Dear AP students:
First, in the previous day's entry I asked you to
read the passage in which Holden Caulfield thinks about certain exhibits in the
Natural History Museum and determine the passages' significance. I find it
interesting that Holden, at the age of 16, looks back
"nostalgically." To be nostalgic is to look back in a
sentimental or longing way. What does his looking back nostalgically
mean? Who usually looks back nostalgically?
Second, here is one literary term I want you to become
familiar with as we study literature. The term is
"archetype." The word "archetype" refers to an
original model of a person, the ideal example, or prototype. Archetypes are the
first of their kind. Other characters that follow in subsequent novels resemble
the original or archetype character. Literary archetypes are often referred to
in essays or other novels/poems as shorthand to quickly describe someone.
Let me give you some examples of literary
archetypes...representing the "young passionate couple" is Romeo and Juliet...the
overly ambitious Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare's Macbeth represents "female
ambition run amok"... and the monster Frankenstein is the archetype of all
other "monsters created by man's science." The character of
Ulysses is the archetype of the "hero on a quest."
Insofar as Catcher in the Rye is concerned, Holden
Caulfield is the archetype for rebellious, mixed up American teens. We see
other rebellious teens in such subsequent novels as The Outsiders and
most recently in some of the characters in the Twilight series. In pop culture,
the archetype presented by Holden Caulfield picked up steam due to Elvis and
the actor James Dean. In fact, one of James Dean's movies was titled Rebel
Without a Cause.
Last, I just want to remind everyone to complete your double entry journals.
You should have 20 entries,, and the entries should be done as you read
the book, not at the end--all in one night. The double entry journal is
due the first day back at school!!!!
People who look at things nostalgically are people who have special memories concerning the object or place and misses the sentiments they felt at the time. Nostalgia usually comes with pleasant memories - especially those they wish to feel once more.
ReplyDeleteWhen he was looking nostalgically in the museum, Holden was reminiscing his past as a young child venturing in the museum with his class. The way he illustrates his experience in the museum begins with the things he appreciated at the time, creating the feeling of longing. He recalls that his teacher, Ms. Aigletinger and says, "She never got sore, though" despite the kids making loud noises by dropping their marbles on the museum floors. He also remembers a witch doctor in the corner of the museum, and how he told them not to touch them but, "always said it in a nice voice, not like a goddam cop or anything."
From these texts, I was able to notice that Holden missed the kind, gently ways the people approached him with when he was a child. As he grew up, the society expected him to become the strong, ideal man; however, Holden misses the time when everyone was very gentle and benevolent to him. The age of 16 at the time was not considered with the same perspective people have today, so there was much more responsibility placed on Holden. Nevertheless, Holden did not want the responsibility and was unhappy with his current life, causing him to look nostalgically at the museum - a reminder of the past he would like to go back to.
When Holden looks back nostalgically, he longs for his childhood. The museum makes Holden feel stationary, like everything is just perfect. He embodies a frozen and infinite world due to his fear of change and unpredictability. Holden likes simplifying and categorizing everything, and in a world of constant change, he is unable to do so. Although Holden holds onto the thought of the museum never changing, he realizes that he changes. That people change. Soon he has the epiphany that nothing ever stays the same, which is why Holden refuses to go into the museum. I believe Salinger uses the museum as a symbolic barrier between Holden's past and present. He realizes that those good memories he had that were making him nostalgic were now gone. It is quite odd for me to see a 16 year-old boy being so nostalgic. When I think of someone being nostalgic, I usually picture someone who is up there in age. Someone who is older has a lot more to be nostalgic about because they have had more experiences and times they wish they could get back. I can definitely see how the archetype for Holden Caulfield is the rebellious yet mixed up American teen. This archetype has stood the test of time as we've seen in The Outsiders and even the stereotypes for teens today.
ReplyDelete-Justin Bleisch
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DeleteI strongly concur with the post made by Justin Bleisch. The museum represents Holden's wistful afflction to return to childhood. He is ill-equipped for the real world and unable to think wisely about the future and its long term effects. Holden cherishes the Natural History Museum because despite everything that has changed in his life, the museum always remained the same. Holden refuses to go inside because he is afraid that the interior of the museum may have changed.
DeleteAdults are generally prone to bittersweet longing. You feel nostalgic when you miss your childhood. This feeling is generally triggered by your senses that brings back fond memories for a few short moments.
The spirit of Holden Cualfield haunts the United States till this very day. I agree with Jordan Bleisch that Holden Caulfield resembles the "rebellious, yet mixed up" American teenager.
-Briana Levett
I would like to disagree with Justin because I see nostalgia as something imminent in every period of one's life, even more by the hormone driven thoughts of a teenager. Much like Holden, I (and probably most people), connect memories with feelings. When speaking of the museum he also speaks of how it does not seem to change, but then experiences discomfort at the idea that everything else does indeed change, stating that "Certain things they should stay the way they are. You ought to be able to stick them in one of those big glass cases and just leave them alone." (158). Him viewing his memories in this manner can be viewed as his fear of change. Because when he was younger he did not have to deal "phonies" he looks back at this time happily; so much so even that here he begins to get more and more depressed because of all the changes that he has had to deal with and as a result decides that he would no go in there for a million bucks.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I can say about Holden being an Archetype is that he is mirrored everywhere in today's society. (Even seen in his sister but I won't get ahead of the blog posts) before thinking too much of the time period, I saw Holden as a common teenager with rebellious issues. Then however, I began to think about his descriptions of others and they are extensively different from himself. Everyone according to him is a phony yet everyone is the same. Him acting out at sixteen and doing whatever he pleases is something not seen at the era but that is now a legacy in popular literary characters.
- Rodrigo Blanco (for the previous post)
ReplyDeleteNormally people who look back nostalgically are those who are nearing the golden years of their lives, the older bunch, ironically, when Holden looks back nostalgically on his own life, he is sixteen at the time, and I think this fits in well with his archetype. It all makes sense if you really think about it, Holden yearns for the simpler times of his early childhood, he wishes that he had more freedom instead of roaming through the halls of some fancy prep school all of his life. I believe that Holden has become a cynic of sorts, he has outgrown his young mind, he has matured in ways that not many teens do, this is why he looks back at his past nostalgically, I also believe his late younger brother, Allie, may be the cause of this as well.
ReplyDelete-Morgan Buell
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DeleteI agree with the notion that the reason he looks back on his childhood is primarily because he misses being care free. At the age of 16 he is now presented with challenges such as interacting with people he considers "phony". He also doesn't like the fact that he must figure out what to do with his life. A challenge he has not proven capable of doing light of his four expulsions from expensive boarding schools. I also agree that a reason he could have been looking back nostalgically in remembrance of his brother.
DeleteAllie's death greatly affected Holden and perhaps contributed to the creation of a cynical character as mentioned above. Take for example how Allie was mentioned on three separate occasions. As his younger-self there was no emotional pain affecting him to the extent his brother's death has. Thus he longed for innocence and not being exposed to the harsh reality of adulthood.
