When growing up, it is important for others to allow and help you grow as a person in all aspects. When you run into someone who will not allow this to happen and attempts to limit you, your imagination, and your track to reaching your full potential, you must push past them and not let them stop them. It is important to keep moving until you find the person that will support you through your time of growth. In school, you will run into teachers that will attempt to limit you and, whether intentionally or not, will not allow you to fully reach your potential, while other teachers will do whatever it takes to get you there. Having and listening to the right teacher can allow you to go the distance while letting the wrong one get you down and …show more content…
One teacher that Holden came across was Mr. Spencer. Mr. Spencer was a teacher that could not understand, or therefore deal with, Holden’s unique personality. He, like many others, flunked Holden in his class, but instead of trying to support him even afterwards, all Mr. Spencer could think about was soothing his own guilt at Holden’s expense, asking him, “Do you blame me for flunking you boy?”. Mr. Spencer allowed Holden’s abilities to decline, cutting off any feeling of support. In contrast, Mr. Antolini, another of Holden’s teachers, tried to see things as Holden does to help him grow. Mr. Antolini tells Holden, “The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.” He tried to encourage Holden to do better in his studies and in life in an attempt to have him reach his full potential. Mr. Antolini was a caring and encouraging teacher who allowed his students to grow, while Mr. Spencer was critical and did not seem to care about the growth of his
The purpose of my essay is to explore how different social backgrounds and the social norms that follow affect the personality of two fictive characters and encourage them to break out of their station to find an identity. The protagonists Holden Caulfield in J.D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye and Tambudzai in Tsitsi Dangarembga’s novel Nervous Conditions are both victims of social norms. Therefore, the foundation of this essay was to analyze the character’s social background, which has influenced their personalities, behavior and aspirations, and consequently their opposing actions against society. Holden Caulfield is an American adolescent during the period after the Second World War.
It was a well-known school that he went to. In the school, Holden wasn’t great student, he was failing almost on every subject. Holden couldn’t leaving without saying goodbye, so he went to his former history teacher, Mr. Spencer, to say goodbye. Page 10-20:
As Holden searches for authenticity in his relationships with others, Mr. Spencer, Carl Luce, and Mr. Antolini guide him to understanding the importance of trust. Even though Holden has mentors throughout the book, he has to discover that trust is the basis of all relationships on his own. Holden receives a collection of confusing, but relevant advice throughout the story starting when Mr. Spencer, whom tells Holden "Life is a game", hinting that it's hard and competitive. Mr. Spencer continues his conversation by yelling his frustration "what's the matter with you” expressing his uncaring and disgraceful nature hoping to help Holden. Mr. Spencer finally sums up his opinions, making Holden feel uncertain by putting pressure on Holden when
Antolini’s, his old teacher’s, house due to having no other place to stay. By Holden’s account, Mr. Antolini always seemed to be a very compassionate man, having been the only one to approach a student’s dead body after he had commiting suicide. As a result of Holden’s prejudice at the beginning of this scene, Holden believes Antolini is letting him stay over out of the goodness of his heart. After Holden goes to sleep however, he awakes with a start as he feels Antolini’s hands “sort of petting [him] or patting [him] on the goddam head” (211). Although Mr. Antolini acts innocent, claiming he is “simply sitting [t]here,” Holden believes his former teacher is trying to make a sexual advance on him and quickly leaves the apartment (211).
For years, Holden had been placed in numerous expensive boarding schools, which all ended in the same way—getting expelled. Because Holden’s parents don’t recognize Holden’s clear difficulties with boarding schools, Holden essentially gives up trying as he is so consumed with grief that could have been better dealt with if his parents gave him the proper guidance to do so. Holden’s parents repeatedly sent Holden to boarding schools that always ended in him getting kicked out, and Holden’s father, who is described as “quite wealthy,” gives Holden many resources, such as money, that in his perspective, sets him up for success (140). However, at these luxurious boarding schools, Holden’s father sends him to surround him in an environment full of “phonies” and loneliness (MLA). At Pencey, according to Holden, “All I did was, I got up and went over and looked out the window.
