The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
So, let me start with a question. What kind of teenager would spend their time trying to find a prostitute or get drunk alone in New York when they are supposed to be back at school? Holden Caulfield, that's the teenager I was referring to.
The entire time that he spends obsessing about his memories of Jane, Holden is trying to smooth talk a girl to have sex with or trying to convince a bartender that he was old enough to buy liquor. I really mean it. The entire time. And that really knocks me out. It really does.
So this teenager is allowed to smoke, drink, and solicit prostitutes with practically no negative consequences. It just sounds ridiculous. This kid seems depressed and absolutely insane to me.
"I knew that I did not have to get all dolled up for a prostitute or anything, but it sort of gave me something to do. I was a little nervous. I was starting to feel pretty sexy and all, but I was a little nervous anyway. If you want to know the truth, I'm a virgin. I really am. (Page 92)"
INSANITY.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
The Catcher in the Rye. Post 2.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
In the second section of the book, we see Holden present some really bizarre behavior for a teenager. A lot of his behavior is mildly obsessive and has an undertone of some sociopathic tendencies.
In one scene, after Holden leaves his school dorm after a fight with his room mate, which was totally uncalled for, Holden went to a hotel in New York to crash until Wednesday. There, he obsesses over this girl, he thinks about her constantly. He just can't get her off of his mind. Her name is Jane. It really is. And he keeps talking about he is depressed and just wants to crawl up in a ball and die, but he wants to go out and be with people. By the way, he keeps talking about this girl named Jane, who used to be his neighbor. She was really nice, he remembers her fondly.
Now, this is what I was talking about. Obsessive, unstable, frustratingly short attention span. This kid is either a schizophrenic or really likes Jane.
I forgot to mention the extent of his vocabulary. His descriptors are pretty much limited to Chrissake, stupid, moron, goddam, dopy, crumby, and a few other stellar choice words.
"She was a funny girl, old Jane. I wouldn't exactly describe her as beautiful. She knocked me out, though. She was sort of muckle-mouthed. I mean when she was talking and she got excited about something, her mouth would sort of went in about fifty directions., her lips and all. That killed me. And she never really closed it all the way, her mouth. It was always just a bit open, especially when she got in her golf stance, or when she was reading, and she read very good books. She read a lot of poetry and all. She was the only one, outside my family, that I ever showed Allie's baseball mitt to, or anything, because that was her first summer in Maine-- before that, she went to Cape Cod-- but I told her quite a lot about him. She was interested in that kind of stuff. (Page 77)"
See what I mean, NO ORGANIZATION.
In the second section of the book, we see Holden present some really bizarre behavior for a teenager. A lot of his behavior is mildly obsessive and has an undertone of some sociopathic tendencies.
In one scene, after Holden leaves his school dorm after a fight with his room mate, which was totally uncalled for, Holden went to a hotel in New York to crash until Wednesday. There, he obsesses over this girl, he thinks about her constantly. He just can't get her off of his mind. Her name is Jane. It really is. And he keeps talking about he is depressed and just wants to crawl up in a ball and die, but he wants to go out and be with people. By the way, he keeps talking about this girl named Jane, who used to be his neighbor. She was really nice, he remembers her fondly.
Now, this is what I was talking about. Obsessive, unstable, frustratingly short attention span. This kid is either a schizophrenic or really likes Jane.
I forgot to mention the extent of his vocabulary. His descriptors are pretty much limited to Chrissake, stupid, moron, goddam, dopy, crumby, and a few other stellar choice words.
"She was a funny girl, old Jane. I wouldn't exactly describe her as beautiful. She knocked me out, though. She was sort of muckle-mouthed. I mean when she was talking and she got excited about something, her mouth would sort of went in about fifty directions., her lips and all. That killed me. And she never really closed it all the way, her mouth. It was always just a bit open, especially when she got in her golf stance, or when she was reading, and she read very good books. She read a lot of poetry and all. She was the only one, outside my family, that I ever showed Allie's baseball mitt to, or anything, because that was her first summer in Maine-- before that, she went to Cape Cod-- but I told her quite a lot about him. She was interested in that kind of stuff. (Page 77)"
See what I mean, NO ORGANIZATION.
