The Last Fight

that blood and all. Sort of made me look tough. I’d only been in about two fights in my life, and I lost both of them. I’m not too tough. I’m a pacifist if you want to know the truth” (ch 6 pg 45-46). Holden wants to be seen as something that he is not, tough. His infatuation with gore shows that he is slowly losing who he used to be, innocent. his ability to make decisions, such as whether or not to take part in a fight, becomes impaired as his cognitive state deteriorates. Given his history of…

Psychological Case Study Case #44 PATIENT NAME: HOLDEN CAULFIELD BACKGROUND INFORMATION Holden Caulfield is a 17-year-old boy living in California who is currently admitted to this psychiatric ward. He is originally from New York and attended Pencey Prep in Pennsylvania, until his recent expulsion. Holden is a very skinny teen who, claims he doesn’t like to talk much, yet he does. EDUCATION Holden has attended many schools, from which he has failed out of. He…

An ill person. A boy stuck in time. A runner. The mindset of a young teenager is wild and untamed. While they are going through the shift into adulthood, some of them try to run away from it until time slowly catches up to them. Along with a dramatic childhood, it can affect your future and how you choose to grow up or not. In the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger explorers the topic of childhood and growing up. He claims throughout the novel, that some people oppose the view of growing…

his rabbit farm, and they live happily on their own ranch or farm. In hopes that Lennie is in a better place and doesn’t have to be afraid of his rabbit farm being taken away from him. “Let’s do it now. Let’s get that place now” (pg. 106). Lennie’s last words before George sent him to his farm. Lennie’s rabbit farm. George had to protect Lennie from the truth that is the world. This is the only way for Lennie to be alive without actually being alive. If Curley had killed him, George knew that he…

In The Catcher in the Rye, Salinger explains faith, relationships, and immaturity. Holden Caulfield is a sixteen year old in 1946 that attends a private school. Holden expresses very little faith in The Catcher in The Rye. Holden tells us not long after the story begins that he is writing the story not long after the events happen and that he is in some sort of asylum (Brooks). Holden’s overall attitudes about his life is actually very negative and he acts as if he has no faith in him ever…

risks it anyways. In the process he almost gets caught, too. He has to hide in the closet while his mom talks to Phoebe and she also has to lie about the smell of cigarette smoke in her room. This scene leads to Holden thinking about suicide again. The last time that suicide is mentioned is when Holden is remembering a guy that went to Elkton Hills with him. He killed himself by jumping out of his window, “He was a skinny little weak-looking guy, with wrists about as big as pencils. Finally,…

S. N. Behrman discusses how Holden Caulfield’s difficulties with the people around him are comical although that is not his intent. Behrman classifies Holden’s interactions with others as a result of his innocent mindset. He brings into focus that Holden becomes attached to things that make him feel safe, such as the red cap, Allie’s mitt, and the record he bought for Phoebe. This parallels how Holden refuses to let go of his childhood innocence even though he is quickly approaching adulthood.…

and confrontation are two things Holden likes to avoid in life and he knows it. When confrontation is inevitable or Holden is standing up for somebody else, such as when he fought Stradlater because of Jane, it does not work out for him. After the fight he admits “I’m not too tough. I’m a pacifist, if you want to know the truth” (Salinger 46). Holden never had a problem with his roommate until a memory of his past life entered both their lives when Jane Gallagher went on a date with Stradlater.…

everything remaining perpetually unchanged. Although, Holden does admit that he is different. The museum never changes but the people do, and Holden is less pure than the last time he visited. Stopping by…

At the beginning of the book, the motif of “Loneliness” is utilized when Holden behaves as a noticeable antisocial individual around people whom he recognizes. At the last football game of the year in Pencey Prep School, Holden watches the game from the far despite the majority of students is cheering in the stadium. Holden claims that he “[is] trying to feel some kind of a good-by”, and before “[he] leaves a place [he…