The Catcher in the Rye Group

Question:

galinangel
galinangel
Student
College - Senior

Did Holdon really love and miss his family? Was he really a "dumb" in his family?

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Posted by galinangel on Wednesday June 17, 2009 at 10:14 PM and tagged with literature, the catcher in the rye.

Answers:

  1. herappleness
    herappleness Teacher
    Graduate School

    eNotes Editor

    Judging from his age and circumstance, Holden was not really a bad boy, just a boy who is bad on himself and holds extremely low self esteem. He takes it upon himself to a) create judgment on self and others, and b) create the judgment of others on himself so that he can take control of situations he cannot control, such as his growing up, or his maturity level.

    The respect he shows for his younger sister shows a capacity to love. When he describes his brother, although he says that writing for Hollywood has made him a "prostitute", he still gives us a good portrait of him as a very talented man.

    On and all, yes. He does have the need to love his family because he is a little kid at heart. A brat, and annoying kid, at that, but I hardly think that Holden would make it in the world without them.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/catcher-in-the-rye

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    Posted by herappleness on Thursday June 18, 2009 at 8:15 AM

  2. pechito
    pechito Student

    he did love his family, but it was hard for him because his dad was a lawyer that means he was out all the time and mom was all the time. and dont forget he loss his brother so it must it been hard for him.

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    Posted by pechito on Wednesday December 16, 2009 at 11:14 AM