What does the museum symbolize in Catcher in the Rye?
The museum represents the world Holden wishes he could live in: it’s the world of his “catcher in the rye” fantasy, a world where nothing ever changes, where everything is simple, understandable, and infinite.
What does Holden say about the museum?
In recalling his visits to the Museum of Natural History, Holden indicates that he wants life to be like the tableaux he loves: frozen, unchanging, simple, and readily comprehensible. He says that he wishes that everything in life could be placed inside glass cages and preserved, like in the museum.
What is the main message of The Catcher in the Rye?
As its title indicates, the dominating theme of The Catcher in the Rye is the protection of innocence, especially of children. For most of the book, Holden sees this as a primary virtue. It is very closely related to his struggle against growing up.
How did Holden lose his innocence?
In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden loses his innocence at the age of thirteen, when his brother, Allie, dies of leukemia. This strips away his sense that the world is safe or fair.
Why is Holden still a virgin?
In contrast, Holden later claims that he’s still a virgin because he always stops at “No,” so what sets him apart from Stradlater and Co. is his refusal to commit what today we’d classify as sexual assault.
What mental disorder does Holden Caulfield have?
Holden displays many common traits of a person with PTSD following this loss. He has substantial amounts of guilt and depression and struggles to remember the details of events in his life. Holden’s emotions seem to be highly unbalanced.
Why did Holden Kiss Jane?
Jane was upset because her stepfather was abusing her. Holden’s reaction was to sit next to her and put his arm around her. But instead of just comforting her, he begins to kiss her all over her face. He confuses lust with sympathy.
Why did Holden have to leave Ernie’s?
Why does Holden leave Ernie’s? Holden leaves Ernie’s because Lillian is becoming annoying. He would rather leave then spend more time talking to her. Holden becomes unimpressed with him and leaves.
Why is Jane so special to Holden?
Jane Gallagher A girl with whom Holden spent a lot of time one summer, when their families stayed in neighboring summer houses in Maine. Jane never actually appears in The Catcher in the Rye, but she is extremely important to Holden, because she is one of the few girls whom he both respects and finds attractive.
Why did Holden cry when Phoebe gave him money?
Why does Holden cry uncontrollably when Phoebe gives him her Christmas money? He realizes that Phoebe cares about him because she gave him her money which nobody else Holden knows would do that to him.
Why does Holden respect Mr Antolini?
Holden admires and respects him because Antolini is not only intellectual and perceptive, but he has a heart. When James Castle committed suicide, it was Antolini who carried his bloody, broken body all the way to the infirmary.
What does Mr Antolini symbolize?
He represents education not as a path of conformity but as a means for Holden to develop his unique voice and to find the ideas that are most appropriate to him. When Mr. Antolini touches Holden’s forehead as he sleeps, he may overstep a boundary in his display of concern and affection.
What did Mr Antolini say to Holden?
‘Here’s what he said: ‘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. (Mr. Antolini writes a quote by Wilhelm Stekel on a piece of paper for Holden.)
What exactly did Holden awake to find Mr Antolini doing?
When Holden wakes to find Mr. Antolini stroking his head, he snaps. The pressure of his surging sexual feelings, combined with the nervous homophobia he exhibited around Carl Luce, make Mr. Antolini’s gesture more than he can handle, and he leaves Mr.
Why is Mr Haas a phony?
Haas, a businessman named Ossenburger, insincere handshakes and anything else done for show or half-heartedly, models and movies, and even Lieutenant Henry of A Farewell to Arms and the book itself—he describes all these as “phony.” His view of them as hypocritical, dishonest, or fake colors his perception of growing …
Is Mr Spencer a phony?
Although Holden’s language shows that he has respect for Mr. Spencer (“he was a nice old guy”), it also reveals his characteristically critical nature (he “didn’t know his ass from his elbow”). Spencer among the many other people—especially adults—Holden considers phony.
What class is Holden not failing?
What is the only class he passed? He failed four out of five subjects. The only class he passed was English. Why is Holden watching the football game at the beginning of the novel?
Why can Holden no longer make a real fist?
Holden knows this fist is weak, because he injured it when he broke the windows in the garage after Allie died. Using this fist to throw a punch is therefore self-defeating and leads to Stradlater punching him. Just as it relates to the pain of his past, Holden’s inaction also relates to his fear of the future.
How many schools did Holden flunk out of?
three schools
What does Spencer do that annoys Holden?
What did Spencer do that particularly annoyed Holden? Holden was annoyed by how Spencer always yelled and by how he read his essay and called it garbage. Holden means that even though his grammar and reading skills aren’t very good, he still reads a lot of books. He reads advanced classics like Ring Laudner.