Catcher in the Rye by Aubree Hill

Theme: Phoniness

aubreehill07_1 — 2024-02-05 19:33:45 UTC

Holden takes off his hunting hat, which I believe gives him the feeling of protection and gives him that wall of isolation from the world around him. Shortly after, Holden meets a woman who is the mom of one of his old classmates from Pencey Prep, he lies about his name. Holden furthermore lies about his feelings for her son, speaking righteously of him, when he thinks he's a bastard. I believe Holden is portraying phoniness as a result of his attempts to escape reality.

Theme: Sexuality

aubreehill07_1 — 2024-02-06 19:32:07 UTC

When Holden got to his hotel, he was watching the people around him and judging them for being perverts. Holden calls an ex-stripper and invites her for cocktails with the intent of being intimate with her. He reveals that he was going to give her a phony name, but he couldn't think of one. The ex-stripper Faith declines his offer because it was too late and offers to meet him the next day, and Holden declines her offer and says he's only free tonight. I think Holden is projecting his sexuality onto Faith because he had promised himself not to fool around with random girls, but he keeps breaking his promise to himself.

Adolescence

aubreehill07_1 — 2024-02-06 19:33:47 UTC

Holden meets three girls at a nightclub and tries to get their attention and dance with them. Holden tried to make himself seem more mature to impress the girls. He started asking the girls about themselves and continued to make conversation. The blonde girl he is dancing with is not even engaging in the conversation with him and doesn't hear him multiple times. I believe this makes Holden feel embarrassed and makes him bitter. Holden was trying so hard to impress this girl and act mature, when she just made him look stupid.

aubreehill07_1 — 2024-02-15 03:41:07 UTC

I believe Holden will find out where the ducks go because it is something he constantly brings up through these chapters. I also think Holden will become more depressed because he is putting off his feelings and projecting them onto other people.