The Catcher in the Rye. Post 1
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
So, to this point, I fail to see a coherent plot to the series of events that has happened so far in Holden's story. One thing I can tell you is that this book is almost painful to read. The basic diction and repetitiveness is simply put, frustrating and arduous to grind through. That combined with the fact that none of the story so far seems to have any real plot or value.
"The whole lobby was empty. It smelled like fifty million dead cigars. It really did. I wasn't sleepy or anything, but I was feeling sort of lousy. Depressed and all. I almost wished I was dead. (page 90)"
The disconnected plot events and the diction of a person who speaks in "text language" presents that this story is just trying to catalog what goes through the mind of a teenager who has some real anxiety problems or something.
So, to this point, I fail to see a coherent plot to the series of events that has happened so far in Holden's story. One thing I can tell you is that this book is almost painful to read. The basic diction and repetitiveness is simply put, frustrating and arduous to grind through. That combined with the fact that none of the story so far seems to have any real plot or value.
"The whole lobby was empty. It smelled like fifty million dead cigars. It really did. I wasn't sleepy or anything, but I was feeling sort of lousy. Depressed and all. I almost wished I was dead. (page 90)"
The disconnected plot events and the diction of a person who speaks in "text language" presents that this story is just trying to catalog what goes through the mind of a teenager who has some real anxiety problems or something.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Potpourri Unit. Post 4.
Acquainted with the Night by Robert Frost.
"I have walked out in rain -- and back in rain.(Line 2)"
I particularly enjoy poetry from Robert Frost for a couple of reasons. Firstly, his poem is incredibly symbolic which leaves much up to interpretation. I enjoy being able to speculate what the author is trying to convey to the reader. This poem certainly does not disappoint. The incredible ambiguity that Frost integrates into his particularly specific images and symbolism is what makes his poetry especially interesting to read.
Secondly, the symbolism itself is fantastic at creating an environment which can leave the reader wondering exactly what Frost was trying to say. While this poem leaves some symbols pretty straightforward, some have multiple or questionable meanings. While it is clear that the poem is trying to convey that the speaker has experienced some sadness or loneliness that he has since overcome or has repeatedly experienced and has been capable of overcoming the sadness.
"I have walked out in rain -- and back in rain.(Line 2)"
I particularly enjoy poetry from Robert Frost for a couple of reasons. Firstly, his poem is incredibly symbolic which leaves much up to interpretation. I enjoy being able to speculate what the author is trying to convey to the reader. This poem certainly does not disappoint. The incredible ambiguity that Frost integrates into his particularly specific images and symbolism is what makes his poetry especially interesting to read.
Secondly, the symbolism itself is fantastic at creating an environment which can leave the reader wondering exactly what Frost was trying to say. While this poem leaves some symbols pretty straightforward, some have multiple or questionable meanings. While it is clear that the poem is trying to convey that the speaker has experienced some sadness or loneliness that he has since overcome or has repeatedly experienced and has been capable of overcoming the sadness.
Potpourri Unit. Post 3.
Dover Beach by Matt Arnold.
The three different bodies of water represent the universal alone feeling that is felt by people across the ages. This image is effective because water is generally similar wherever you go. The contrast between the lighthearted tone of the first stanza and the dark and depressing tone of the second and third stanzas builds suspense for what the speakers message is. The feeling that the author is trying to convey to the reader is that love is how we can defeat the loneliness that is so common in life.
This poem has a certain effect on the reader. The message is a wake up call that love can help us overcome the naturally depressing nature of our lives on earth. I enjoy this poem because it offers the more realistic view on life rather than the idealistic poem usually associated with love or feelings poetry.
