The two protagonists in catcher in the rye and the stranger are cast as outsiders throughout the novel due to their neglect of social propriety, their own emotional connection with others, and relationship with death.
Holden and Meursault both refuse to behave as they are expected to therefore confining themselves to social isolation. Holden believes that those who follow social propriety are phonies. To neglect behaviour expected of him Holden chooses to drink, go to clubs, smoke, and constantly lie for no reason. In chapter 3 Holden says “I’m the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. It’s awful. If I’m on my way to the store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I’m going, I’m liable to say I’m going to the opera. …show more content…
An example of Holden lying is when he pretends he is Rudolf Shmidt to the woman he met on the train. Later regretting his decision of lying about who he was because he ends of liking the woman he says, “ I liked her though, I was beginning to feel sort of sorry I’d told her my name was Rudolf Schmidt.” Where Holden will go off on a tangent of grandious lies that result in his isolation, Mersaults inability to tell the whitest lies result in his isolation. In chapter ___ Mersault’s lawyer tries to play on Mersaults words to build a strong case for him, he says “Then he asked me if he could say that I 'd controlled my natural feelings that day. I said, 'No, because it 's not true. '” This shows that mersault will not lie to stop himself from being sentenced to death. Furthermore, both do not grieve appropriately to situations. In chapter 1 Holden Caulfield loses his fencing teams equiptment; instead of being remorseful he explains the humour he finds from the situation; “we’d gone to New …show more content…
Only we didn’t have the meet I left all the foils and equiptment and stuff on the goddam subways [...] The whole team ostraciszed me the whole way back on the train. It was pretty funny in a way.” Holdens lack of sympthaty for othrs results in his own isolation. Simalary Mersaults respeons to crisis also challenges the rules and values of society Duing Mersaults mothers passing he shows little emotion nor a state of grieving. In fact during his mothers funeral he accepts a cup of coffe offered by the custodian; “yes the gentlemen of the jury will take note and they will conclude that a stranger may offer a cup of coffee, but that a son must refuse it beside the body of one who brought him into the world.” Mersault is being condemened to social isolation for not acting appropriately or to societies standards. Furthermore due to his lack of emotions during his mothers death Mersaults lawyer tried to see how he could tweek Mersaults emotions to build a better case and help mersault not go to jail; “he asked me if I could say that I controlled my natural feelings…its not true” However, Mersault refuses and says he will not say he controlled his feelings therefore showing himself to the judge as emotionless. In
Holden and Meursault both refuse to behave as they are expected to therefore confining themselves to social isolation. Holden believes that those who follow social propriety are phonies. To neglect behaviour expected of him Holden chooses to drink, go to clubs, smoke, and constantly lie for no reason. In chapter 3 Holden says “I’m the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. It’s awful. If I’m on my way to the store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I’m going, I’m liable to say I’m going to the opera. …show more content…
An example of Holden lying is when he pretends he is Rudolf Shmidt to the woman he met on the train. Later regretting his decision of lying about who he was because he ends of liking the woman he says, “ I liked her though, I was beginning to feel sort of sorry I’d told her my name was Rudolf Schmidt.” Where Holden will go off on a tangent of grandious lies that result in his isolation, Mersaults inability to tell the whitest lies result in his isolation. In chapter ___ Mersault’s lawyer tries to play on Mersaults words to build a strong case for him, he says “Then he asked me if he could say that I 'd controlled my natural feelings that day. I said, 'No, because it 's not true. '” This shows that mersault will not lie to stop himself from being sentenced to death. Furthermore, both do not grieve appropriately to situations. In chapter 1 Holden Caulfield loses his fencing teams equiptment; instead of being remorseful he explains the humour he finds from the situation; “we’d gone to New …show more content…
Only we didn’t have the meet I left all the foils and equiptment and stuff on the goddam subways [...] The whole team ostraciszed me the whole way back on the train. It was pretty funny in a way.” Holdens lack of sympthaty for othrs results in his own isolation. Simalary Mersaults respeons to crisis also challenges the rules and values of society Duing Mersaults mothers passing he shows little emotion nor a state of grieving. In fact during his mothers funeral he accepts a cup of coffe offered by the custodian; “yes the gentlemen of the jury will take note and they will conclude that a stranger may offer a cup of coffee, but that a son must refuse it beside the body of one who brought him into the world.” Mersault is being condemened to social isolation for not acting appropriately or to societies standards. Furthermore due to his lack of emotions during his mothers death Mersaults lawyer tried to see how he could tweek Mersaults emotions to build a better case and help mersault not go to jail; “he asked me if I could say that I controlled my natural feelings…its not true” However, Mersault refuses and says he will not say he controlled his feelings therefore showing himself to the judge as emotionless. In