Catcher Chapters 17-19 by Kyle Kent

Scene 1

kentk2024 — 2024-04-29 21:49:59 UTC

"They didn't act like people and they didn't act like actors... They acted more like they knew they were celebrities and all" (Salinger 140). This impacted Holden because he thinks that everyone is fake and that no one is a truly authentic person. This mindset that Holden has also makes it harder to create any real connection with people.

Scene 2

kentk2024 — 2024-04-29 21:51:54 UTC

"What we could do is tomorrow morning we could drive up to Massachusetts and Vermont and all around there" (Salinger 146). Holden expresses his idea to Sally that they should run away together and never come back. This shows how Holden is trying to run away from all of his current problems by distracting himself with Sally and this trip, which would only make Holden's problems worse in the long term.

Scene 3

kentk2024 — 2024-04-29 22:03:33 UTC

"Anyway, I gave old Jane a buzz again, but her phone didn't answer, so I had to hang up" (Salinger 151). This continues to show Holden's emotional attachment to Jane and how although he normally shuts many people out, he cares about Jane as a person so much that he consistently wants to be with her. Holden's openness about his liking of Jane shows how she is a special person in Holden's life and how she is a large factor that can change the way that Holden is feeling.

Scene 4

kentk2024 — 2024-04-29 22:13:15 UTC

"When they were all finished and started going out the boxes again, you could tell they could hardly wait to get a cigarette or something" (Salinger 152). This impacted Holden because he couldn't think of how beautiful and angelic the ceremony was. Instead, all Holden could think about was how depressed all the actors were and it was an all act. The way that Holden thinks here shows his negative outlook on life and how he struggles to ever see the good in a situation.

Scene 5

kentk2024 — 2024-04-29 22:22:20 UTC

"You know what the trouble with me is? I can never get really sexy-I mean really sexy-with a girl I don't like a lot. I mean I have to like her a lot.... My sex life sucks (Salinger 163). Holden explains one of his values of not getting with a girl if he does not truly like her. While this is a good value to have, it causes him to become even more depressed as he does not get many girls. His instinct to be a good person in his mind is actually making him more depressed in this aspect of his life.

Scene 6

kentk2024 — 2024-04-29 22:29:45 UTC

"Supposing I went to your father and had him psycho-analyze me and all," I said. "What would he do to me? I mean what would he do to me? (Salinger 164). For the first time in the book, Holden is beginning to realize that there may be something wrong with him. He acknowledges the fact that he may have a mental health disorder and he wants someone to help him with his problems, showing growth in Holden's character.

Scene 7

kentk2024 — 2024-04-29 22:35:27 UTC

"Have just one more drink," I told him. "Please. I'm lonesome as hell-no kidding" (Salinger 165). Soon after admitting that he may have a mental health disorder, Holden also admits that he is extremely lonely, which is a big step for Holden. By admitting this, Holden can now take a step in the right direction to getting the help that he needs. Holden's realization of his problems also says a lot about his development as a character, which may cause him to change the way he acts in certain situations in the future.

Final Analysis

kentk2024 — 2024-04-29 22:48:42 UTC

Throughout this chapter, I noticed Holden go through a very difficult tough stage of his life of feeling very depressed in nearly situation he was in. However, by the end of these chapters, I noticed Holden's character completely change for the better as he finally can admit that he is lonely and may have mental health problems. This matters as it shows Holden is becoming more aware of who he is, which means he is also more capable of turning his life around for the better. Although it seems like there is nothing good going for Holden right now, him opening his eyes to the fact that he may need is the best thing that could have happened for him and I believe that it will lead Holden to turning his life around and living the life that he has wanted to be able to live throughout the whole book thus far.