Nostalgia is defined as "a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past". Usually adults are seen getting nostalgic but teens like Holden can also be nostalgic about their childhood. By definition, nostalgia isn't only for adults. I get nostalgic about my childhood as well. Holden wants to return to his childhood where everything was simpler and innocent like the children in the museum. Like the exhibits in the museum, he doesn't want time to pass.
ReplyDeleteHolden is obviously a staple of the rebel archetype and has opened the path for many other teen rebels. I think that in my journal I compared him to Kanji Tatsumi from the video game Persona 4 because he also shared the rebel archetype and has hidden depths like Holden.
~Sofia Alduenda
I want to agree with my peers about the definition of nostalgia and what it meant in the scenario where Holden was in the museum. At first, I also saw the surface meaning of this scene. Caulfield was looking back at his childhood, where no one treated him as a n adult, where he had no responsibilities, where teachers did not talk down to him for doing something wrong, as Damhee mentioned about the teacher not responding to the class when they made noise with their marbles on the museum floor. He misses the days where he did not have to deal with the harshness of society, such as the attitudes of the guys he calls phonies. Having mental issue did not matter as much back then because it did not affect important things in his life. He was able to get away with being different.
ReplyDeleteMr. Rodriguez asked who usually looks back nostalgically? My answer to that would be someone who had great moments in the past, and is currently hitting a rough patch. Typically, those people look back on their old times and wish they were present times again. I, myself, can relate to this idea. I wish I were a little girl again, playing at the park or getting books from Barnes and Noble because I had time to play and read for fun. But now all I have is constant homework and practice. I do wish i was younger again. I feel like back in his childhood days, our narrator did not have to deal with his mental issues as often as he does now, when he has stepped in the real world.
Going back to what I mentioned above about the surface meaning of the passage, I also feel like I have discovered a deeper one as well. I thought maybe that Holden's distinction between his sweet childhood and his bitter adulthood is similar to how society changed in the 1900s after the world wars and the economic issues that arose. Society took a downturn: young people began to rebel, the commonwealth spoke out against the army, people exposed the government's lies, and attitude changed. People were more bitter and the world was just more unforgiving. The museum is the fine line between how American culture used to be before the wars occurred. I may be wrong, but this whole scene may be a metaphor for the changing America throughout the 1900s. People looked back nostalgically on the old days as the router new ones approached.
-Negin Mohtashemian
I would like to infer that Holden Caulfield's nostalgically shows that he does not want to let go of his past when things were going well (when his younger brother Allie was still alive). He continues to reminisce his childhood when he seemed to be happier and content with his life. I agree with Justin Bleisch that the museum made Holden feel better and he felt reassured that everything was perfect. He never truly has felt satisfied and happy with his life and he continues to wish everything was like how it was before. To answer Mr. Rodriquez question about who usually looks back nostaligically, I believe that someone who is currently having a hard time and wishes for hope looks back to good times and wishes for it back. As my peers have already said, I too can relate to this because when times are tough, I constantly wish I could go back in time. I can agree that Holden Caulfield is the archetype for rebellious, mixed up teenagers. Many teenagers nowadays can simply relate to how Holden feels and the reason as to why he does things.
ReplyDelete-Camryn Ferrer
Nostalgia is a yearning for the past. In this case Holden has a feeling of nostalgia brought up by the belief that his life was better throughout his childhood than it is right now. Holden sees children as perfect, innocent, and pure and when he talks about Phoebe, Allie or the boy he hears singing "catcher in the rye" he speaks fondly of them unlike any other characters in the novel. He dreams about himself saving children from falling off a cliff in a way to save them from growing up into an adult world of "phonies'".
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion this is the reason he is the archetype for rebellious teens is that he is frightened by the thought of growing up and believes that by being kicked out of school he will hinder his growth into adulthood. When speaking of the museum, I think that Holden enjoys it so much because unlike people and his life, the displays have not changed since his childhood. This appeals to Holden's desire to stop time and remain in childhood. He can also act as an archetype to his society because he has a different viewpoint on life than most teenagers or adults would have coming from privileged backgrounds. Instead he feels he is on the loosing side because he is alone and no one understands him.
I see the museum as a picture of perfection for Holden. In a way, his wish is to stop time in order to avoid adulthood. Stopping time is the exact purpose of a museum. Holden can draw a parallel to the way nothing in the museum ever changes to how he wishes that his responsibilities never change. It does seem rather strange that Holden looks back at his experiences in the museum with nostalgia as we normally associate this emotion with older people. It is contradictory because at the first read through, it suggests that Holden is growing up too fast and is mature, when that is not the case. People who are nostalgic feel as if their past was better than their present. I believe that Holden has these feelings of nostalgia because he does not learn from his experiences, but instead keeps them in heart and those experiences makes him more against the society. The longer he lives, the more anger he builds and the more he is torn down. This makes his past seem better and better in comparing them to the pile-up of bad experiences he can not let go of or become a better person from. I believe that Holden is an archetype as he was the first to openly judge people. Like Mr. Rodriguez mentioned in an earlier blog post, teenagers of the 1950's were meant to be seen, not heard. Although, Holden openly expresses his rude, harsh opinion. This is seen all over in today's society as judgement is so prominent.
ReplyDelete-Sarah Schumacher
I believe that Holden looking back nostalgically refers to the happier times in his life, possibly before his brother Allie died. It seems that Allie's death was the start of Holden's depressive state. Holden additionally reminisces about his past especially with Jane and Allie as well as other characters in the novel. One who tends to be nostalgic is one who reflects upon their past more than their present or future. Usually when one is nostalgic, they look upon happier moments of their life because they miss them. In my opinion, those who usually look back on their lives nostalgically are depressed and yearn for the joy previously felt in past place, time, or situation.
ReplyDeleteHolden Caulfield definitely represents the archetype for rebellious, mixed up teenagers. Salinger characterizes Holden and one who is aggressive, judgmental, and depressed. Furthermore, Holden also struggles with the decision between being childish and growing up. Holden portrays Americans teenagers today because most of us share feelings similar to Holden's. Being a teenager encompasses many challenges and I feel many of us can relate to Holden, whether it be losing a loved one or recollecting happier memories from the past. Salinger emphasizes Holden's character in order to to illustrate that he is hurting and his need for help is unnoticed. Holden character warns readers of the misconceptions given in society and teaches readers hypocrisy and phoniness are inevitable. Holden's significance of being the "catcher in the rye" suggests his desire to preserve innocent children from falling into the phoniness of our world.
-Micah Rodriguez
I believe that the reason that Holden Caulfield reminisces so frequently is because he is afraid that at the age of sixteen there is very little time left before he too becomes corrupted by the falsity of the society he so deeply despises. To my knowledge it has not yet been mentioned, but everyone that the protagonist resents because of their inability to behave true to their personality for fear of being ostracized by their peers regarding popular culture is of a certain age. As stated by a number of my classmates in several earlier postings, one of the major recurring themes emphasized throughout the novel is innocence, and it seems that in the main character's mind, following the achievement of a certain age, not only does the purity embodied by childhood escape, but people begin to embrace the "phoniness" of 1950s society no matter their personal inclinations. It is for this same reason that no one other than Phoebe and Allie are discussed in the story who are younger than Holden. Similarly, it appears that due to his fervent drive to conduct himself in a mature fashion coupled with his explicit contempt for the "phony" behavior exhibited by most young men and women, there is a continual sense of inconsistency that dominates Holden's persona.
