Holden Caulfield's Struggle for Control
In the few days that elapse throughout The Catcher in the Rye, we see Holden aimlessly wandering around New York City, picking fights he can’t win, and generally completely disregarding his health. During this time before he can return to his parents house, Holden seems almost completely powerless to his own actions. He doesn’t really enjoy a single thing he does, and he usually regrets everything the next morning. Holden’s condition gets worse and worse throughout the book, and we see him trying to grasp for anything to get his life back on track whilst also diving deeper into his depression. The truth is, Holden longs for control, it’s why he loves writing narratives where he has full power of how he depicts himself, as well as the people in his life. Holden’s need for a feeling of control over his own trajectory is demonstrated by his fear of change and resistance to grow up and fit into society like everyone else expects him to.
This is also the reason that Holden cherishes childhood so much. He’s envious of how kids aren’t yet expected to fit into society. They don’t have to watch all the same movies, be amazed by Ernie’s piano skills, or go to their school football games like everyone else. Holden is envious of kids like Phoebe’s individuality and the control they have over who they want to be. At many points in the book, Holden fantasizes about an idealized life where he is in complete control and doesn’t have to worry about the pressures of society. One example of this is on Holden’s date Sally Hayes when he tells her about his crazy plan to borrow a car from his friend and move away to rural Vermont or Massachusetts and live a new life until his money runs out. All of this is in an attempt to delay his maturing and hold onto his childhood freedom.
Another example of Holden’s fear of change and need for control is his resentment for the movies. Holdens major critiques of movies that he sees are that they’re either too unrealistic and superficial, or they’re too realistic and depressing. The movies that Holden sees make him envious of an idealized world where no one has to grow up, or they depress him by reminding him of his current situation. (it’s weird though because he’s not critical of literature in this same way.)
This motif is represented too many times throughout the book to list them all. However, In the end, the way that he finally matures is by letting others into his life and allowing other people to help him instead of trying to be completely independent and in control of his life. Holden finally takes the advice from Luce and talks to a psychoanalyst, he reconnects with his brother D.B, and is able to look past his involvement with Hollywood. Most importantly, Holden realizes the bad influence that his independent, cynical mindset has on his sister Phoebe and is able to let her be her own person. Holden finally gains control over his life when he realizes that he doesn’t need to push away any help and be completely independent.
I like your analysis of Holden's actions as him trying to gain control over the things that frustrate him, like change and expectation. Using Holden's fear of change and connecting that to his appreciation of childhood adds a particularly insightful bonus to your claim as both of these ideas are seen through countless times throughout the story.
ReplyDeleteHey Sahnan, I agree with your post, and never really thought about how his independence was his choice. I always assumed while reading that he unwillingly drove away all the people around him, due to his extremely judgmental and erratic nature, as is the case with Sally. However, you are right, he really does own the narrative, and wants to depict himself as a "lone wolf" character at some points, even at the cost of feeling very lonely, as he drives away most people. Nice post!
ReplyDeleteA major theme throughout this novel is Holden's need for freedom in choice, influence, and annoyances. You made a great point in saying how he enviously views children with their lack of decisions, and therefore, responsibilities and influences from the "phony world." He hates conformity and people who aren't honest. Their superficiality targets Holden's grudge over liers of intention. Geat post Sahnan!
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that Holden is longing for power. He doesn't want to become an adult. All he wants to do is hold onto childhood for as long as he possibly can. Interesting that you contrast his ideal world and the real life "phony world" that he comments on throughout the story. This brings the contrasts between Holden and the real world to light.
ReplyDeleteThank You Mr. Haber.
Your analysis of Holden as a control freak felt accurate. Throughout the book Holden makes many seemingly contradictory actions. However, when analyzed through Holden's need for control, as you just mentioned, they start to make sense, even if he ends up in worse situations after chasing his warped feeling of control.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really good analysis!! Holden's tight grasp onto his childhood was such a central part of the book, and it honestly didn't even seem like he was fully aware of it for most of the novel. He seemed to just hate on anything and everything outside of the thought of youth, and when confronted about it by someone who embodied just that (Phoebe), he didn't have anything of substance to say. A lot of his thoughts and actions make sense, though, if you were to view it through a lens similar to Holden's hunger for control. Great post!!
ReplyDeleteThis is an insightful analysis: we tend to talk a lot about Holden's fear of change, but the related desire for control, or a feeling of fear around LOSS of control, is focused on less. I can definitely see how his whole crazy NYC excursion is a futile attempt to assert his own will on the "schedule"--he's been expelled, but he's also "supposed to" stick around the school until Wednesday. He clearly takes some pleasure in going "off the map" in this way, at least at first. But every incident reflects a gradual loss of control, or the refusal of other people, or "society," to go along with Holden's desires, which reinforces his disillusionment, and the downward spiral continues.
ReplyDeleteI would also say that his brash and at times arrogant narrative style might be seen as an effort to exert this control, to "shape the narrative," so to speak--and he flaunts this power in the first sentence, as he reminds us that he is in total control of what he chooses to tell us, and what he chooses to leave out. Especially interesting to me, therefore, are the moments where he loses control even of the narrative--when Sally Hayes, Carl Luce, and especially Phoebe Caulfield all start to go "off script," pushing back on his overconfidence.
Hey Sahnan, it's interesting that you mention the amount of control children have in their lives, as at first I was confused, I though that their lives are actually more controlled than others, since their parents and teachers are constantly guiding them throughout the day. But your point on their freedom from doing certain things was a good point, and it really does make sense that Holden finds their position to be favorable. I do wonder what his thoughts are on the control the kids do experience, and whether or not it is good. Great post!
ReplyDelete