it would've been very unpleasant" but then after hes actually managed to escape he says "I didn't give much of a damn any more if they caught me. ... I almost wished they did in a way." I think this attempted escape is more of a subconscious cry for help than anything else, by reading between the lines we can see that Holden is really feelinghopelessly alone and severely depressed. In this scene its clear Holden realizes hes doing something wrong, or at least something he knows his parents would disapprove of, and secretly I think hes hoping that someone will care enough to stop him. He begins his escape with a sliver hope that just maybe, this time it would be different and someone would come after him. However, in unfortunate accordance to most of the people Holden chooses to give a short window of opportunity to reach out to him, they fail to do so and disappoint him once again. Holden even says as he exits the building that "The elevator boy didn't even notice me". So with out the guidance of any sort of parental figure, Holden enters New York City alone again, a sort of crossing of the threshold pushing him a step further into the reality of his approaching adulthood he so desperately wishes to reject entirely. Do you think that Holden will ever be able to recover from this sort of neglect? Will he ever be able to enter the adult world and thrive?

Chapter 25

Mia Bonner

In chapter 25 Holden reaches his maximum depression stage. He becomes angry (when he wants to kill whoever wrote "fuck you" on the wall) and begins to make poor decisions (he decides that he is going to run away). But, Holden spends the entire day with Phoebe. While at first when he met with Phoebe his mind was set on leaving, but being with Phoebe forced him to realize that he actually was happy.. Holden actually did miss people.. And Holden didn't really want to leave anymore. Watching Phoebe go around and around on the carousel, overwhelms Holden and he even feels as if he might cry. Holden did not know how it happened, but he felt overjoyed and full of happiness. I, like Holden have experienced this same feeling. Last winter, I attended the "Santa's Helper's" Christmas gathering at the Hester House.  For four hours I walked around with two little african american children. I took them to several stations consisting of; a picture with Santa, a arts and crafts area, a section to have snacks and eat with their friends, and lastly, I took them to an area with a big table full of all different Christmas gifts. They were allowed to pick out one for themself and one for each of their parents. These children were very poor, needy, and in search for happiness just like Holden. After we were finished with going around to all the stations, we went outside and I watched as all the little kids ran around. One minute they were "down in the dumps", but the next minute, they were free from all worries, they realized that they can be happy. I realized that this was the best feeling ever, watching these kids run around with big smiles on their faces. It was a feeling just like holden, I wasn't exactly sure why I was so happy, but I knew I was. I was happier than ever, and so were they. They didn't care who was around them, whoever it was they were going to share their happiness, they were going to get everyone off their butts  so that they could come play with them. This day was certainly a highlight in my life. This day was when I realized that anyone can be happy, no matter the circumstances. If you just realize that you can let go, and not worry so much... you will be much happier. 

Do all kids grow up?

Holden finally returns home to his little sisters unending love? No. After all Holden has been through he goes home and begins talking to his little sister. As he talks to her she becomes scared for Holden and keeps saying, "Daddy'll kill you". As a growing up child she is beginning to talk like an adult. Already she is beginning to understand what society wants from people like Holden. So, following what she knows about society she lectures Holden about what he should do. Holden however only wants to be with his little sister, not an adult. Holden starts to become annoyed with her uncharacteristic
"adult-likeness". As an article from A science magazine points out humans, unlike other organisms, copy their teachers absolutely. Even if an something is weird or ineffective the child will still follow exactly what the teacher does. This is why Phoebe is unintentionally putting down her brother. What Holden really needs is support and someone to talk to, but since according to society Phoebe should reprimand him, that is what she is trying to do. This shows a fault in our society. I think it would be best if children did not imitate their parents. If they were able to forge their own paths, or in Holden's case, just remain innocent, I think that our society would be better. For example, if a child sees his parents divorce, would it no be better for him to not copy his parents and remain steady with his own wife? Do you think that it is better to have each generation start anew, or to continue to do what our fathers have done?

Another Failed Attempt at Getting a Mentor

  In Chapter 24 of The Catcher in the Rye, Holden has one of the most unsettling experiences described in the novel. This is, of course his interaction with Mr. Anatoli. Throughout the book, Holden has been looking for a mentor. He tries to talk to many different characters, but he either is unable to express himself or the person he is talking to refuses to listen to him. In the first half of Chapter 24, it seems like Holden has finally found someone to mentor him in the form of Mr. Anatoli. However, things go awry. There are many allusions to sexual abuse in this chapter, for example Mr. Anatoli calls Holden 'handsome' and pets him while he sleeps. However, Holden gives us an important clue at the end of the chapter: "When something perverty like that happens, I start sweating like a bastard. That kid of stuff's happened to me about twenty times since I was a kid." Here, Holden indicates that he might have been sexually abused before this part of his life, and I personally think that this is probably why he is so distrustful of adults and growing up in general. This probably also accounts for Holden's slight madness, if that's what it is.

 

Why do you think that Holden was or wasn't sexually abused? How might this have affected him?

A moment- Chapter 23

Throughout the book and Chapter 23, I believe Holden is coming to terms with who he really is and what he can accomplish. We never really see Holden cry, even throughout all the obstacles in the Big Apple has thrown in his path, but in Chapter 23, we see Holden cry for a very odd reason. It doesn't quite say what for but I think he was realizing what he was turning into and how he will never be able to take back the actions he has done. Holden is rushing and speeding along to get out of the house, once his parents arrived home. I think this chapter really brings out the sensitive side in Holden. We imagine this tough kid, who wants to be alone.. but as he sits on Phoebe's bed to tie his shoes, he just cries. It makes me wonder if he is trying to be tough to show us something or to get attention. Many of his actions and thoughts make me think that this Chapter is foreshadowing a suicide attempt. At the end of the chapter, Holden has gotten out of the house but then says ".. I didn't give much of a damn any more if they caught me." (p. 180) I think this quote that Holden is saying is that he wants to be found so that he won't have to sneak around anymore and lie about every little thing. I think it is coming to him that he wants to be open and known.. he wants attention, but he isn't getting it.

So is Holden really alone and depressed as he may seem in the book? Does he commit certain actions for attention?