Wednesday, April 17, 2013

"The Catcher in the Rye" Section 4


 
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

After Holden wanting to leave, he decides to stay and spend time with Phoebe. “She ran and bought her ticket and got back on the goddam carrousel just in time. Then she walked all the way around it till she got her own horse back,” (Salinger, 212). This quote holds symbolism to Holden’s direction in life through the novel. Holden, at this moment, watching his sister on the carrousel, has gotten back on the right track in life. He has stopped falling off the cliff of giving up completely. He walked all around New York to begin to realize that the world is not simple and naïve as he views it. Holden continued to go in circles in his life not knowing his purpose and trying not to conform to society. He does not need to conform to society to keep from falling off the cliff. He needs to learn his own way and reevaluate his simple view of the world. Holden needs to get on his “own horse back” by not having to conform to society, but by learning to accept that society is full “phonies” and to not get too caught up in it.

No comments:

Post a Comment