"Life is a game, boy. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules."
The quote comes from the novel "Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger and takes place in Mr. Spencer's house. Holden is leaving Pencey, but before he does he visits his history teacher Mr. Spencer to say good bye. The meeting lasts longer than expected and Holden finds himself stuck listening to Mr. Spencer lecture him after going over his essay. Mr. Spencer describes to Holden that "life is a game" and is made up of rules in which should always be followed. This contradicts Holden's beliefs because he despises the institution and hates following orders. The quote suggests that life is already laid out with a plan and one should follow it. However, Holden does not …show more content…
Salinger and takes place in Phoebe's room shortly after Holden sneaks into his home. After spending time alone in New York, Holden decides to go back home and see his beloved little sister, Phoebe. She asks him the important question of what Holden wants to be, and he replies with imagery depicting being a "catcher in the rye". Holden's dream is to watch children and "catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff". This metaphor signifies Holden being a protector of youth and innocence. He values the wonder and freedom children have and imagines spending "all day" protecting them from harm. The quote brings up Holden's love for purity and his alienation from reality. In order to protect himself, Holden separates himself form reality and lives off worlds built in his imagination which in this case is a "big field of rye". His imagination and wonder shows Holden's struggle in dealing with the real world and his obligations. He does not want to become a lawyer and make money, but instead wants to protect children and preserve their innocence.
7. "The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody's move. You could go there a hundred thousand times, and that Eskimo would still be just finished catching those two fish, the birds would still be on their way south, the dears would still be drinking out of that water
The quote comes from the novel "Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger and takes place in Mr. Spencer's house. Holden is leaving Pencey, but before he does he visits his history teacher Mr. Spencer to say good bye. The meeting lasts longer than expected and Holden finds himself stuck listening to Mr. Spencer lecture him after going over his essay. Mr. Spencer describes to Holden that "life is a game" and is made up of rules in which should always be followed. This contradicts Holden's beliefs because he despises the institution and hates following orders. The quote suggests that life is already laid out with a plan and one should follow it. However, Holden does not …show more content…
Salinger and takes place in Phoebe's room shortly after Holden sneaks into his home. After spending time alone in New York, Holden decides to go back home and see his beloved little sister, Phoebe. She asks him the important question of what Holden wants to be, and he replies with imagery depicting being a "catcher in the rye". Holden's dream is to watch children and "catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff". This metaphor signifies Holden being a protector of youth and innocence. He values the wonder and freedom children have and imagines spending "all day" protecting them from harm. The quote brings up Holden's love for purity and his alienation from reality. In order to protect himself, Holden separates himself form reality and lives off worlds built in his imagination which in this case is a "big field of rye". His imagination and wonder shows Holden's struggle in dealing with the real world and his obligations. He does not want to become a lawyer and make money, but instead wants to protect children and preserve their innocence.
7. "The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody's move. You could go there a hundred thousand times, and that Eskimo would still be just finished catching those two fish, the birds would still be on their way south, the dears would still be drinking out of that water