ReplyDeleteIt seems as though the fear of the future in regards to both his academics and his character drives Holden Caulfield to constantly look to the past as a means of tethering his mind to a place where he remains unchanged. It can also be inferred that because no new cultural phenomena are introduced to more rural areas lacking theaters, record shops, and upscale clothing stores, people tend to maintain a sincerity concerning their personality. This would explain the protagonist's insistence on moving to more secluded regions like Vermont as well as his need to bring those he cares for such as Sally Hayes and Jane Gallagher so as to ensure they too remain unaffected by the evils of urban society. While author J. D. Salinger does establish one of the great, infamous literary archetypes of the twentieth century, he successfully identifies numerous problematic features in modern society which in some cases cause individuals to conduct themselves in a false manner and subsequently corrupt the purity of life itself.
-Quentin Cruz-Boyer
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ReplyDeleteHolden looks back nostalgically at the good moments he had during what he considers his childhood. He remembers the field trips to the Natural History Museum, his moments with his younger brother Allie, and even a fun evening at Pencey with his friends Robert Tinchener and Paul Campbell. Holden has considered his life up to this point as his childhood, but now he is feeling the pressure of growing up. The nostalgia that Holden is feeling means that he is recognizing that he has to become an adult. It is strange that Holden is feeling nostalgia at such a young age, because I would expect an adult in their fifties or more to feel this. Usually the people that feel nostalgia are adults that are going through hard times and wish to be in the better times of their youths. Also, Holden does seem to be the archetype of a rebellious teenager because after the publication of the Catcher in the Rye is when other books and movies started to show teenagers as rebellious and mixed up.
ReplyDelete-Cynthia Rosas
Holden's nostalgia at the young age of sixteen points to desire to grow up. In his present he is not sure of who is is, or wants to be, so he looks to his past, and his memories. Frequently Holden thinks back to his childhood, when his brother was alive, describes him and how great of person he was. And for such a critical young man it is surprising but also reveals that he does have a loving and caring side for his family, as he also thinks back to his times with his younger sister Phoebe and how great she is. Holden to me seems homesick, a boy who has had to deal with lose, as one of his brothers passed and another is in Hollywood.( he call his a phony however I feel as if he just misses him) and he was at boarding school away from his sister and parents. Holden's experiences at a young age and having to essentially take care of himself while he is constantly away from home, has aged him an given him maturity far from his age.
ReplyDelete-Janelle Stradford
When people look back nostalgically, it usually means that they miss something from that memory. Also, the people I see who experience nostalgia are adults since they look back to their younger years and see how easy it used to be. However, teenagers can be nostalgic too, like how Holden is. I agree with Justin that Holden looking back nostalgically means that he longs for his childhood. Throughout the story we can already tell that Holden has trouble trying to grow up. He is afraid of growing up so he displays immature and childish behavior as the story goes on. He is protective over his childhood qualities and doesn’t want to abandon them when he drifts into adulthood. Holden reminisces the time when he went to the Natural History Museum when he was younger because it demonstrates how everything in the museum was still the same today. Holden’s archetype for rebellious, mixed up American teens has been seen in many other stories and movies. Holden’s character represents teens in today’s society because they’re confused, disobedient, and judgmental.
ReplyDelete-Paola Priela
Holden looks back in the history museum passage merely when he was 10, during his elementary school field trips. While normally looking back through a nostalgic lens is reserved for people in their senior years looking back at good memories of the past, especially their childhood, Holden on the other hand looks back only for 6 years prior to the events of the book. There's obviously many reasons why a person may look back nostalgically, one being to look back at better times in times of depression. Holden throughout the course of the novel goes on a somewhat emotional roller coaster, at times feeling happy-go-lucky such as his meeting with the two nuns or his midnight rendezvous with Phoebe, yet at other times finding himself drinking his sorrows away or fantasizing a total cutoff from society. During this point, of course, Holden attempts to look for his sister Phoebe for solace.
ReplyDeleteAnother interesting take on why Holden may be looking back is due to concerns of coming close to death. You may hear sometimes that when a person comes close to dying they "see their life flash before their eyes." While Holden is certainly not under attack or such, there are certainly some undertones of health issues surrounding him. For instance, the beginnings and end of the novel give off some undertones of Holden telling his story from a hospital of some sorts, while in the latter half of the novel Holden recalls finding a magazine in Grand Central Station, quickly coming to the fact that he "figured out I [Holden] was getting cancer" (254). This is of course a wild speculation, but I think it's an interesting point to make considering the fact that the entire novel is told from the future, after these events have already transpired.
-Kyle Mapanao
Usually it's elders who look back nostalgically or people who have achieved great success look back nostalgically to reflect on their journey. However, Holden reflecting back nostalgically reveals how depressed he is with his current situation. He always reflects back when he was in better times. He's very sad about how his life is rite now and tries to comfort himself by reminding him about happier times. An Example Include when he talks about Phoebe.
ReplyDeleteI think Kyle Manapao brings up a fantastic point with his second paragraph. It opened a new way of interpreting Holden's nostalgia. We do get the feeling that Holden wants to end his life at parts of the story. Like when he talked about how he wanted to jump from the building. So I do also think that Kyle's interpretation that his nostalgia may be a way of comforting his inevitable downfall is very true.
I for one love looking back at my past memories and experiences, (I think I am going to make a great old lady) to remember those carefree days as a child with no stress of due dates and tests. For Holden, who represents the archetype of a rebellious teen, to be nostalgic makes sense because he wants to go back to those days as well, when he did not fear death and lived with his family. I think we all can agree that the passing of Allie is what ultimately incited Holden’s troubled and rebellious attitude, I wonder if because of that he no longer understood the reason for living since somebody so kind and loved could die. Just like the Eskimos in the museum, Holden wants to stay in that past when he was innocent and Allie was still alive, when he was not depressed with life. Allie’s death opened Holden’s eyes to the fragility of life and I believe that is also why he desires to preserve the innocence of children and his kid sister Phoebe, so that they won’t have to look at their future with dismay and at their past with longing like him.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePeople who usually look back nostalgically are either facing a life or death situation or are simply enduring a tough phase. In Holden's case, looking back nostalgically means looking back at memories when things were not phony. I have noticed that many of the things Holden declares as phony have assumed much responsibility. For example, Holden views his own brother, D.B., as phony because he is a part of Hollywood and now has major expectations to fulfill and many barriers to break. Therefore, the museum brings back a nostalgic feeling for Holden because nothing about that place was phony. Holden simply remembers the feeling of being a child and having no expectations or responsibilities and carefree about the future. In fact, it is more for that aforementioned feeling that Holden is nostalgic for and desires to once again have.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, I believe Holden calls his sister "Old Phoebe" because he admires her. Usually, it is expected for teenagers to want to grow up and be like the old greats who have walked upon this earth. However, I feel like Holden would prefer to be like his sister Phoebe, who is innocent, young, and stress free, which is the reason to why he attributes the word "Old" to Phoebe's name. This speculation is different but I wander if anyone else also sees the nostalgic feeling that Holden gets in "Old Phoebe".
