Question about The Catcher In The Rye, essay due tomorrow...

[Techie333]

HELP! I got a question about the catcher in the rye...............why does Holden need to impress older women but not men at all????????.............need a deep reason............not something like he wants to score....PLEASE...

 

[MichaelD]

RTFB!

 

[Techie333]

what does that mean?

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: Techie333
HELP! I got a question about the catcher in the rye...............why does Holden need to impress older women but not men at all????????.............need a deep reason............not something like he wants to score....PLEASE...

I don't think you're on the right track there mate, unless that is the actual question, because he never talks about why he tries to impress women, and not men. If you are going for the emotional reason on why he needs relationships it's because his brother's death causes him to stay inside his shell, and meeting new people would cause him to break out of this shell. And as always, Holden realizes this and breaks off any new form of relationship at all. What your question asks is really an antithesis since he tries to befriend the professor at the end, and at the last second breaks free of it by just leaving.

Hope this helps?

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: Techie333
what does that mean?

Read The *BLEEP*ing Book

Other than that, I don't know. I have read the book, but I don't remember. Sorry.


Nate

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
RTFB!

"Read the F*cking Book"

 

[luv2chill]

Well all this is IMHO, but I think Holden values the "maternal" qualities women generally posess. He's ultimately concerned with protecting the innocents of this world from the "phonies", and mothers do exactly this for their children. In his mind, women are less likely to be competitive and less likely to take advantage of others.

It's a fantastic book... one of my very favorites. Hope you enjoyed it.

l2c

Edit: Impress older women? Hmmmm... I had read your question wrong. Well I think the reason he tries to impress that mother of his schoolmate on the train gets at the same reasons I quoted above. His own mother doesn't seem to really care much about his thoughts and feelings--she's quite detached since the death of Allie. Perhaps he is seeking love from others capable of giving it?

 

[Techie333]

hey i read the book u a*holes................

but he does try to impress older women........the nuns........ernie's mom.........and he makes a direct contradiction at the museum.............on his term paper he writes that he isnt into the egyptians and all, while he is at the actualy museum he tells the two little kids, "You know how the Egyptians buried their dead? Well, you should. It's very interesting."

So what about all that evidence?.........I know the Allie thing..........thats why he tires to preserve childrens' innocence...

 

[MichaelD]

Sorry, I couldn't resist. I read The Catcher in the Rye.....in 1985, when I was a Junior in HS. Yes, I am old. I don't remember a damn thing about it. I remember that the book was GOOD...but don't remember details. Funny; composition (i.e. positional papers and book reports) were my strong point. Too many years and too many beers since then....

Good luck.

 

[luv2chill]

and he makes a direct contradiction at the museum.............on his term paper he writes that he isnt into the egyptians and all, while he is at the actualy museum he tells the two little kids, "You know how the Egyptians buried their dead? Well, you should. It's very interesting."

You brought up a very important detail about understanding Holden. I'm not sure how it relates to your original question though. These were children, not older women.

In his social studies paper he's simply regurgitating textbook material in which he was obviously disinterested. He couldn't care less about placating phony teachers like Mr. Spencer. But put him in a situation where he can make an impression on a child and all of a sudden the same information becomes very interesting to him. He seeks the love and respect of children because they're the only people he really has any trust in and respect for.

It's just one more piece of the puzzle that is Holden Caulfield.

l2c

 

[Techie333]

oh...............good point...........thanks for clearing that up....

 

[MacBaine]

Worst.Book.Evar.