ipl-logo

How Holden Corrupts Women Essay

992 Words4 Pages

Emily Muzi 10/29/15 G How Holden Treats Women Holden Caulfield has trouble connecting with everyone but when it comes to women, he views them as objects to admire or protect. He doesn’t feel that they’re smart, nor hold any depth of character. Although, he holds a very intense love for some such as his younger sister Phoebe or his childhood friend, Jane Gallagher. Holden seems to be attached to them and they’re the only people that Holden is psychologically connected to. Holden perceives men as phonies, boring annoyances, or perverts. He believes men should not be trusted around females. “You figured most of them (girls at the Radio City Music Hall) would probably marry dopey guys. Guys that always talk about how many miles they get to a gallon in their goddam cars. Guys that get sore and childish as hell if you beat them at golf,...Guys that are very mean….” (pg. 123). The one male person that this theory does not apply to is his brother, Allie who passed away several years ago. Despite the fact that he is cruel to some women, he is generally respectful towards the women he meets, no matter the social situation. He then is unable to allow himself to have a real relationship with any woman. …show more content…

She is a very honest, free-of-judgement person. She is not "phony," a characteristic that Holden hates and sees in almost everyone. When Holden tells Phoebe that he got kicked out of Pencey all she kept repeating was, "Dad's going to kill you," (pg. 172). Even when Phoebe does not understand Holden, she does not question him; she just listens to him. Phoebe still does not pass judgment upon him. “She always listens when you tell her something. And the funny part of it is she knows, half the time, what the hell you're talking about. She really does” (pg. 167-168). Holden and Phoebe's relationship is a close, loving one. Ironically, Phoebe is more mature than Holden, who is twice her age. Certainly, Phoebe is Holden's emotional

Show More
Related

  • Similarities Between Catcher In The Rye And It's Kind Of A Funny Story

    1077 Words  | 5 Pages

    Holden is a very judgemental and immature character and often has vulgar language. Holden often criticizes everyone he comes in contact with and does not try to comprehend the mindset they may have. His childish nature and vocabulary are what make most of his comments laughable. “It was funny. You could tell the waiter didn’t like her much, you could tell even the Navy guy didn’t like her much, even though he was dating her.

    Read More

  • Hope Of Change In Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird

    708 Words  | 3 Pages

    Holden and Phoebe are at a carrousel after having an argument with one another as Holden would not allow Phoebe to come along with him when Holden said he wanted to leave. Before this quote Holden was feeling miserable and quite irritated with life and wanted to withdraw from the society by going somewhere far away. However, because of Phoebe’s obstinate personality he agrees to stay and watch her go on the carousel. While watching Phoebe on the carousel he becomes happy just simply by watching her.

    Read More

  • What Is The Catcher In The Rye Critical Lens

    1496 Words  | 6 Pages

    Holden originally attended Pencey Prep but could never connect with the people around him. He is always criticizing or fighting with others, which lead him to leave Pencey without telling anyone. Holden heads to NYC where he faces many challenges with others and himself, emotionally and physically. Holden finds himself in his hotel room with a prostitute and feels extremely uncomfortable with what he is doing so he pays her and sends her off. The next day he plans a date with Sally Hayes, an old girlfriend, to see a play where he calls her “a pain in the ass” and laughs.

    Read More

  • Catcher In The Rye Rite Of Passage Analysis

    1142 Words  | 5 Pages

    The beginning of Holden’s journey starts with the innocence and naivety of childhood. Childhood is the stage that ignorance is bliss with no care in the world. Holden goes to a prestigious boarding school for boys and he believes that everyone in that school is a phony in some way. Holden is an observant character as he stays in the background, but he can also cause the most trouble. Like a child, he asks many questions and he is very curious to the point that he can be annoying.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Ambition In Catcher In The Rye

    931 Words  | 4 Pages

    As a small child, the chances are still against her, but since Phoebe desires to play it, Holden figures he should allow her. The force pushing Phoebe to become older and Holden to become an adult, is inevitable. This realization makes Holden cry. But rather being tears

    Read More

  • Holden Caulfield Lies In Catcher In The Rye

    1378 Words  | 6 Pages

    The only motivator that Holden has to continue living is his younger sister, Phoebe, who is extraordinarily intelligent for her age. After he gets kicked out of Pencey, Holden is lost in life. He speaks to many people, seeking advice and comfort, but they are not able to help him find a human connection. Holden’s depression increases throughout the novel, almost to the point of suicide. He criticizes many people and ideas, labeling them as ‘phony’.

