Re: second opinion
Win Boogie (WinBoogie@aol.com)
Wed, 29 Apr 1998 10:14:53 -0400 (EDT)
In a message dated 98-04-29 01:39:16 EDT, you write:
<<
'...The book I think should most bear a warning label would
be JD Salinger's _A Catcher in the Rye_. I read this for
the first time when I was twelve and I thought Holden Caulfield
was a prat. As this is the favourite novel of so many of my
friends, I read it at least four more times over the years and
my opinion has changed: I later thought him a git and now
I believe him to be a wanker. This character is worse than
Fanny Price [of Mansfiedl Park] in his holy innoscence and
wisdom act, at least Fanny WONDERS if she could possibly
be acting wrongly and Holden never does...'
What do you think of that, then ?
>>
I think I largely agree. I am deathly afraid of young people carrying around
dogeared copies of Catcher in the Rye in their back pockets. My allegiances to
JDS lay almost solely with the charming little Glass family.
In regards to last week's string about Catcher being the superior work to
Franny and Zooey, I couldn't disagree more. I had intentions of responding but
never got the time. Brendan also posted something a while ago about Teddy and
Seymour being whiners or pessimists or something concerning their respective
deaths (suicides). (I just can't remember right now, I don't have the post.
I'm not trying to belittle your opinion Brendan.) Perhaps in the next few days
I can get the post from the archive.
Basically, my problem with Holden is that it's too negaitive, there are
no answers offered. It's just a big long rant on everything. Franny is clearly
out of line, but Zooey spends most of his screen time letting her know that.
We get glimpses of Seymour's journal that tell us he is struggling. I don't
get a tremendous sense of self-righteousness from Seymour at all. He may have
acheived some degree of Awareness, but he can't rectify that with the real
world. We're shown that in several places. Holden just runs around pointing
his finger a lot, and he's right about nearly everything he condemns, but it's
killing him. There is no answer offered to Holden. I think people who read
Catcher who view Holden as the answer are a little bit misguided. In my view,
that is.
It is also my understanding that Jerome David himself felt the Glass
family more worthy of his time and effort. We know that he had devoted himself
to them entirely. I just wonder (pure speculation on my part) if JD, after the
cultural phenomenon of Catcher, didn't feel that Holden was a little
irresponsible of him. Then set upon offering more of a "guide" with the Glass
stories.
Okay, that's all for now. Take care all.
Robert