I certainly have regarded Holden as the archetype of teenagers because he is the first modern teenager. Salinger conveyed a hidden secret that many teens probably have had even before his book- that being the fear of growing up and not having an assured future. However, at the same time, it is this message that allows most of us to relate with and also feel some nostalgia to our own childhood.
-David Wilson
Holden nostalgic experience as he is brought back to his childhood museum reveals to him how grown up he is becoming. The certain exhibits at the museum brought Holden a feeling of innocence and recollection of when life was much easier. Anyone at any age can look back nostalgically upon a specific memory or experience that brings them a sense of longing. With nostalgic experiences I feel people are able to remember everything even to the smallest details like how Holden was able to remember his classmates and what they were like when his class went to the museum. I believe Holden wants that feeling he felt back when he was that kid at the museum, with now worries and only innocence and everything was familiar to him because nothing changed in the museum all the exhibits remained the same. He is fearful of change.
ReplyDelete-Jasmine Simmons
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ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, people who nostalgically look back long for something from their past. This is the case for Holden. This is seen when he writes Stradlater's essay about Allie's glove. By Allie not being physically around anymore, Holden finds that his glove is something that he can hold on to that symbolizes his brother. Holden even mentions, "You'd have liked him. He was two years younger than I was, but he was about fifty times as intelligent. He was terrifically intelligent. His teachers were always writing letters to my mother, telling her what a pleasure it was having a boy like Allie in their class." Because Holden could not think of anything to write for Stradlater's essay in regards to describing a room or house, he decides to write about something that he knows. Holden admits that he was not particularly good at describing rooms or houses, resulting in a composition about something that meant a substantial significance to him. This being his brother's glove. He goes into detail about how his brother would write poems in green ink on his glove so that he could read them while on the field. He also discusses how Allie used to be and what he remembers him by. In contrast to the opening line of the book, Holden becomes sentimental when nostalgically looking back at memories of Allie.
ReplyDeleteAnother time we could look at is when Holden he was at the museum. You would think that the topic of nostalgia was ironic considering his attitude throughout the book and how he did not want to go into detail about his "lousy childhood." While at the museum, it is apparent that he has fear. This fear can be characterized as fear of change or the fear of adulthood. He finds comfort in the museum because it provides comfort and familiarity, however, he is unsettled with the fact that each time he goes back, he is different each time. By Holden having his moments of nostalgia, we are able to witness his evolving mindset and perception of everything.
-Reese McElmoyl
Usually, people that look back nostalgically are elderly people who have already fulfilled their lives and are remembering the happiest and most important parts of their lives. It is interesting that at just 16, Holden is extremely nostalgic when it comes to the museum and his childhood in general. This implies that Holden desperately wants to be a child again, and not have to deal with the complicity of being a teenager. This is because teenagers are usually in the middle of adulthood and childhood. There are some things we have outgrown, and others that we are not yet old and mature enough to do, but we are still expected to behave as adults. Holden dislikes this complicity, and instead wishes that he could be a child again and live his live freely without having to be responsible for anything. I also find myself looking back nostalgically at my childhood, because it was much simpler and their is no stress or responsibilities. Children have a pure and carefree way of living life and making the most out of every day no matter the circumstances. I believe that Holden longs to feel that way again, and be a kid again like his sister Phoebe and Allie.
ReplyDelete-Daniela Nolasco
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, people his age should be looking forward to the future and what is to come, whether it be dreams of traveling, family, or career. The fact that he is looking back nostalgically, leads me to believe that he is searching for something that is missing in his life. Perhaps, that is the loss of his brother. It seems he does not want to move on in life without him, but eventually will need to find the strength and ability to do so. Holden is finding difficulty allowing himself to enjoy life and experience things and people. I believe this is as a result of his continued mourning for Allie. There may be a sense of guilt in being happy knowing that his brother was robbed of the life he could have had.
ReplyDeleteNostalgia refers to someone who looks back on the past with fondness, and it often comes from those who feel that they had it better than the currently do. Holden Caulfield, by all means, in his prime–he is young, intelligent (although his grades may not reflect this), and has money to as he pleases. As expressed by Ocean Zhou and Vanessa Hernandez, he should not be experiencing nostalgia. However, he is nostalgic for simpler times; times when he went to the museum with his youngest siblings, when he snuck a peak at a squaw's bosom simply out of curiosity. Nowadays, Holden is dropping out of various boarding schools, and does not have a substantial relationship with his parents (I assume so because of his reluctance to tell them about his dropping out, and his reluctance to stay home).
ReplyDeleteAs a teenager, things are constantly changing–your friendships, body, mindset, opinions, ideas, and relationships. Life is rarely stagnant, nor is this change always easy or comfortable. Holden's rebellious nature is a product of his surroundings, and thus, he fulfills the “rebellious teenager” archetype. He does things like lie to his parents, try to hire a prostitute (although only for conversation), and drink (although everyone knows he is under the legal age). While not everyone does this, Holden represents the American teenager. I am not saying that Holden is representative of the entire teenage population in America; rather, every teen has some way of rebellion that allows them to feel like they are in control.
- Zuri Smith
Contrary to what most of my peers have established, I do not believe that only adults or elderly are typically nostalgic. In my opinion, it is logical for any age group to be nostalgic about their past, and can begin as early as when a child has to transition into his or her teenage years. I myself catch myself looking back nostalgically on my earlier years, similar to Holden. As I mature, I begin to be more aware about my surroundings and the changes that I go through as I mature physically and mentally, such as having to face the 'real world,' in less than a year. This causes me to become nostalgic of more simpler times when my biggest concern was separating from middle school friends. Like myself, Holden looks back on his life nostalgically because he has encountered several hardships throughout his life, and struggles with the reality and concept of having to eventually grow out of his rebellious teenage self and become an adult.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the novel, I was able to relate to Holden several times, and can fully support the idea that Holden Caulfield is the archetype of teenagers. As mentioned previously, Holden's reminiscing self, as well as his apparent fear of growing up. This accurately portrays an archetype of teenagers because no matter what era teenagers grow up in, the fear of having to grow up and gain responsibility remains. Therefore, no matter how many decades pass, Holden will remain an archetype of teenagers.
-Jennifer Ma
Holden is nostalgic. Holden likes to look back to his memories because he likes to remember who he used to be and how carefree he felt before, sometimes we feel that people and our surrounding are changing but what we don’t noticed is that what is also changing is us. Holden likes to look back to his past when he was a kid and he had nothing to worry about or feel that he had a responsibility to be an example to Phoebe even if that was not fully what he lived for. Also, Holden likes to talk about how Phoebe is very mature for her age. In my opinion Phoebe is a normal kid that don’t cares what the world thinks about her and she does what she believes is the right thing to do. Usually when someone is nostalgic they are people that have lived most of their life and are old so they tried to relive the past to keep the feelings of their good memories. However, Holden is 16 years old for someone so young it feels as if he is lost in world that he would love to change and not be changed.