    Read More

  • Catcher In The Rye Holden's Struggles Essay

    830 Words  | 4 Pages

    Being rather isolated, Holden Caulfield struggles with the challenges involved with relationships as he fails to balance his desire for isolation with his desire for companionship. Although Holden constantly searches for new possible relationships,

    Read More

  • Examples Of Masculinity In Catcher In The Rye

    903 Words  | 4 Pages

    Masculinity. It can be argued that no one word has undergone such a dramatic shift during the past century, as masculinity. In many ways J.D. Salinger’s groundbreaking novel, “The Catcher in the Rye”, and its main protagonist, Holden Caulfield, were both ahead of their time as they realized masculinity could not have a uniform definition. The reader is led on a journey by Holden, from fancy prep schools to the tough streets of New York City, all in the search for one thing: the meaning of masculinity. Holden’s search for identity culminates in his failure to conform to societal standards of masculinity, allowing Salinger to effectively question the need for such strict standards which seemingly only inhibit personal growth.

    Read More

  • Catcher In The Rye Rhetorical Analysis Essay

    652 Words  | 3 Pages

    Whenever Holden comments on other people, he calls them “phony” in order to distance himself emotionally and isolate his feelings. Even when talking about his sister Phoebe, with whom he holds the strongest emotional bond, he simply says she would “feel pretty bad if [Holden died]. She likes [Holden] a lot.” (173). In the instances Holden finds himself unable to insult a particular relationship to discourage himself from becoming attached,

    Read More

  • Acceptance In Catcher In The Rye

    777 Words  | 4 Pages

    As Holden tiptoes through the house he glances through rooms searching for Phoebe and discovers she is in her favorite place to sleep, D.B.’s room. Before waking her, Holden sits and reads through her schoolbooks, analyzing the way she signs her name as “Phoebe Weatherfield Caulfield” even though her middle name is Josephine. When Holden finally decides to wake her, Phoebe is overjoyed to see him and starts filling him

    Read More

  • How Does Holden Connect With Others

    734 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D Salinger, Holden Caulfield shows great difficulty making long and meaningful connections with other people. Holden believes he is the normal one but it is actually the other way around. He holds on to a deep emotional road block of the death of his innocent brother Allie. Holden keeps this dragging around with him which causes him to veer from connecting and having a long term relationship with others.

    Read More

  • Examples Of How Holden Mature In Catcher In The Rye

    1268 Words  | 6 Pages

    How Holden matured People go through rough stuff in their lives, such as losing a close sibling. It seems impossible to pull yourself out of the pain and guilt of your loss. It appeared Holden was in the same predicament, but through his experiences in the novel The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger he learns to grow up. Aside from being very immature, holden refuses to grow up and dislikes people who have grown up.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Maturity In Catcher In The Rye

    837 Words  | 4 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Character Development In Holden Caulfield In The Catcher In The Rye

    871 Words  | 4 Pages

    By, Holden has been able to change and will be able to change even more in the future. Phoebe was Holden’s push in the right direction. By directly asking, “name one thing [that you like]” (220), she is forcing him to think about changing his ways. While just thinking about change may not seem like a lot, it’s a lot more than he’s done already. While Spencer, Antolini, and Phoebe all give him virtually the same advice, he only listens to Phoebe.

    Read More

  • Alienation And Self-Protection In Catcher In The Rye

    664 Words  | 3 Pages

    Part of the reason Holden does not call his sister, Phoebe, is due to his “parents being the ones that answered the phone” (77). Holden finds protection in avoiding talking to anybody, which results in isolation. This event contributes to plot development as after refusing to call anybody, Holden continues to make excuses for things he should be doing, but does not. With each of Holden’s excuses, new adventures arrive, thus thickening and developing the

    Read More

More about How Holden Corrupts Women Essay

Open Document