Re: Holden as Henderson
Jeremy Green (jergreen@adelphia.net)
Wed, 27 Jan 1999 21:03:32 -0500
all the characterisitcs you mentioned are very common of characters in
novels. one may say that everyone "does not fit in" or "is searching for
something." a novel about someone who is not searching for anything may be
very boring. no one is every truly satisfied because once one obtains the
goal, they create a new goal.
-----Original Message-----
From: Lomanno <lomanno@ix.netcom.com>
To: bananafish@lists.nyu.edu <bananafish@lists.nyu.edu>
Date: Monday, January 25, 1999 8:53 AM
Subject: Holden as Henderson
>I just read HENDERSON THE RAIN KING by Saul Bellow, and I couldn't help
>noticing some striking similarities between Eugene Henderson and Holden
>Caulfield. Has anyone else read the book?
>
>Both Holden and Henderson leave home searching for "something." Both are
>pretty well-read and intelligent, but since they don't "fit in" to the
>mold of society they come across as a little ignorant. They both
>constantly digress in their stories to tell of past memories. They both
>battle with issues of "phoniness" and sincerity. They also both want to
>save the world.
>
>I see Henderson as a kind of adult "catcher in the rye." Can anyone else
>comment on this? I'd love some imput from fellow Salinger groupies. :)
>
>I'm thinking of doing a Bellow/Salinger comparison paper in one of my
>classes this semester, and it will be difficult for me to convince my
>professor of its credibility since he already thinks I'm some crazed
>Salinger-obsessed maniac. He assumes I'll see Salinger in everything
>(which, to some extent, I can).
>
>--Kari