3R Journal - Catcher in the Rye
In Chapter 22 of “The Catcher in the Rye”, Holden Caulfield and her younger sister Phoebe’s conversation continues. Phoebe shows her concern over Holden’s future. She asks him what he would like to be, suggesting traditional careers like lawyers and scientists. Holden rejects without second thought, and reveals what he truly wants to be. In fact, it’s “the only thing [he’d] really like to be” (173). He asks if Phoebe knows a song he’s heard earlier from a little boy, “If a body catch a body comin' through the rye", and she does. She also corrects him that it’s a poem and that the actual line is “if a body meet a body comin’ through the rye" (173). Holden then explains this metaphor. He imagines thousands of …show more content…
In the early years of a child’s life, their parents play the biggest role in protecting and educating them. It is the time when children are taught the basic rules of life. As they grow up, however, some may forget these rules, and even disobey them. As Holden thinks, doing this would be considered becoming corrupted by society, and losing your innocence. This reminds me of a quote said by Mr. Spencer early on in the novel: “Life is a game, one to be played by the rules” (8). Holden disagrees, though, he believes that playing by the rules means to allow society to control you and your life, which is why he resists growing up himself. He, too, admits that he “act[s] quite young for [his] age sometimes” (9). A teacher also plays an important role in a child’s development. Being given difficult facts of life, a child’s innocence and trueness tend to be destroyed. This is one thing that Holden is afraid of, so he tries to fight that change throughout the novel. He tries to protect the innocent ones in the world, and most of them happen to be children. Although Holden often classifies others as “phonies”, he can easily see the purity, honesty, and innocence in children. Thus, Holden’s explanation in wanting to become a “catcher in the rye” is a significant symbol of his own innocence as well - for wanting to save children from falling into
In Chapter 22 of “The Catcher in the Rye”, Holden Caulfield and her younger sister Phoebe’s conversation continues. Phoebe shows her concern over Holden’s future. She asks him what he would like to be, suggesting traditional careers like lawyers and scientists. Holden rejects without second thought, and reveals what he truly wants to be. In fact, it’s “the only thing [he’d] really like to be” (173). He asks if Phoebe knows a song he’s heard earlier from a little boy, “If a body catch a body comin' through the rye", and she does. She also corrects him that it’s a poem and that the actual line is “if a body meet a body comin’ through the rye" (173). Holden then explains this metaphor. He imagines thousands of …show more content…
In the early years of a child’s life, their parents play the biggest role in protecting and educating them. It is the time when children are taught the basic rules of life. As they grow up, however, some may forget these rules, and even disobey them. As Holden thinks, doing this would be considered becoming corrupted by society, and losing your innocence. This reminds me of a quote said by Mr. Spencer early on in the novel: “Life is a game, one to be played by the rules” (8). Holden disagrees, though, he believes that playing by the rules means to allow society to control you and your life, which is why he resists growing up himself. He, too, admits that he “act[s] quite young for [his] age sometimes” (9). A teacher also plays an important role in a child’s development. Being given difficult facts of life, a child’s innocence and trueness tend to be destroyed. This is one thing that Holden is afraid of, so he tries to fight that change throughout the novel. He tries to protect the innocent ones in the world, and most of them happen to be children. Although Holden often classifies others as “phonies”, he can easily see the purity, honesty, and innocence in children. Thus, Holden’s explanation in wanting to become a “catcher in the rye” is a significant symbol of his own innocence as well - for wanting to save children from falling into