ReplyDelete-Carolina Estrada
Aside from Holden’s rebellious behavior I’m also quite fond of his nostalgic ways, mainly because I too have felt nostalgia at some points in my life. His nostalgia means that he longs for something that is not there anymore like his childhood, which is why he admired the museum so much because he had created sweet memories when he was kid going there. Usually the sweet memories are the ones that eventually turn bitter because you know there won’t be anything like that. I think Holden misses the times when his brother Allie was still alive, those times were much simpler, as a child you didn’t realize the differences between people due to money, religion, or social class. Usually people who are constantly looking back to the past are those who haven’t found any better memories, those who are nostalgic are usually those who don’t like change; in Holden’s case he doesn’t want to transition to an adult just yet. Personally, I think nostalgia hits a person once they meet a milestone in their life which requires them to let go of what they are used to. Such as us, we are entering the last year of high school, and lately I can’t help but remember the times where I had less responsibilities and worries.
ReplyDeleteSimiliar to what Jennifer Ma stated, I too believe age does not play a vital role in the feeling of nostalgia. The feeling of longing for the past may depend on previous events which may have happened over short, or long periods of time. Holden feels nostalgic during his visit to the museum due to the fact that he would visit during a very simple, easy time of his life. The times he would visit the museum were back when his brother Allie was still alive. Allie's death, as we have witnessed, deeply affected Holden's life in a negative way. Ever since the event, Holden's life took a turn for the worst. He now longs for the days when life was simple. When he allowed himself to feel comfortable, and was innocent. At such a young age, you are blind to the atrocities which are occurring around you, which I believe what Holden misses the most. Their innocence is portrayed when Holden explains how all the children would stop and stare at the women's exposed bosom. At such a young age, any signs of maturity fascinates you. Holden, upon returning to the museum, contains a very different attitude towards it than before. Like he stated previously, the museum does not change, but you do, which is evident. Before, his trips to the museum would be the highlight of his week, but now it reminds him of what used to be. Rather than making him ecstatic, it makes him nostalgic. Overall, age does not matter when it comes to longing for a past, which may have ultimately been better than the present, which is evident in Holden's life.
ReplyDelete-Noah Chavez
People who look back nostalgically are the ones who miss that which they are longing for. In Holden’s case, he longs for his childhood. He is always talking about how lousy his childhood was but I think, even though he doesn’t admit it, he really does miss it. Holden’s depressive character leads to him reminiscing about his memories a lot, more now that he is a teenager, who society is waiting to become and adult and therefore act like one.
ReplyDeleteCaulfield doesn’t want to become an adult or follow others’ standards or rules. He lives in a state of nostalgia, in which if he was given the opportunity, he will go back to his early stages of life. Holden admires and strives for innocence, and we can see that with Jane and his little sister Phoebe. He doesn’t want to kid around with Jane because of her innocent attitude while playing chess and liking her kings to be lined up. He doesn’t want to hurt Phoebe’s feelings and he admires how smart and pretty she is. He wishes he was like them and wants to go back to his childhood days.
-Paulina Quesada
Holden looks back nostalgically because it refers to his childhood and when he was the happiest in his life. For example, when he brings up memories about Allie, you can tell that back then he was happy. When he brought up Allie’s baseball glove it shows the love he had for his brother, before he died. He brings up Allie constantly throughout the novel and this shows that he misses him a lot and wishes that his death never happened. Another example is when Holden went down to the museum. While he was there he seemed to be happy and withdrawn from the issues that he suffered from. It was clear that the museum meant a lot to him when he saw that somebody had vandalized an exhibit and got angry. When Holden looks into his past nostalgically, I believe that he is trying to find something that he is missing that will allow him to be happy throughout the rest of his teenage and adult years.
ReplyDelete-Ayauna Cunningham
Holden looking back nostalgically means that he wishes he was at a simpler time in his life. This could be when his younger brother Allie was still alive, hanging out with Jane Gallagher or visiting the museums and observing the exhibits. Holden is afraid of becoming of an adult. To suppress his phobia looks back at the fond memories he had when he was younger. I also believe that is the reason to why Holden acts immature, he hopes to retain his childhood qualities.
ReplyDeleteI would say senior citizens are the ones that are looking back nostalgically since they have live a whole life. They can reminisce about all the fun they had when they were young or all the things they achieved when they became adults.
I think Holden does fit the rebellious teenager archetype. He is critical, aggressive and dejected. Throughout the novel, Holden says and does anything he wants. These types of actions are what teenages are known for. Holden also deals with various problems internally. A problem he faces is his alienation. His alienation shields him from feeling the same emotional pain when his younger brother died, however, it makes him feel depressed and lonely. The main conflict Holden is his refusal to grow up. Due to his cynical view, he sees adults around him as phonies and does not want to be like them. Holden instead wants to keep his child like qualities and protect other kids from losing their innocence; a catcher in the rye.
Rebellion has been a characteristic given to teenagers due to their maturing and discovery of their own ideals and opinions. Holden has been depicted as a growing teenager, with what he goes through can be a possible situation that other teenagers can or have gone through. Meaning Holden is a clear representation of a typical teenager, an archetype of what many can relate to. The scenarios that Holden experiences allow for the reader to understand that Holden has many aspects of him that define him as insecure and confused about the world around him. Having trouble staying in school, problems in dealing with his peers at those schools, confusion with his love life, Holden displays several typical situations that are easily relatable. In addition to that, Salinger gives describes Holden as innocent when he is met with Sunny the prostitute and can not follow through with his initial intentions.
ReplyDeleteAltogether, Holden gives off an aura of easy to relate to occurrences that let the readers have a sense of comfortabiliy and trust in the narrator. Although we can not entirely trust the narrator due to the fact that the novel is a retelling of past experiences, the fact that Holden has such a personality makes it easy to forget that trust was even an issue.
-Kyle Maravillas
DeleteHolden reminisces upon his times in the museum because he is a boy turning into an adult and people going through changes are more likely to become hit with nostalgia after realizing the changes and what they have lost. Holden is facing many changes in his life after being kicked out of Pencey, having a few encounters with friends and strangers, and missing his family. Holden realizes that things are not as they were when he was a child and now instead it is possible that Holden longs for the times that he explored the museum weekly with the rest of his young class. Holden as an archetype is very interesting as he managed to capture the nature of a rebellious and mood teenager. This realization is significant to me because I can very well see the similarities in this character to modern day characters and the stereotypes and tropes normally related to teenagers. This would include Holden’s rebellious side, his wanting to act like an adult through drinking and smoking, as well as his feeling of invincibility in how he proposes to Sally that he go to the west and make a living as a farmer together with her as they get married.
