Re: the lurkers

AntiUtopia@aol.com
Thu, 30 Dec 1999 09:17:38 -0500 (EST)

In a message dated 12/29/99 11:50:54 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
Joshiwosh@aol.com writes:

<< But I don't see how having a 
 knack for description and a love for honesty makes Holden psychologically 
 troubled.  
     
     Did anyone by any chance see the movie Pleasantville?  The most powerful 
 part of the movie I thought was when he was explaining catcher in the rye to 
 the naive teenagers in the burger joint.  I enjoyed the movie but I guess 
 that part was what made it personal.
 Joshie. >>

Pleasantville was Wonderful :)  Now I want to see it again.

I think Holden was a bit disturbed, but I think you're falling into the trap 
of The Novel and forgetting what Holden would be like in Real Life.  I'm not 
saying this because he's honest.  

Try a little exercise.  Imagine reading the narrative of Catcher from a 
completely third person perspective.  You have NO INSIGHT into Holden's self 
talk.  All you see is him calling an ex-girlfriend while drunk after pissing 
her off and insulting her on a date, running out on a man who tried to help 
him out, blowing wads of cash in a very short period of time, hiring a hooker 
then turning her out, and on and on.

Now imagine he was doing all those things around You and remember...you don't 
know what's really in his head.  He doesn't tell you. See, he's very clear in 
the narrative but if you limit what you know of him to what he communicates 
to other characters, you don't know much.

Welcome to Holden in Real Life :)  

Jim