Cory Chin
B Block
May 3, 2011
Holden, A baby boy
Holden always acts like a child, he is immature and silly. But this makes who he is, what shapes him, and shows us how he talks to us reader. Throughout the book, we see just how Holden can’t control what he narrates. One moment he will be telling us about his daily life, and all of a sudden you will hear, “oh, so there was this one time” and he will go off on a long rant. He can’t even tell us a simple story without trailing off.
Holden is childish in just some of the ways he acts. He shows us how much of a wise ass he is through his travels. In the beginning of the book, we see him give an obnoxious answer on his history test.
“DEAR MR. SPENCER [he read out loud]. That is all I know about the Egyptians. I can't seem to get very interested in them although your lectures are very interesting. It is all right with me if you flunk me though as I am flunking everything else except English anyway. Respectfully yours, HOLDEN CAULFIELD.” Chapter 2 Page 12
Holden shows us that he really doesn’t care that he is flunking school, he upright tells the teacher that he is bored of his classes. Holden is disrespectful, but yet doesn’t realize or care.
Later, Holden admits to us that he is a great liar, although he knows he shouldn’t really be. “I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. It's awful. If I'm on my way to the store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I'm going, I'm liable to say I'm going to the opera. It's terrible." Chapter 3 page 16. Holden, although a terrific liar brings out his immature side. He uses his lies to spark conversation and just in general use. On his way to New York, we see him meet with Mrs. Morrow. Holden boasts about how he too goes to school with Ernest Morrow. Holden knows who Ernest, and explains the kid as, “…the biggest bastard that ever went to Pencey, in the whole crumby history of the school.” Chapter 8 Page 54. Not to...