ReplyDeleteThe act of reminiscing or looking back nostalgically is usually associated with the elderly, as they are known to be sentimental over their memories that range from their childhood to the development of their personal achievements (ex. careers and families). Interestingly enough, the nostalgic person in this case happens to be a sixteen-year-old boy, who is definitely nowhere near being an elderly person. In fact, he probably rejects the idea of approaching maturity since he favors his childhood over his maturation. To answer Mr. Rodriguez’s question about the meaning of Holden’s nostalgia, I initially interpreted it as a way to emphasize Holden’s desire to return to the carefree and pure state of living that can be only achieved by clinging onto one’s youth. My assumption was correct, but I felt very enlightened as I perused through my peers’ posts and read their commentary because I did not quite realize the significance behind Holden’s description of his childhood: “lousy”. I remember seeing this description in the novel’s opening paragraph and telling myself to find out what exactly made his younger years so lousy, but the thought escaped as I went deeper into Holden’s story. Although, after reading the book and looking through earlier posts, it seems that the narrator actually felt a lot more appreciation for his childhood than he appeared to have, as shown by remarks such as “I get very happy when I think about it [the museum]”, and “She never got sore, Miss Aigletinger” on pages 155 and 156. There is also the memory of the partner system that his class had, where his partner often held his hand, all of which communicate images of guidance, care and gentleness. Yet, these nostalgic memories of the museum appear to be very bittersweet because they are memories that he cannot quite relive anymore, as he is grappling against the force of change in life as one grows up. This is a challenge that many teenagers experience, evidenced by the phases that teenagers go through in real life as well as the struggles that fictional teenagers also take after. Salinger’s early recognition of this internal dilemma puts his novel’s narrator on a pedestal as he is the archetype, the face of the “mixed up American teen”, as Mr. Rodriguez pointed out.
ReplyDeleteWhen Holden looks back nostalgically, he goes back to his memories when he was a kid about Phoebe's age and in the same situation. He also attended the museum just like his sister and this reminded him of how innocent, free, and unaware he was. Holden wants that back, he doesn't want to be the young and confused teen he is right now. People who look back nostalgically are individuals who have a really strong connection with a memory, object, or even a person in the past, who brought them joy and happiness but aren't part of their lives anymore.
ReplyDeleteHolden feels nostalgic because he knows he won't be a kid again. He won't do the same things he used to when he was a kid, such as going to museums and participating in fun activities. I also believe that in a way he regrets the things he has done and the things he hasn't done as well. When we were kids everything was much easier and simpler, however as teens there is so many new things we approach and learn about that it can be overwhelming. For example, when Holden goes to the hotel and he is hit by the guy who sent him the prostitute. Holden didn't have anyone to protect him or help him at any time. I think he also feels loneliness, as a kid you were never left alone, your parents were always watching over you, your teacher or the nanny. As teens, we are given more liberty and freedom to do whatever we want, sometimes this freedom can take over us like it did for Holden. He goes to bars, clubs, hotels, and his parents aren't even aware. I believe he misses he protection and warmth he had as a kid, this is why he looks back nostalgically.
Adding to what Marlenne has mentioned, i want to point out that Holden does illegal stuff that a teenager should not do and that is very rebellious. The fact that his parents are not aware of everything that he does is concerning. Holden might be upset with the wrong decisions that he has made but that does not change anything because what is done is done. Going back to the first chapter when Holden decided to not give us any personal information about his childhood i noticed something wrong because something must have happened to him so that he would tried to avoid talking about it. Ii do not think that his parents give him the love and affection but most importantly the attention he needs.
Delete-ayline ruelas
I agree with what Marlenne's has mentioned because, throughout the book we see how Holden alienates himself due to his severe depression that he has been facing. Holden seems to be lost with no one to guide him but himself as he make some rebellious choices that made his life even more chaotic than it already is. Although, he appreciates Phoebe more than anything as they both share innocent moments that were valuable to him due to recalling how happy and calm he actually was. According to the story, it made me realized that being a teenager is known to be considered as a difficult stage in life because, its were you either make good decisions or inaccurate decisions that can affect you in the long run. In chapter 24, it made me think that Mr. Antolini had a point as he stated to Holden, "there's a time and place for everything", meaning that there is a reason why rules existed. In other words, is to make Holden aware that as teenagers we should take it easy by thinking about our actions and knowing its outcome.
Delete-Alyssa Reyes
The way that Holden looks back nostalgically is because he misses his childhood, where it was excused to be silly and naive. Now that he is a young man he is forced to learn responsibility and be a hard worker. Also his life when he was a child might have been easier and better, as his younger brother was still alive and he had not been expelled from four different schools, his parents did not expect much of him since he would only be a child, and being curious was common feeling. All these factors attribute to his longing of a better childish time, where he is excused for his behavior. This museum is simply a symbol of that time and because it has not changed his memories stay the same.
ReplyDelete-Andrea Cruz
Holden is very confused and lost and is feeling at odds with himself towards the end of the book. people who feel nostalgic and look back in the longingly are usually unhappy with where they currently are and look back on fond memories of the past. they do this because they want to isolate themselves in the past so they don't have to face the present their dealing with. Holden admires the Eskimos because time is frozen for them and they never move, never change. they never have to face expulsion, or death, or depression as Holden has. i can also agree that Holden is an archetype for rebellious american teens because his situation is understandable. as a teen we are barely starting top make sense of the world and are basically thrown in without warning. Holden represents not just the mental state of young confused teenagers, but the emotional state as well. he is confused about who he is and has no idea what he wants to do with his life so he has no drive in school. i can personally relate to that as i've experienced that as well. his authenticity as a teenager at crossroads in life makes him a great archetype.
ReplyDeleteTypically, one would think that only elders would think nostalgically. However, Holden looking back at his childhood is not an unusual trend at his age. At 16, Holden was exposed to real life, just as most kids during their transition to adulthood. He lost his innocence as he was exposed to vulgar language, alcohol, and multiple deaths. During this time, I feel as if many kids at that age start thinking nostalgically because they realize that time flies while growing up. It is evident that Holden cherishes his childhood innocence and wishes he could relive it, as most of my peers already stated. While speaking about the museum he says, “I get very happy when I think about it. Even now.” I noticed that whenever he speaks about childhood memories or Phoebe, he suddenly becomes filled with joy. Most importantly when he watches Phoebe embracing her childhood in chapter 25, he says, “I felt so damn happy all of a sudden, the way old Phoebe kept going around and around. I was damn near bawling, I felt so damn happy, if you want to know the truth.” I believe that he reminisces over his childhood simply because his innocence was not tainted. Which is also the reason why he has the desire to keep Phoebe’s innocence intact. When he speaks about his own death he mentions not wanting her at his own funeral due to her age. He said, “The only good thing, I knew she wouldn't let old Phoebe come to my goddam funeral because she was only a little kid. That was the only good part.” He wants to ensure that she does not lose a portion of her innocence to seeing the death of a loved one as he did.
ReplyDelete-Mariza Zaratan
Holden nostalgic behavior gives him happiness which is something hasn't experiences in a while. He goes back to an age where none of the phonies exist to a place where he didn't mourn his brother. He surround himself in a place with no worries. He is relatable because when reflecting back on childhood no responsibilities and stress, which was also a life with no depression and death.
