Catcher in The Rye - Coursework Example

Holden Caulfield, the main character and the narrator of the story, has his share of troubles in life. Many of those troubles he caused himself, such as being expelled from his school. He finds himself in a hard fix. He just got kicked out of his school; his fencing team lost their gear because of him. He is very upset his roommate had a date with Jane – his neighbor girl he has a bond with. He considers a lot of people being phonies. At this particular time in his life he feels very lonely.

When he gets to Ney York, he wants to call someone to talk with, but he cannot think of anyone he can. He is depressed, and he admits it himself several times throughout his narration. Besides the circumstances he got himself into, his brother died, and it had a great impact on Holden. Later, during his school years, he had another encounter with the death, when one of the boys, James Castle, jumped out of the window. However, I do not think Holden is capable of committing suicide. It is not “phoniness”; it is exaggerated way to express the feeling of depression and utter despair.

He is not the type of guys that are so brave. He admits himself that “I’m one of these very yellow guys. I try not to show it, but I am…The more I thought about my …yellowness, the more depressed I got.” He would talk suicide, he will consider it, but he will not master up the courage to do it. Also, he does really love his parents and especially his sister Phoebe. He knows his death will make her very sad. He thinks about different things a lot, but he doesn’t do it. For example, he is thinking it would be good to go and say hello to Jane, and he is very excited about it, however he is not “in the mood” for it.

In the other instance, he invites the prostitute, but he feels so peculiar about having sex, that he just talks with her. When thinking about prostitute coming to him, he took care to groom himself, even though he thought he did not have to. He is very immature in the issues of sex, and as he admits, he is still a virgin and thinks it is his chance. He muses to himself, that”I can get some practice on her, in case I ever get married or anything.” He is thinking about his future life, about possibility of getting married.

Holden felt so depressed that, having no one else to talk to, he was talking out loud to his brother, who died. “What I did, I started talking, sort of out loud, to Allie. I do that sometimes when I get very depressed.” He was so restless that he could not sleep. He wanted to talk to anyone, even to pray, but couldn’t. Besides, he is so strained emotionally, that when Maurice comes to claim additional five bucks, Holden is so frightened, that his voice trembles and then he starts to cry.

“All of a sudden I started to cry. I’d give anything if I hadn’t but I did.” He is still a kid and it is very difficult for him to cope with his emotions. Narrating the story Holden doesn’t have to pretend or to be phony. He honestly talks about accounts of him telling lies, and other less then noble deeds. So when he talks about suicide, he is not phony, he is very depressed. 2. My mom and Daddy were not home. I was asleep and someone woke me up. I opened my eyes and saw my brother Holden sitting on at the edge of my bed.

No one knew he came. I was so happy to see him! I gave him a big bear hug! I missed him so much! He even brought me a present – a record. It’s too bad it broke, but I will keep it anyway. Those pieces are special. There was so much I wanted to talk with him about! We can talk about anything! About a movie I went to see with my best friend and her mother, also about this annoying boy from my class, Curtis Weintraub. I missed us talking. I even wrote him a letter telling about the play I will be a part of, but I never got a reply.

He said he received it and he will come to the play. My brother left when my parents got home. He said he will go somewhere, but promised me he would come to the play. Holden got kicked out from his school again. I got so angry at him and upset! I hid under my pillow and didn’t want to see him. What will happen to him now? Daddy’ll kill him when he will find out. He would be so mad! I am so worried about Holden. Maybe it would be good if he goes away now, I don’t know. I will miss him. He doesn’t have much dough.

I gave him what I had. I know it is alright, he will give it back to me. I want to help my brother. He is so lost. There is nothing in this world that he likes doing. He doesn’t like anything that’s happening. He likes to dream, that’s what he likes – to dream about crazy stuff, he wants to be a catcher in the rye. He always talks about people being phony. He is swearing a lot, my poor brother. He is not happy.