The Catcher in the Rye Group

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marty30
marty30
Student
High School - 12th Grade

What are some examples of contradictory quotes from Holden in "The Catcher in the Rye"?

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Posted by marty30 on Thursday March 13, 2008 at 2:34 PM and tagged with characters, contradictions, holden, quotes, the catcher in the rye.

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  1. cybil Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    When Holden meets Sally for their date, he thinks: "The funny part is, I felt like marrying her the minute I saw her. I'm crazy. I didn't even like her much...all of a sudden I felt like I was in love with her."

    He claims that movies are "awful," "putrid," and "can ruin you," yet he fantasizes getting revenge against Maurice by thinking about getting shot and then ambushing Maurice just like in movies he'd seen.

    Holden says, "I don't think I could stand it if I had to go to war." But moments later he declares, "...I'm sort of glad they've got the atomic bomb invented. If there 's ever another war...I'll volunteer for it." 

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    Posted by cybil on Thursday March 13, 2008 at 5:28 PM