So, what is your first impression of old Holden Caulfield? Do you like or dislike him? Do you know enough about him to make that decision yet? What do you like or dislike? Are you, in any way, similar to Holden? If so, how?
Please respond to this blog by Sunday, 8 May, by 11:59 PM. Responses should be a minimum of 250 words.
In the book The Catcher in the Rye the main character Holden is a 16 year old boy who is not a very good child the way the book makes it sound. I actually like the way Holden acts in this book because he acts like most of and 16 year old boy. He has a weird personality but where not in the book far enough to really talk smack about him. So far I believe he is just a normal 16 year old boy with a few problems. Some in with get him in a lot of trouble and some that just are pretty much what you can expect from a 16 year old boy. Holden is very similar in my child hood because I wasn’t the nicest kid on the block or the most behaved kid. I grew up with my older brothers and I did everything they did so if they decided to be bad that’s what I would do and get in some trouble for it. He is similar in many ways because the way he has switched schools and just his attitude is like mine back when I lived down in hick town. He don’t care about anything the way the books makes it sound and back when I lived down there I sure didn’t care about anything at all. I did what I wanted and that was that. Holden sounds like he is the same way. These are the reasons on why I like Holden and how Holden is similar to me when I was growing up.
ReplyDeleteMy first impression of Holden Caulfield is that he is a very straightforward person who is more than willing to speak his mind. He has quite a cynical outlook on most things. He is very sarcastic and at times, can be quite harsh in his opinions. I like that he is not afraid to speak his mind, because sometimes I think novels that are deemed as classics, as this one is, can sometimes be a bit dry and too proper in their language. I like how the book is written in the way that Holden thinks; the writing is sort of informal, and laid back, which is nice. Although I like that Holden has the confidence to tell us how I feels, I also partially dislike it because I think that sometimes, he can come off as sounding derogatory. I also find it interesting how he stresses so often that he hates phonies, yet he himself can sometimes act like one. He has, in essence, two different personas; the way he thinks about things- in a very cynical way- is not always how he portrays himself when he speaks. For example, when he is talking to Old Spencer, he acts much more polite and agreeable. He tells us, however, that it is not how he really feels. I don’t criticize him for doing this, because I think everyone has some instances where they say something that contradicts the way they feel: Everyone, really, is a phony in one way or another. I think of myself as no exception to this, because there are instances when I may think something different than what I say. Overall, I like Holden’s character so far and I will be interested to see what he does in certain situations as the novel develops!
ReplyDeleteHolden Caulfield is portrayed as a very cynical person up until this point in the story. He seems to be quite harsh on the others around him and in his opinions of them. He is also very sarcastic in his interactions with others. Often times what he is thinking is very different than what he is actually saying to others during conversations. He criticizes people that he sees as phony, but he himself could be classified as a phony by his standards. I enjoy reading all of Holden’s thoughts as they give a deeper insight into his character and personality. He also seems to be a somewhat caring and nice guy to this point in the story as he tries to be polite to others even in situations where he may not want to be. For example, Holden left a note on his history test for Mr. Spencer trying to make him feel a bit better for having to fail him in his class. Holden up until this point seems to be a good person who tends to make mistakes. Parts of Holden’s personality seem to be similar to that of a normal sixteen year old boy, but he also seems to be a mature individual in many ways. Overall, I don’t think that I know enough about Holden to judge him fairly in regards to liking or disliking him. However, I do believe that I can relate to him in certain ways as can most people. Many people, including myself, have a certain amount of cynicism and his description of “phoniness” as it is part of human nature. This is more apparent to the reader in the book due to the fact that the reader is reading exactly what he is thinking as well as what he is actually saying.
ReplyDeleteMy first impression Holden Caufield is that he is a more complex character than he leads on. It seems that there is more to Holden than an uncaring, sarcastic, semi reclusive, cynical teenager. I feel as though he uses sarcasm as a front to cover how he truly feels. Holden seems to push himself away from people. He by choice chooses not to be close with others. I am still not entirely sure why he chooses to close himself off to others, but I’m sure his true intentions will soon be revealed. By knowing Holden’s thoughts we as readers are able to see that he is very skeptical and has a very cynical outlook on things. The fact that he doesn’t say what he is really thinking says something about him. This shows that he is in a way smart and mature. So far from what we have learned about Holden I like him because he is very caring and kind to others. He is always thinking about others and what they want or would make them happy. He generally takes into consideration how a situation makes the other person feel, and he respects that. I can relate to Holden’s character in some ways. I find myself similar to him in respect to his outlook on the way people are. It is true that there are many fake people that you encounter, and it is sometimes very frustrating and hard to tolerate them. He shows us that sometimes some things are better left unsaid.