Similar to the teenagers from today, Holden faces high academic demands. Mr. Spencer, Holden's history teacher at Pencey Prep., tells Holden he has to start taking school more seriously given that his future depends on it. Mr. Spencer asks Holden: "Do you feel absolutely no concern for your future? Holden does not care much about school which concerns Mr. Spencer since school is an important factor for everyone's future. However, Mr. Spencer is not the only one who has concerns about Holden.
Catcher in the rye in class essay, nathan bond Picture your best friend. Now imagine that person dying to cancer, specifically leukemia a degenerative disease to the blood cells and bone marrow. How would you feel and how do you think you could function in a world without your best friend? In The Catcher in the rye written by J.D. Salinger a boy by the name of Holden Caulfield had lost his brother Allie, who was his role model and idol as well as best friend. His brother had died of leukemia when Holden was 13 years old.
Mr. Spencer cares about Holden and his future while Holden likes Mr. Spencer he still calls him a “phony”. Mr. Spencer is a “phony” because he is a suck up around his boss and it makes Holden lose respect for him. Mr. Antolini on the other hand is described as the best teacher he has ever had and the kids in
Although Holden is a very intelligent character he finds the hypocrisy and ugliness in the world around him and quickly associates it with the adult world. Holden is a very introverted character who hesitates throughout the book to share information about his life . J.D Salinger makes sure to portray Holden that way to
Holden struggles with growing up and facing reality. There are many examples of Holden’s immaturity that are displayed in many forms such as facing responsibilities, his speech, his actions, and etc. Holden’s outlook on adult life is that it is superficial and brimming with phonies, but childhood was all about looking pleasing and innocent. He wants everything to stay the same and for time to stop. As Holden progresses in age, he will discover more about becoming mature in the
“The mark of an immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.” Mr.Antolini gives that advice to Holden hoping it would change the mindset about life to Holden. The quote has a purpose to portray that a mature man will understand that he can benefit a cause by being alive and living his life for the cause whereas the immature man dies for a cause and the death wont benefit the cause. People can do more by staying alive than being dead.
While many argue that Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye does not deviate from the traditional anti-hero attributes and, therefore, does not display any prominent change, an argument can be made to the contrary. Holden Caulfield goes through some noticeable character development and is in a better place emotionally at the end of the book because he speaks with Phoebe. His meeting with Phoebe and Phoebe’s message to him shows him a youth’s perspective on his world, rather than the superficial sincerity of his elderly professor and his favorite teacher that makes advances on him. Additionally, him being able to successfully communicate with a member of his own family puts him in a better place. His time with her lets him see his own self-image of a “catcher in the rye.”
Attending school in the 1950s, Holden is a victim of a conformist American society. In a historical context, postwar America is characterized by a booming economy, industrialization and the creation of uniform suburban communities throughout the country. There was also a call for a united America, with the tensions of the Cold War taking hold and a need to fight communism. This attitude of uniformity could be seen in the American education system at the same time, where students were expected to fit the mould of the ideal American child. This child was idealized as being obedient, respectful and subordinate to their superiors.
Throughout The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield has abnormal tendencies. Although he could just be a typical teenager, dealing with difficult situations, after analyzing his behavior it is believed that he is suffering from a mental ailment of some sort. Events from Holden’s past are still currently haunting him and it is evident that he is struggling. He needs the guidance of those around him in order to help himself through these tough time.
In the beginning of the chapter, Holden arrives at his former teacher’s house from Elkton Hills School, Mr. Ackley who cares deeply for Holden. Holden respects Mr. Ackley because he does not treat him like one of students like Mr. Spencer does. Mr. Ackley gives Holden advice on why he should apply himself into his studies. He sees something in Holden that is different than any other student he has taught and tries to tell Holden that his studies is just not a conformity but a way to develop his ideas. Mr. Ackley believes his constant fall is because he has given up from the world and wants to isolate himself from the environment he is in.