Week 3 hwk: Positioning the reader through narration

Holden has just arrived to his destination via train and very is overwhelmed with the need for company and comfort. In his efforts to acquire this, Holden decides to call someone. He soon comes to realize that he wasn’t in the right situation to associate with anyone. He has officially committed to the idea that he was to remain in New York until he was due back home in order to avoid his parent’s disappointment. Holden gives the impression that in some ways he is a coward and obnoxious in the sense that he cannot admit to his mistakes. This is not only displayed through his refusal to confront his parents about his expulsion but also when he is unable to discuss his future with Mr. Spencer and accept his failure. It soon becomes apparent that Holden ultimately desires to be home when he ‘accidently’ gives his home address to the cab driver. This reinforces the ambiguity of Holden state of mind and his experiences of loneliness.

Holden’s actions contradict what he intentionally reveals about himself. This is exemplified when Holden’s pride interferes with the truth. In some ways this suggests that whilst Holden is urgently trying to avoid adulthood, his ‘adult-like‘ pride restricts him from admitting that he is simply lonely, misunderstood and ultimately needs his family. For the sake of maintaining his dignity, Holden justifies his decision not to call anyone through multiple excuses and then checks into the Edmont hotel. Holden’s urgency to have sex that night, leads him to call a girl at an unreasonable hour who was suggested to be ‘easy’. This shows of Holden’s immaturity in the sense that he is accustomed to making rash decisions without considering the consequences.

Holden’s reaction to ‘easy girl’s’ refusal to meet Holden that very hour, causes him to slam the phone down in aggravation. This encourages audiences to consider Holden as immature and impatient. With the exception of Holden’s little sister, Phoebe, it slowly becomes apparent that Holden very quickly becomes bored with anyone he is even briefly associating with. Partly because he believes that anyone within his or her stages of adulthood are ‘phonies’ but moreover is still trying to find himself before having an adult relationship with the many characters he fails to understand. Holden will continue through New York, taking life as it comes whilst trying to make sense of whom he is and what his desired destination is beyond adolescence.