ReplyDeleteMy first impression of Holden Caulfield is that he does not seem to care what people think of him. Also of what he says after he knows he has to leave Prency Prep. Holden says what he thinks most of the time. Holden came off as a very strong person at first until we read farther into the book and learned more about him. He knows how to lie to make sure people believe him. He can be very insecure at times. So far in The Catcher in The Rye, Holden seems like an okay character. I personally like him because he is different from the other characters. For the most part I think I know enough about Holden to make that decision because the way The Catcher in the Rye is written the reader get to know what Holden is thinking compared to what he is actually saying. I like how Holden says what he is thinking and doesn’t care. Also that he remembers a lot form his past to tell us the story and still be descriptive. I like how Holden can change his tone when he talks to different people. I can tell that talking about Jane he feels comfortable with but when he has to talk about his classes he doesn’t seem to care as much. I think I am a little similar to Holden because I am more comfortable talking to different people about certain subjects. Also that at times he knows that he is confident and doesn’t care about what people think but yet he has this whole other side of him that is innocent and insecure.
ReplyDeleteMy first impression of Holden Caulfield is that he isn't afraid to speak his mind, he says what he wants, and he gets side tract when he doesn't want to listen to people, he thinks about other things and he makes things up. Um, I can't really say if i like him or dislike him yet this early in the story but right now i think he's alright guy, he's different from everybody else and his personality is alright but he has some insecure issues. I think I'm sorta similar to Holden in ways because he has switched schools a few times and i have moved a lot in my life and also has had to switch schools and i know how hard it is to do that.
ReplyDeleteI had a good first impression of Holden. Although he seems relatively troubled, I feel like he is respectable in that he knows who he is and what he cares about. It's too early for me to truly tell if I like him though. He seems to have a lot of growing up to do, but I feel like over time he will develop into a wonderful character. I think that the primary attraction that I, as a reader, have to his character so far is an ability to relate to him in a lot of ways. I think anyone can understand the frustrations that Holden faces. Everyone has had academic problems at one point or another. It's also pretty safe to say everyone has been lectured by an adult about their struggles. One thing I easily related to Holden in was his ability to sense a lecture coming on from an adult. Most teenagers have at least a minor sense of this. Very much like Holden, I often find myself in a position during such a lecture where I nod my head in agreeance while thinking thoughts that are extremely different (to say the least). One past thing that I truly respect about this character is his seething hatred for phonies. If there is one thing that I can't stand, it's someone who is either fake or very two-faced. In this I see Holden's frustration with different people and events. It is entirely impossible for me to trust someone who I feel is like this so I understand the reasoning behind Holden's dislike and distrust. I think Holden will prove to be a very interesting and dynamic character.
ReplyDeleteMy first impression of old Holden Caulfield, in the story catcher in the rye is that I like him and he seems as if he is a very average 16 year old teen ager. He behaves sometimes like he is 13 but sometimes he behaves older but no one ever notices when he acts older. He can be sarcastic in a funny way but harsh at the same time. As well you may not no when Holden is being serious or not. Holden likes to judge people classify them just buy they way they look or act. He mostly thinks every one is a phony. But then Holden can also be a very polite teenager he has to different side to him at this point in the story. I feel like I can relate to Holden being that fact that I am I teenager and seem to have a lot in come with Holden it seems as every 16 year old teen has to different sides to them and acts to judge people on the spot even if they don’t know the person. I feel like at this point in the story I would still like to read more to get a better impact of how Holden really is its only the 8 th chapter out of 26 so I feel like a lot can happen and his personality could even possible change agene throughout the story. Over all at this point I do like his character and I cant wait to see how he will change.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Sarah U:
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree that Holden does use his cynicism to cover up how he truly feels about things; we can see this through the way his thoughts often contradict with what he says.
This is in response to Megan Thompson's:
ReplyDeleteVery good points and observations about Holden's character, and the way he conducts himself differently depending upon the situation.
In response to Megan T's,
ReplyDeleteI agree with what she is saying how Holden has two different sides to his personality. She makes good points to back up why she does and doesn't like Holden.
Holden Caulfield popped out to me as an individual who wants to believe in himself but doesn't have much confidence in himself. I like Holden, he is smart even if his grades don’t show it. Holden is also very funny and respectful. Holden is not like other boys in this book, all the boys seem if they are all on a mission to get with the most girls. Holden is not like that. Holden is also very sensitive. Holden has many feelings you read about in the book, but he does not share these feelings with anyone else. Holden is also very respectful to nature, which makes me like him even more. Holden took a snowball and was going to throw it at a car but he saw the snow on it and took it in as if it were a scene out of a movie, he didn’t throw the snowball because he didn’t want to wreck anything. I see myself similar to Holden in some ways. Holden is 16 but acts younger and often goofs around, but when it’s time to get work done, he gets it done. This book is very interesting so far. I like Holden and I’m very interested in if he changes and if he does, how so.
