Subject: Re: Whining about whining?
From: Rob McEntarffer (rmcenta@lps.esu18.k12.ne.us)
Date: Fri Mar 07 1997 - 17:05:46 GMT
>CITR topics? Well, I'm not sure if we have addressed the scene where
>Holden gets lectured by his History teacher.....for, if we have, I
>certainly missed it. In any case though, what does everybody think about
>this scene? Is Holden sympathizing with his teacher? Does he feel "sorry"
>for the pride the teacher tries to exude only to be hindered by the tolls
>that time and nature has taken on this old man? Or, is he just simply
>disgusted by him, period? I have always thought that Holden is actually
>a very empathetic individual, despite the fact that he sometimes hides
>his sensitivity with his brazen tendencies (though, the brazen'ness only
>come out to us, the readers, and not in dialogue). There are times, of
>course, that Holden doesn't hide his empathetic tendencies and is very
>direct about them....right? The nun scene comes to mind? But, there are
>other times, that he seems to hide it. Doesn't Holden really secretly
>sympathize with Ackley (sp?), or does he not? Coming back to my original
>question, does Holden really sympathize with his old and seemingly infirm
>teacher, or not?
Great topic! I always looked at that episode as Holden loving the humanity
in his teacher (old Spencer - I had to look it up- darn) but not wanted to
listen to his "phonyness" - the phony part being Spencer droning on and on
about mummification probably b/c the textbook talked about it. Holden wrote
that he just couldn't get excited about the egyptians but hew was careful
to try not to hurt Spencer's feelings. I think Holden likes the humanity of
people, but hates what adults do - like write fuck you on walls and give
girls the business when they don't love them. That's the origin of them
empathy you wrote about, to me. I do think he sympathizes with Ackley - he
invites him to go to the movies when no one else wants him there. But he
hates Ackley's pretensions - worrying about what his roomate will think if
he finds out Holden used his bed after the fight with Stradlater.
My question is this: Does Holden change this attitude about people at the
end of the novel? He changes his attitude toward children - he no longer
wants to keep them running around in the field of rye and all, he thinks we
have to let them try to grab for the gold ring even if they fall off and
hurt themselves (when Phoebe's on the carousel). Does this mean he changes
his mind about adults too?
Whew! Long post. Hope I don't sound like a phony Holden would hate.
PS. Can someone give me a preview of the new Salinger book? Or have you all
discussed that already?
*************************************************************************
*Rob McEntarffer rmcenta@lps.esu18.k12.ne.us *
*Psychology/Philosophy Teacher "Too much obedience may ruin *
*Lincoln Public Schools, SE High character, dwarf the intellect, *
*2930 South 37th St. and paralyze the will of children *
*Lincoln, NE 68506 and adults - Harry Kirke Wolfe *
*************************************************************************
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