"The Sea of Faith
Was once, too, at the full, and round earth's shore
Lay like the folds of a bright girdle furled."
The three different bodies of water represent the universal alone feeling that is felt by people across the ages. This image is effective because water is generally similar wherever you go. The contrast between the lighthearted tone of the first stanza and the dark and depressing tone of the second and third stanzas builds suspense for what the speakers message is. The feeling that the author is trying to convey to the reader is that love is how we can defeat the loneliness that is so common in life.
This poem has a certain effect on the reader. The message is a wake up call that love can help us overcome the naturally depressing nature of our lives on earth. I enjoy this poem because it offers the more realistic view on life rather than the idealistic poem usually associated with love or feelings poetry.
"The Sea of Faith
Was once, too, at the full, and round earth's shore
Lay like the folds of a bright girdle furled."
Potpourri Unit. Post 2.
Sorting Laundry by Elisavietta Ritche.
"If you were to leave me, if I were to fold only my own clothes."
The images in this poem tell the story of the relationship between the speaker and her partner. The different images about clothes shows the different elements of the relationship that have withstood time. My favorite image presented in this poem is the image of the socks going into the dryer and leaving alone. I think that it represents how the couple has gone through some situations and have come out feeling alone and abandoned. All the various laundry images become a metaphor for the relationship and all the things that the relationship have gone through.
This poem makes the reader question their own relationship if they have one. The poem has the effect of making the reader recognize and relate all the elements in their relationship and question whether or not their relationship is similar to the speakers and what would happen if they were left alone.
"If you were to leave me, if I were to fold only my own clothes."
The images in this poem tell the story of the relationship between the speaker and her partner. The different images about clothes shows the different elements of the relationship that have withstood time. My favorite image presented in this poem is the image of the socks going into the dryer and leaving alone. I think that it represents how the couple has gone through some situations and have come out feeling alone and abandoned. All the various laundry images become a metaphor for the relationship and all the things that the relationship have gone through.
This poem makes the reader question their own relationship if they have one. The poem has the effect of making the reader recognize and relate all the elements in their relationship and question whether or not their relationship is similar to the speakers and what would happen if they were left alone.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Potpourri Unit. Post 1.
Convergence of the Twain: Lines on the Loss of the 'Titanic' by Thomas Hardy.
"Dim moon-eyed fishes near
Gaze at the gilded gear
And query: 'What does this vaingloriousness down here?'"
This poem, from what I can tell, came soon after the Titanic sank on her maiden voyage. To me, this poem represents the waste of the beauty that sank to the bottom of the sea. The speaker mocks how the elegance of the massive ship does not matter to the creatures at the bottom of the Atlantic and how the sea does not care or consider the beauty and craftsmanship that went into the building of the ship as it sinks and settles. In a way, I sense the speaker mourning the loss of the vessel and all who went down with her.
In the speakers tone at the beginning, I felt like they were condemning the vanity and arrogance that contributed to the accident that led to the deaths of hundreds on the Titanic. Overall, this was a sad poem. This poem almost seemed like a story of remembrance or a reminder that tragedy can happen at any time.
Something to think about....
"Dim moon-eyed fishes near
Gaze at the gilded gear
And query: 'What does this vaingloriousness down here?'"
This poem, from what I can tell, came soon after the Titanic sank on her maiden voyage. To me, this poem represents the waste of the beauty that sank to the bottom of the sea. The speaker mocks how the elegance of the massive ship does not matter to the creatures at the bottom of the Atlantic and how the sea does not care or consider the beauty and craftsmanship that went into the building of the ship as it sinks and settles. In a way, I sense the speaker mourning the loss of the vessel and all who went down with her.
In the speakers tone at the beginning, I felt like they were condemning the vanity and arrogance that contributed to the accident that led to the deaths of hundreds on the Titanic. Overall, this was a sad poem. This poem almost seemed like a story of remembrance or a reminder that tragedy can happen at any time.
Something to think about....
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