ReplyDeleteIn anthony response he described holden pretty well
ReplyDeleteIn response to Ethan's:
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point that as the novel develops it will be interesting to see how Holden matures. At this point, though he likes to believe he has all the answers, I also still think he is immature in many ways and it will be interesting to see how he changes.
justins comment was one of the best ones i have seen up there describes holden very well and gives a lot of detail
ReplyDeleteIn response to Sarah U's,
ReplyDeleteI agree with how she describes Holden as a nice and smart character. I like how she describes what he is thinking compared to what she actually says because he is thinking of others.
I agree with Megan T's comment on how Holden has two sides to him,
ReplyDeleteHolden is a boy with his own viewpoints on life. I like him because his personality towards others is in his own sense, and he does not try to fit in with the crowd, but go his own way in life. He also explains the world as a bunch of people who try to act the same, and it seems phony to him. Holden puts his own opinion and individuality on the world which I strongly like, because people who act like themselves are the people who make the world great and interesting. I can consider myself to be somewhat like Holden because like him, I consider myself an individual and don’t care what the world thinks of me, but I try my best to make a good first impression while being myself. Holden considers people who judge others based on appearance and first thoughts are nothing but judgmental phonies. Holden judges people when he gets to know them well which I do also. People who judge make assumptions on people that they barely know are people that don’t deserve anything pleasant in their life. Holden feels this towards people he knows. Ackley for instance, judges Stradlater, even though he doesn’t even know him. This makes Holden very angry because he has no clue how his personality is and sticks up for Stradlater, even though he also despises Stradlater. This also is the same when Stradlater judges Ackley, even though they have never got the time to get to know one another. This is how I view Holden and what my opinion on him is.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Megan T:
ReplyDeleteI feel very much the same about Holden. I like that you pointed out how hypocritical he is in his persecution of phonies while acting as one himself. However, I actually liked that his private thoughts can be derogatory (not that I condone such thoughts) because it gives us such an insight as to how he truly feels regarding different things.
In response to Krista W:
I like how you mentioned that Holden has the ability to change his tone and how he talks to different people. I think that is one of the most interesting things about this character so far because doesn't that make him a phony too? It seems odd that he would criticize others so much for acting the same way he thinks. Do you think that makes everyone phonies (considering I think everyone has done this at at least one point in their lives)?
II agree with Sarah U on that Holden covers up his true feelings with what he says about other people
ReplyDeleteIn response to Krista W:
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about Holden being a strong character and i like the way you described him as standing out among other characters.
I don't yet know enough about Holden Caulfield to like or not like him. I feel like there is so much more to his character that still needs to be discovered through the reading. I do know that he is a very conflicted character. He is very cynical and some of the worst traits that he sees in others he also has. I can infer from his reaction to his brother's death that he is very reckless. He is not too sensitive to other people's feelings. There are some redeeming characteristics of Holden. He must feel some compassion for Ackley because he invites him to the movies. Holden also hangs in Ackley's room for a while which shows that he is not completely repulsed by him. Holden also has some kind of a strong feeling for Jane. Whenever he thinks of her he gets nervous and remembers what good times they had in the past. I sometimes think like Holden. Sometimes I have a somewhat dark outlook on life. I have better control of my temper and my feeling than Holden. I hardly ever lie to people as much as Holden does. If I were in Holden's place, I would probably not be happy in Pencey either. I have a hard time dealing with people who are selfish and rude, like Holden's roommates. I would never write a composition for someone else because they wanted to go on a date instead. Overall, I am looking forward to what more I can learn about Holden's character.
ReplyDeleteMy first inpression of the main character Holden from the Catcher in the Rye was that he was kind of a phoney himself. Holden says he doesnt like phoney people and thats why he left the school Elkton hills because there were to many phoney people there. One example of how Holden is a phoney is because he doesnt really like his roommate Stradlater but in a way he looks up to him. Holden looks up to him because he wishes that he could be like him in ways. Holden does what stradlater asks him to by writing his paper for him for english. Holden also lets him borrow his jacket. Another example of how Holden is a phoney is that he doesnt like Ackley but when him and stradlater got into a fight he went over to Ackleys room. Holden called Ackley a real prince even though he doesnt like him. Another example would be when Holden is on the train and leaivng pencey. On the train he talks to one of the students moms and he tells her is name is Rudolf Schmidt and its not. Rudolf Schmidt is the janitor at their school. Holden also says that her son is really popular in school which he is not. Holden says that he is a good student and is liked by many people, holden does not like him and he is speaking highly of him. Holden doesnt seem like he is very close with his family he never goes and visits his parents on the weekends. Holden doesnt seem to have many friends either, when everyone is out doing things on the weekend he is in his room and doing nothing. Holdens little brother died of luekemia and is shows that holden misses him a lot. Holden keeps his glove with all kinds of peoms on it and he keeps it in his bag because its important to him. Holden is very respectful to adults but when he is talking to himself or other students then he swears a lot. I dont know for sure if i like or dislike holden yet but he seems alright.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Emily:
ReplyDeleteI liked how you touched on the fact that Holden can be quite inconsiderate of others when he thinks, but contradicted that bad characteristic with the point that he can be quite compassionate towards others at times. I also agree with what you said about how the bad traits he sees in other people he embodies as well.
