Examples Of Nature And Nurture In Catcher In The Rye
Brandon Do Mr. Mitchell English III 30 April 2023 Holden’s Naivete The “Nature vs. Nurture” debate is a widely known phenomenon that tackles the question of whether someone is more influenced by biological predisposition, or if one is influenced by society. A significant point for the “Nurture” side of the debate is the influence that peers close in someone's life have on said individual. Many teens nowadays show the importance of nurture through what they learn in media, with media allowing knowledge to be attained easily. Even so, with more knowledge than ever, even the most intelligent professed alumni can be naive, usually in their own ways. Like, Holden for example. Holden demonstrates his naivete regarding ideas of sex and intimacy in the book which was caused by his childhood as demonstrated through his interactions with the men he describes in the novel. …show more content…
While the naivete of the aforementioned is seen as generally negative, Holden demonstrates something beautiful, a self-righteous innocence. To explain, Holden always says he becomes “excited” when he talks of his beliefs about sex and intimacy with every character he interacts with in the novel. His compass on what is right and what is wrong never seems to stagnate. This basic and self-righteous idea of how sacred sex and intimacy must have completely been brought about by his childhood and thus is full of childish beliefs. He wants his ideas to come to fruition and mentally criticizes people who do not believe or do what he thinks is right. His “phony” lawyer dad and the disappearances of his two brothers have left Holden alone, with no healthily attached role model male figure in his life that he can look up to in his life. To conclude, his childhood has left him with this naivete and has also left him to tend to these fanatic and ideal beliefs of sex and
Analyzing The Conscious Mind Of Holden Caulfield
808 Words | 4 PagesThe loss of his older brother and the absent parents have really affected Holden’s behavior. He lives a life without any care but with exception of younger children. Holden has a fascination with younger children and their innocence possibly because he wasn’t able to enjoy his adolescent years and nor did his brother. Holden mentions “‘Every time I'd get to the end of a block I'd make believe I was talking to my brother Allie. I'd say to him, "Allie, don't let me disappear.
Holden Caulfield Unreliable Narrator
471 Words | 2 PagesThis shows that Holden doesn’t understand the way society works through societal norms, and how he lacks the basic maturity skills to understand everything functions around him. Another example of Holden being naïve would be when it comes to women. He consistently talks about sex and women, but whenever his time comes, he mostly backs out. Such as in the scene, “I just didn’t want to do it. I felt more depressed than sexy.”
Holden Caulfield Censorship In Schools
891 Words | 4 PagesThroughout the novel, Holden demonstrates thoughts that are obscene. However, because Holden has strong moral values he does not go through with all of his insane fantasies. He is still a virgin and admits that he has had quite a few opportunities to do so. According to Edwards, “he values sex that comes from caring for another person and rejects its sordidness”. He announces to the reader that if a girl wants him to stop, he stops.
Characterization Of Holden Caulfield
942 Words | 4 PagesHolden represents the typical teenager. He demands his independence and refuses to view himself as anything but invincible. In his mind, he has life figured out and everyone around him is simply stupid. He fails out of multiple schools and cannot manage to find friends because he is looking for his environment to cater to him. He does not want to put in the time or effort required to succeed.
Symbolism In 'Catcher In The Rye'
464 Words | 2 PagesHe tries to give himself up for this cause of saving children but he shows that he is not mature enough be able to make a meaningful impact in this perceived problem. It is clearly shown that Holden believes that there is a problem in society. He believes that children need to keep their innocence. He feels that loss of innocence negatively impacts people and feels that he has to save them. We can first see his personal issues about the lack of innocence when he discovers that Stradlater and Jane Gallagher had sex casually with no intention
How Does Holden Present The Loss Of Innocence In Catcher In The Rye
1076 Words | 5 PagesHolden is a virgin, and he is very uncomfortable with the idea of sex. He sees sex as something that is dirty and corrupting, and he is repelled by the idea of losing his virginity. Holden reveals that he has “had quite a few opportunities to lose [his] virginity and all,” but he “never got around to it yet” (Salinger 92). Holden claims to have had many chances to lose his virginity but his attitude towards sex reflects his desire to hold onto his innocence.
Examples Of Windows In Catcher In The Rye
2159 Words | 9 PagesDuring Holden’s visit to his family’s home, he converses with Phoebe who asks him what he likes. Holden struggles to come up with an answer and instead thinks about James Castle, a student Holden knew at his previous school Elkton Hills, tragic suicide by jumping out of a window. When first describing James Castle, Holden recalls that he was a “skinny little weak-looking guy, with wrist about as big as pencils.” (188) The fact that Holden’s first instinct was to ridicule James with insults which mock how he does not appear traditionally masculine, illustrates that Holden is deeply influenced by patriarchal values to the point where it modifies his behavior.
