Blog #45: The Catcher in the Rye

At the beginning of The Catcher in the Rye, I could not really connect and understand Holden Caulfield. When he attacked Stradlater, I think that is when I finally began to understand him. He really did not seem like he cared about anyone or anything. It just seemed like he was in this life just to be along for the ride. I mean that is not necessarily a bad thing if you do not want to do anything in your life. He seems like that care-free kind of kid. Like the one who just goes with the flow. I think I am kind of like that in a way. I really just take life one step at a time, and whatever happens, happens. But where I am going with this is that Holden really does have feelings. I know that sounds kind of strange, but it is true. He really showed his true feelings with Stradlater. He was really upset with him when Stradlater would not really say is he and Jane had had sex. This really ticked Holden off. He and Jane had been really good friends when they were younger, and it upset Holden that Stradlater was just beating around the bush and would not give a direct answer. I do not think that Stradlater really ever did say if he and Jane did do it, but I do not think that they did. I do not think we ever find out because Holden attacks Stradlater before he really tells. This shows that Holden was very serious and cared about Jane a lot. He also got upset when Stradlater did not like Holden’s paper about the baseball glove. This really upset Holden because the glove was Holden’s younger brother’s who had passed away from cancer. This really hurt Holden’s feelings because he felt that Stradlater was attacking his little brother, not just him. By the end of the first couple of chapters, I really feel that I got to know Holden a lot more.

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. New York: Back Bay, 2001. Print.