Post by greetlife on Jan 9, 2007 22:51:36 GMT -5
A couple of friends and I recently read the Catcher in Rye... being avid EITS fans, the coincidence in Rye's last statements intrigued us... (there may be slight spoilers below so if you haven't read and would like to enjoy it, read the novel first... that is if you're interested of course haha)
"If you want to know the truth, I don't know what I think about it. I'm sorry that I told people about it. About all I know is, I sort of miss everybody I told about. Even old Stradlater and Ackley, for instance. I think I even miss that goddam Maurice. It's funny. Don't even tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody."
Let's start with the cover and it's connections to Holden's story.
A man searching... we don't know what he is searching for - similar to Holden's feelings towards life. He constantly asks where the ducks go when they fly south and why they choose to migrate. This is a metaphoric device that conveys how Holden is unsure of where life will take him. The gigantic body of water could be a representation of Holden's breakdown throughout the novel. Being under something like that is a massive burden - and so is Holden's nervous collapse.
The Birth and Death of the Day
Holden experiences a rebirth in this story. It occurs after Holden lovingly watches his sister Pheobe on a carousel - he comes to the realization that you need to let people (including himself) experience life; if you hold events back, you cannot advance.
Welcome, Ghosts
The connection here lies in the deaths during the novel (and before in Holden's time line):
Allie - his brother, whom he admires greatly
D.B. - who is still alive, but because he has "prostituted" himself to Hollywood, in turn he has died in Holden's perspective. DB = dead brother.
James Castle - commits suicide. J.C. ... Jesus Christ - kills himself for his integrity
It's Natural to Be Afraid
Holden does not realize that it is okay to fear the events of life as they come, so he simply ignores these things - writing people off as phonies because they can accept changes.
What Do You Go Home To?
The ducks come to mind here... Holden frequently questions this.
Catastrophe and Cure
Holden's breakdown... Pheobe, the true cure, is the only person that can make him feel at ease - she also teaches him an important lesson. The sanatorium will eventually "cure" him, but to what effect the reader can only predict.
So Long, Lonesome
At the end of the novel, Holden feels lonely - missing all of the people he has told about in his story.
***
These are just some small ideas. I realize that EITS probably has not thought this out... but the connections are just so striking to me. Perhaps someone needs to either prove or disprove them. Feel free to add your thoughts / elaborate on the current points.
"If you want to know the truth, I don't know what I think about it. I'm sorry that I told people about it. About all I know is, I sort of miss everybody I told about. Even old Stradlater and Ackley, for instance. I think I even miss that goddam Maurice. It's funny. Don't even tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody."
Let's start with the cover and it's connections to Holden's story.
A man searching... we don't know what he is searching for - similar to Holden's feelings towards life. He constantly asks where the ducks go when they fly south and why they choose to migrate. This is a metaphoric device that conveys how Holden is unsure of where life will take him. The gigantic body of water could be a representation of Holden's breakdown throughout the novel. Being under something like that is a massive burden - and so is Holden's nervous collapse.
The Birth and Death of the Day
Holden experiences a rebirth in this story. It occurs after Holden lovingly watches his sister Pheobe on a carousel - he comes to the realization that you need to let people (including himself) experience life; if you hold events back, you cannot advance.
Welcome, Ghosts
The connection here lies in the deaths during the novel (and before in Holden's time line):
Allie - his brother, whom he admires greatly
D.B. - who is still alive, but because he has "prostituted" himself to Hollywood, in turn he has died in Holden's perspective. DB = dead brother.
James Castle - commits suicide. J.C. ... Jesus Christ - kills himself for his integrity
It's Natural to Be Afraid
Holden does not realize that it is okay to fear the events of life as they come, so he simply ignores these things - writing people off as phonies because they can accept changes.
What Do You Go Home To?
The ducks come to mind here... Holden frequently questions this.
Catastrophe and Cure
Holden's breakdown... Pheobe, the true cure, is the only person that can make him feel at ease - she also teaches him an important lesson. The sanatorium will eventually "cure" him, but to what effect the reader can only predict.
So Long, Lonesome
At the end of the novel, Holden feels lonely - missing all of the people he has told about in his story.
***
These are just some small ideas. I realize that EITS probably has not thought this out... but the connections are just so striking to me. Perhaps someone needs to either prove or disprove them. Feel free to add your thoughts / elaborate on the current points.
Some things do have meaning. And if they don't, you mostly add the meaning yourself. Even if it's a song like 'aye aye sucka sucka'. ;D