Examples Of Grief In Catcher In The Rye
1707 Words | 7 PagesFor 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.
Examples Of Masculinity In Catcher In The Rye
903 Words | 4 PagesHolden’s failure to embrace the masculine stereotype is epitomized in his idealized and naive views on romance and sexulaity. When Holden enters the upscale Edmont Hotel and sees a young couple on a date, he remarks, “I think if you don't really like a girl, you shouldn't horse around with her at all …. It's really too bad that so much crumby stuff is a lot of fun sometimes” (Salinger 70). Holden’s belief that a man should not engage in a casual relationship with a woman unless he truly loves her, stands in stark contrast to masculine standards which encourage and congratulate men’s sexual exploits. Holden’s asexual beliefs
Holden Caulfield Isolation
894 Words | 4 PagesHolden makes this very clear with his actions towards other characters he encounters throughout the novel. Although Holden’s behavior demonstrates his desire for meaningful connections with others, his actions display a hypocrisy of what he truly wants. Holden likes relationships and wants to be in one but he also wants to be isolated at the same time to protect himself from others. Even going out of his way to lie just to avoid
Holden's Childhood
1022 Words | 5 PagesIn his literary criticism, The Fallen Idol: The Immature World of Holden Caulfield, Peter J. Seng, writes, ‘His mental breakdown is a direct result of his inability to come to terms with adult reality. Consequently he invents other fantasies, tinged with paranoia”(Seng 3). Seng claims that Holden’s immaturity is the direct result of rejecting adulthood. However, the main reason for his immaturity is best explained by the past events that shaped Holden into the cynical and damaged teenager. Seng claims that “What disturbs Holden about the world in which he finds himself is adults and adult values.
Holden Caulfield Conflicts
1264 Words | 6 PagesIt is very closely related to his struggle against growing up. Holden’s enemy is the adult world and cruelty and artificiality. The people he admires all represent or protect innocence. He thinks of Jane Gallagher, for example, not as a
Catcher In The Rye Rhetorical Analysis
828 Words | 4 PagesAs the book starts Holden describes his childhood and how he has been kicked out of several school and once more again from his currently school, giving a sense of irresponsibility and no care in the world. Holden later on mentioned slowly the loss of his brother due to leukemia and how he reacted outrageously by breaking the windows of his garage home. As a reader one would view that behavior as abnormal, but Peter Shaw descried it as a normal behavior for a fictional character in the 1950s and by mentioning that Holden, “is presenting in a somewhat different manner than are the sentimentalized young people in other novels if his period” (par. 3), admitting that Holden was somewhat of an outcast of a character even for its time he is still considered normal. Shaw also challenged the reader’s view of Holden by emphasizing that Holden is not a real person, but a fiction character developed in the 1950s and in fact a mad psychological character is normal and made the reading rather more interesting and acceptable during that time. As readers someone may come across as understanding Holden’s behavior due to a loss and everyone mourns differently and as Shaw said, “ the one period of life in which abnormal behavior is common rather than exceptional” (par.
Theme Of Maturity In Catcher In The Rye
837 Words | 4 PagesHolden 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
Examples Of Character Development In Catcher In The Rye
2081 Words | 9 PagesTo add on, Holden is not one to follow society’s rules. Holden is not the person to be engaged in what society calls “normal” because he is not necessarily a “normal” kid. Meaning, society believes kids around his age are interested in football games(3), going on dates (26), or just going to school (35). Society believes teenagers should attend school, and in Holden’s case, High School.
More about Examples Of Nature And Nurture In Catcher In The Rye
Analyzing The Conscious Mind Of Holden Caulfield
808 Words | 4 PagesHolden Caulfield Unreliable Narrator
471 Words | 2 PagesHolden Caulfield Censorship In Schools
891 Words | 4 PagesCharacterization Of Holden Caulfield
942 Words | 4 PagesSymbolism In 'Catcher In The Rye'
464 Words | 2 PagesHow Does Holden Present The Loss Of Innocence In Catcher In The Rye
1076 Words | 5 PagesExamples Of Windows In Catcher In The Rye
2159 Words | 9 PagesExamples Of Grief In Catcher In The Rye
1707 Words | 7 PagesExamples Of Masculinity In Catcher In The Rye
903 Words | 4 PagesHolden Caulfield Isolation
894 Words | 4 PagesHolden's Childhood
1022 Words | 5 PagesHolden Caulfield Conflicts
1264 Words | 6 PagesCatcher In The Rye Rhetorical Analysis
828 Words | 4 PagesTheme Of Maturity In Catcher In The Rye
837 Words | 4 PagesExamples Of Character Development In Catcher In The Rye
2081 Words | 9 Pages