Re: second opinion
David Schrimpf (david@cybermail.net)
Wed, 29 Apr 1998 14:28:57 -0800
Someone wrote:
> '...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...'
Anyone who judges the book by judging Holden's attitude is missing the =
point,
and probably always will. Holden is not someone to admire or look to for
guidance. We love him because we can look at him and appreciate his =
human-ness.
We can look at him and say, "There is someone who is just as confused as I =
once
was" or, "...am."
Franny's probably more mature, but Holden inhabits the superior novel.
What do the following words mean anyway?: prat, git, wanker