ReplyDeletewhen he's around children is unable to criticize them since they're polite, beautiful, smart, and innocent. Holden wants to associated that instead of those who annoy him or as he says the phonies. Old memories are is only realistic escape instead of his drinking and smoking. When he describes Pheobe as beautiful and smart that was something he once saw in himself, in talking to children there is another side of Holden that is considerate and gentle.
-Jasmine Rivas
I would like to write about Holden as the archetype for "rebellious, mixed-up American teens", as Mr. Rodriguez pointed out. Although not every American teenager has read or will read The Catcher in the Rye, its effect is widespread. As I read the novel, I often thought of young teenagers I knew who seemed to fit the description of Holden Caulfield nearly exactly. It seems as though many kids grow up with a certain vision of what it means to be a teenager- usually this is some mixture of sarcasm, cynicism, and a rebel-without-a-cause attitude. As these kids get older, many begin to force themselves to conform to what they think it means to be a teenager. When I see this happening, I always hope that these kids realize, sooner rather than later, that maintaining this attitude is exhausting and unnecessary. I know that I certainly do not want to end up like Holden- mad at myself, mad at the world, and eventually in such a bad state so as to end up in a mental facility. I think that, ultimately, Holden simply gets tired of forcing himself to be so drastically different from his peers. Because Holden is the archetype, this makes him the first teenager to be seen this way. Holden is making such an effort to be different from the world around him that he loses his sense of self in the process. This is not to say that The Catcher in the Rye is a cautionary tale against originality; I believe Salinger merely wished to convey the indomitable attitude of teenagers. The actions change, but the attitude remains the same. We as teens believe ourselves to be invincible, to be perennially right; I hope that most of us recognize that this is not always the case before we end up like Holden.
ReplyDeleteI feel as though Holden's feelings of nostalgia reveal his awareness of aging. Although nostalgia is often associated with older individuals such as senior citizens, his experience with it reveals that he is already disappointed with the present moment despite lacking maturity. I agree with Jasmine in that he experiences nostalgia to relive his youth, where his brother was still alive and he could be childish and carefree as opposed to depressed and unfulfilled.
ReplyDeleteIndividuals who usually look back nostalgically are older. These older individuals often believe that the world around them has changed beyond the point of understanding and yearn for simpler times. It would then make sense why Holden experiences nostalgia; he himself yearns for the innocence and simplicity of childhood as opposed to the frightening nature of adulthood.
As some of my classmates have argued, I believe that Holden reflects on his childhood at the Natural History Museum. Personally, when I think of nostalgia, I relate it to the elderly. Elderly people, I feel, are more nostalgic than younger people because as they are growing old, they have much to remember about their past. Similar to ourselves, as we get older and start our senior year, we remember the events of our high school experience. In the novel, Holden understands that he is growing up and might possibly turn into a phoney, however he finds pleasure in his childhood, and the time before he becomes an adult.
ReplyDeleteIt may be easy to label Holden Caulfield as an archetype for rebellious and cynical teenagers, however I personally believe that Holden is relatable to a broad amount of age groups. It could possibly be that Holden's actions are what give him the rebel label, however Holden has qualities that people other than teenagers can relate to. For example, Holden's desire to prevent children from becoming phonies is similar to how parents want to protect their children from danger. Also, Holden fights Stradlater when he forces Holden to write his paper for him and mentions Jane. This could be similar to how young kids or teens may stand up to bullies at school. Holden may only be seen as a rebellious teenager who despises the world, however there are certain parts of his character that prove he is universal.
When Holden walked through the Natural History museum, looking at the exhibits made him nostalgic of when he was a kid. He looks back on the times he was innocent, and did not have a worry in the world. Most people who look back nostalgically are usually adults or elderlies, which shows that Holden has experienced a lot for someone who is 16 years old. He has experienced failure and loss at a young age. While most people have a midlife crisis and begin to question life and existence when they are adults, Holden has already been doing these things.
ReplyDeleteI think that Holden is the Archetype for rebellious, mixed up American teens because he does not fit in with his peers. While everyone is planning their future, Holden doesn’t seem interested in his future, or doesn’t care what his future holds. His attitude seems to derive from the fact that he thinks everyone is a “phony”, so he is very independent and lonesome. Holden does not care that he is disobeying his parents or his teachers, because he doesn’t care about the consequences.
I found Holden looking back kind of comical. The people who are usually looking back nostalgically are the elderly who are looking back on their lives contemplating their mistakes and their accomplishments. So, picturing Holden standing in front of an exhibit contemplating his life is just funny in my opinion. However it is rather important to the novel because it reveals his longing to go back and how he is sort of uncomfortable in the present moment. He thinks of how he was then and compares it to his indecisiveness and lack of direction now.
ReplyDeleteAs for Holden’s archetype, it is a really interesting one. A rebellious, mixed up teen can be represented in so many different was and in various genres. Holden’s character is different than most other characters like him that I have read about. For example, in Twilight (as mentioned above), Bella finds her place amongst the vampires. In Divergent, Tris embraces her being divergent and sets out to survive and oppose the hunt for the divergent. Lastly, in The Hunger Games, Katniss becomes the Mocking Jay to oppose the capital. Unlike in those other books, Holden never really finds a purpose in this novel. It ends with him watching his sister on the carousel and then in a mental institution. The inability to find this purpose gives a sense of abruptness to the ending, as though the story was only half finished. These differences actually add depth and something new to the novel that makes it so iconic.
-Liam Brewster
To me those who usually look back nostalgically are those who have aged a lot among us. They know what is easy and what is difficult and the elderly look back in time in wishing that they were back in school because they didn't have to work or wishing they were in their twenties so that they had their strength to walk without support, even young adults wish they were younger because they know from their experiences life will only get harder. I can say for myself I miss the elementary school years where there was no homework over the weekend. Friday was called fun friday because we played for one full hour without doing any work. Homework wasn't as hard as solving if a parabola is an equation if flipped over the equation y=x but it was 1x1=?. Words weren't as long as five syllables but they were two syllables. Science was about discovery not making up your own theories. History focused on now, not what happened five thousand years ago. We also got ten hours of sleep, not five hours.
ReplyDeleteTo me archetype is definitely a new word but it does seem to reflect well on Holden. He seems to be the first as a rebellious teenager because Ackley was the usual weird teenager who many people pick on. Stradlater seems like the jock many other people would like. Sally is the girl that people would go out with because she talks with many guys. Then Jane is that girl that guys search for. D. B. is the teen that has become very successful and Phoebe is the innocent little sister. Holden would be the first rebel in the context of the book and he seems much more interesting than all the other characters.
Usually, adults are the ones who look back on their past with a longing attitude. It does not, however, surprise me that Holden is reflecting on the museum in such a manner because his character has w]always seemed a more mature one , like he is ahead of his time.Holden looking back nostalgically shows that he yearns for the innocence he feels as though he has lost through the years. He longs to feel the same way about the world as he did when he was a young naive child . This also could be due to the fact that Holden is telling us this story as an adult looking back anyway,but there is no real way to tell.
