It Ended with a Sting
The infamous bee is known for attacking people with its sharp stinger. The bee does not purposefully try to sting or attack anyone; it will not sting, unless the bee has been aggravated. Catcher in the Rye’s narrator, Holden Caulfield is the epitome of the bee, but in the form of an adolescent boy. Holden, just like the bee, goes on living his life, stinging people one at a time. Holden seems to do the impossible, ruining relationships left and right. He destructs in different ways, such as, physically and verbally. Holden struggles to see or think anything good about anyone. Anyone who has a different view, or thinks differently from Holden, becomes a victim of his destruct. This can be seen throughout the entire book, …show more content…
Right away, All Holden has to say is how Stradlater is a “secret slob” (Salinger 31). Holden quickly learns that Stradlater ha a date with, the Jane Gallagher; who Holden is crazy about, yet he is incapable of talking to her. When Stradlater returns, it is clear Holden is upset. Holden demands over and over again, for Stradlater to tell him the details about his date. “If you didn’t go to New York, where’d ya go with her…‘Cut it out,’ I said. ‘Where’d you go with her if you didn’t go to New York?’...’Cut it out,’ I said” (Salinger 48). Stradlater doesn’t understand why the details of his night even matter to Holden, and continues to not answer. Holden’s anger continues to rise, and he becomes annoyed, “What’d you do?’ I said. ‘Give her the time in Ed Banky’s goddam car?’ My voice was shaking something awful. ‘What a thing to say. Want me to wash your mouth out …show more content…
He isn’t that crazy about Sally, yet he decides to takes her out to see a show. He clearly isn’t that excited to see her, “She gave me a pain in the ass, but she was very good-looking” (Salinger 114). Holden is unimpressed with the play, and is annoyed by not only Sally’s thoughts, but everyone else’s too. They leave the theatre and go skiing at Radio City, and Holden is reminded of why he likes Sally, for her looks. While they are talking about Holden’s hate for school, a brilliant dea comes to Holden. That they would leave New York, borrowing a friend’s car, and drive up north to Massachusetts or Vermont. They would live in a cabin, Holden would get a job, and then they’d be married. Holden is so passionate about the idea, until Sally hits him with the cold hard truth. “You can’t just do something like that,’ old Sally said” (Salinger 147). Holden is caught off guard by her reaction, and in return, Sally says, “Because you can’t, that’s all. In the first place, we’re both practically children. And did you ever stop to think what’d you’d do if you didn’t get a job when your money ran out? We’d starve to death. The whole thing’s so fantastic, it isn’t even-’” (Salinger 147). Sally is completely right, and what she is saying is extremely practical. Two teenagers moving to a different state, with no money, no job, and no home, is a recipe for disaster. Holden can’t see that if he were to put his plan
The infamous bee is known for attacking people with its sharp stinger. The bee does not purposefully try to sting or attack anyone; it will not sting, unless the bee has been aggravated. Catcher in the Rye’s narrator, Holden Caulfield is the epitome of the bee, but in the form of an adolescent boy. Holden, just like the bee, goes on living his life, stinging people one at a time. Holden seems to do the impossible, ruining relationships left and right. He destructs in different ways, such as, physically and verbally. Holden struggles to see or think anything good about anyone. Anyone who has a different view, or thinks differently from Holden, becomes a victim of his destruct. This can be seen throughout the entire book, …show more content…
Right away, All Holden has to say is how Stradlater is a “secret slob” (Salinger 31). Holden quickly learns that Stradlater ha a date with, the Jane Gallagher; who Holden is crazy about, yet he is incapable of talking to her. When Stradlater returns, it is clear Holden is upset. Holden demands over and over again, for Stradlater to tell him the details about his date. “If you didn’t go to New York, where’d ya go with her…‘Cut it out,’ I said. ‘Where’d you go with her if you didn’t go to New York?’...’Cut it out,’ I said” (Salinger 48). Stradlater doesn’t understand why the details of his night even matter to Holden, and continues to not answer. Holden’s anger continues to rise, and he becomes annoyed, “What’d you do?’ I said. ‘Give her the time in Ed Banky’s goddam car?’ My voice was shaking something awful. ‘What a thing to say. Want me to wash your mouth out …show more content…
He isn’t that crazy about Sally, yet he decides to takes her out to see a show. He clearly isn’t that excited to see her, “She gave me a pain in the ass, but she was very good-looking” (Salinger 114). Holden is unimpressed with the play, and is annoyed by not only Sally’s thoughts, but everyone else’s too. They leave the theatre and go skiing at Radio City, and Holden is reminded of why he likes Sally, for her looks. While they are talking about Holden’s hate for school, a brilliant dea comes to Holden. That they would leave New York, borrowing a friend’s car, and drive up north to Massachusetts or Vermont. They would live in a cabin, Holden would get a job, and then they’d be married. Holden is so passionate about the idea, until Sally hits him with the cold hard truth. “You can’t just do something like that,’ old Sally said” (Salinger 147). Holden is caught off guard by her reaction, and in return, Sally says, “Because you can’t, that’s all. In the first place, we’re both practically children. And did you ever stop to think what’d you’d do if you didn’t get a job when your money ran out? We’d starve to death. The whole thing’s so fantastic, it isn’t even-’” (Salinger 147). Sally is completely right, and what she is saying is extremely practical. Two teenagers moving to a different state, with no money, no job, and no home, is a recipe for disaster. Holden can’t see that if he were to put his plan