ReplyDeleteUpon learning what the definition of the word archetype is, it is clear that Holden full heartedly embodies the archetype of a young, misguided, and rebellious teenager in America today. He is very easy to relate to as many of the struggles and judgements he passes upon people are similar to the ones that are passed by teenagers in 2016. So to speak, Holden is very ahead of his time.
I believe that Holden is stuck in the past because he realizes that he is growing up into a young man and wants to enjoy the rest of his few years as a kid. He seems to act childish because he has a fear of growing up, of having to take on the responsibilities of an adult. We see that he dwells on memories of Allie and sometimes he remembers his other brother, D.B. Holden even goes as far as visiting his brother's grave late in the book. Usually, adults are the ones to have nostalgic thoughts, but it seems as if Holden has never had the chance for a normal life. I do believe that Holden is an archetype of a rebellious, misguided teen because of his flunking out his schools, becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol.
ReplyDeleteThough I understand what Jennifer Ma is saying about how any person of any age can be nostalgic, I have to disagree. Personally, when I try to picture anyone looking back at their actions or what happened in their childhood and experiencing a certain longing for those memories, I picture adults or the elderly. At the very least, I picture someone who has gone through rough times and come out of it feeling lost or alone.
ReplyDeleteFor Holden to be standing in a museum picturing his childhood with a feeling of nostalgia, it seems rather sad. He is a teenager of about 16-17 who has been unable to really connect with anyone except for his little sister, who has flunked out of multiple prep schools, who is unwilling to grow up. When I was reading the passage about his reminiscing, I could not stop thinking about how sad it is that he has not lived most of his life yet, but he is already looking back and wishing for the past. There may have been more responsibility snd expectations placed upon teenagers of Holden's era compared to today's teenagers, but the idea is still the same.
-Sophia Dugan
Holden looking back nostalgically most likely mean something has changed, he feels himself growing older and realizes he is growing older while at the same time leaving his youth behind. Holden strongly values the wonder, innocence, carelessness, and naivety that comes with childhood. He often become wistful when remembering that actions of children he has encountered before. When he meets the two boys in front of the museum he becomes quite amused when one of them blatantly pulls up his zipper in public without any embarrassment. He later recalls his own time at the museum with happiness. Holden feels great sadness at leaving his childhood behind and having to become an adult especially at the time in his life when he is neither. This mix of sadness and happiness is later illustrated when Holden is soaked in the rain nearly crying at the sight of his little sister on a carousal ride. This picturesque view of childhood right before Holden further reminds Holden of the coming adulthood and that he isn’t a child anymore no matter how much he wishes he could remain one.
ReplyDelete-Atlantis Rodriguez
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alfredo in the sense that Holden is stuck on the past. I feel that it has to do with him not wanting to lose the innocence he once had. Reminiscing only means that you are going through a difficult time period and you are looking back at a time when everything was easier. This comes to play because Holden is sixteen, he’s no longer a child, having said that Holden become the archetype of a typical teenager. Not listening to rules and doing whatever he pleases. But I believe that Holden is acting how he is because he’s trying to rebel simply because he’s trying to preserve what little innocence he has left.
On the contrary to other characters who take the archetype of being rebellious teenagers, they usually rebel to diminish the innocence. Which is completely different to Holden in my point of view.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alfredo in the sense that Holden is stuck on the past. I feel that it has to do with him not wanting to lose the innocence he once had. Reminiscing only means that you are going through a difficult time period and you are looking back at a time when everything was easier. This comes to play because Holden is sixteen, he’s no longer a child, having said that Holden become the archetype of a typical teenager. Not listening to rules and doing whatever he pleases. But I believe that Holden is acting how he is because he’s trying to rebel simply because he’s trying to preserve what little innocence he has left.
On the contrary to other characters who take the archetype of being rebellious teenagers, they usually rebel to diminish the innocence. Which is completely different to Holden in my point of view.
After careful Reading of the novel, I strongly believe that Holden’s actions are due to the fact that he wants to live in the past or not let go of it because that’s when thing where calm and good such as when his brother was still alive. Throughout the book he glamorizes his old childhood when he used to be happy with his own life. I agree with several of my classmates with the fact that the museum made Holden feel a lot better when he said that everything was perfect. Throughout the novel he never felt truly satisfied and happy with himself and his life which makes him want to wish for everything to be the same as it was in the past. The person that looks back nostalgically in my opinion is that someone that is struggling in life right now and wants to look back to the past where everything used to be better. This happens to me sometimes when I encounter a tough situation. I just look at the past and sometimes wish I was there instead of the current situation which I’m on. This situation can be relatable to many people that have gone through tough situations and wish to be in the past like Holden right now.
ReplyDelete-Diego Arriola
Holden looks back nostalgically because he longs for his childhood. That was the only time in his life where he was truly happy and believed that nothing could go wrong. It was a time before Allie’s death and where everyone got along and was happy. He longs for the life he dreamed to have that did not involve failure or death.When he looked nostalgic in the museum, the history in there triggered the history in his life. He wishes to feel the same happiness he felt just once more. Also in the Natural History Museum he helps young boys find the mummy exhibit which could symbolize him ending up forever going in this life without ever having that feeling again. It could also mean that he would have the feeling of nostalgia that he will end up like a mummy, preserved and just left there. Usually people who are nostalgic are people who are older and long for their youth for many different reasons. It is quite unusual that someone so young would be nostalgic. Teenagers do look back on the years and move forward but do not go as far as feeling nostalgic. This could just be Holden because of the life he has lived and he has had to experience at a young age. -Eileen Gutierrez
ReplyDeleteThe term nostalgia refers to endearment of past memories. Holden holds onto these childhood years as it reflects a time of innocence and insouciance. Holden recalls his Saturdays at the Natural History Museum because it was the one thing that remained unchanged, while the life around him was changing rapidly. The feeling of happiness is a feeling long gone and that is why he holds onto his childhood so fondly. Like most teenagers, Holden dreams of simpler times, where there was more room for a care-free attitude and less time for an anxious and negative mindset.
ReplyDelete- Hannah Tran
The natural history museum represents stability as place trapped in time in a city filled with hustle and bustle. In his childhood memories, Holden can be said to remember the museum as a comforting force, always there and in a sort of stasis. None of the 'people' that lived there would change, they wouldn't fight, but they also would never be alone. Holden recalls the museum with nostalgia because it reminds him of an easier time, when life was less complicated, and most importantly, when he still had his innocence. Almost all of his memories from before Allie's death are laced with a veneer of nostalgia.
ReplyDeleteHolden's archetype is definitely rebellious, as other have previously said. However, he also has a weird complex where he is trapped between being a teenager and an adult, but still wants the innocence that comes with being a child. Even not being able to lose his virginity, I viewed as an unconscious effort he made to stall his maturity into adulthood. Hes still hanging on to the nostalgia of his past, as if he hasn't yet accepted that adulthood is permanent- for him, theres still a way back as long as he's not too far gone. This is what many teens in todays society experience, as well as a lot of the other issues he attracted along the way. There is definitely more chances to meet others in todays world with social media, just like there are millions in New York City. And just like Holden, many of us experience loneliness even when we are surrounded with others.
-Kayla Manness