in response to krista w
ReplyDeletei think you explained Holden very well and that he does speak his mind and doesnt seem to care what people think about him.
My first impression of Holden Caulfield was that he is a very blunt person at times when he wants to be. Other times he keeps to himself to hide some emotions. In my opinion, I think that Holden is a good character. Probably in fact, he is my most favorite so far. Do I know his character well enough to state that he is my favorite? I think that I have the majority of his character in mind. His sarcasm and uncaring attitude isn’t what his whole character is. Considering he is only sixteen, or rather seventeen, he is confused whether to remain a child or transition into an adult. So there is the underlying factor of actually caring about some things rather than others. I like his character because of his views on people and innocence. Due to that, we are somewhat similar. I agree with his view on people because it is true in the human nature I believe. Innocence is something that we lose at some point and time, so there is nothing to agree on to keep it. In my opinion, there is no true innocence because we are all tainted by society or ourselves in some way. I can be sarcastic when I want to be just like Holden. Whether or not people see it, is their own problem.
ReplyDeleteHolden Caulfield is a young man after my own heart. He is a representation of any soon-to-be-adult adolescent. He represents the unwanted step over the threshold that is adulthood. My first impression of him will always be that he is a confused young man, not ready to step forward, concerned of what life will hold in store for him, but doesn't want his emotions and actions to come off as such. It is easy to relate to him and he is extremely likable, because I always wish to hold on to that sense of being 'forever young' (yes, a Dylan reference). I don't think most people truly want to ever grow up or lose the full sense of innocence, just like Holden. Adulthood holds a lot of harsh truths and a lot of two-facedness, which Holden despises the most; phonies, as he calls them. Holden also views things a little differently from others around him. He tends to take things to heart more. He is very sensitive on the subject of people losing their childhood innocence. He discovers that a girl he used to know and live next door to, is going on a date with his roommate, Ward Stradlater, and afterwards discovers that she no longer has her purity, her virginity, her ‘kings in the back row’. This theme is very present in the story. There is a passage where Holden does not want to disturb freshly fallen snow, because it represents this theme. Holden also tells of how he stumbles, and almost falls, something that we are afraid of doing at this point in our lives.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Tayelor:
ReplyDeleteYou made many good points about Holden here as well as human nature; I agree that Holden is very blunt and that just because he may act sarcastic at times, this is not all he is- he is much more than that.
I think that Holden is kink of a phoney because he hates phoney's so that makes him a hypocrite him self. He doesn't like cert en things but yet he does them him self. He is sort of a complex character he tells one thing and then joust does another thing after he tells the one person not to. He has a effected mind that is sometimes slow to people and sometimes smart to others. He can be relay sweet (ride the bole) or relay harsh or ignorance. He likes to talk and horse around with outer people of different ages. He gets along with everybody mostly but sometimes he gets mad or angry. He has interesting thoughts on his mind I like his thoughts it keeps the book interesting and more fun in class, the way he wards thing cracks me up to. I think I am like Holden because I can get frustrated and get mad every time you her something more than once it is kind of a habit. I don't swear as much as Holden does but it does happen. I have fun just like Holden but in different ways. He can be a pain thew because he horses around a little to much sometimes in the wrong places but otherwise he is alright for him self. He can be really cool and helpful most of the time otherwise he is joust a pain in the you know what otherwise he is helpful and charming that I know of.
ReplyDeleteMy first impression of Holden Caulfield is that he is a prety average 16 year old boy with some underlieing problems. I think that he is often imature in his actions but can be very polite and upstanding at other times, and has a abd problem with lieing to people. Rather he does it for fun or not. Lastly I dont think I am like Holden much except that we are both 16 year old boys.
ReplyDeleteHolden Caulfield is a young man after my own heart. He is a representation of any soon-to-be-adult adolescent. He represents the unwanted step over the threshold that is adulthood. My first impression of him will always be that he is a confused young man, not ready to step forward, concerned of what life will hold in store for him, but doesn't want his emotions and actions to come off as such. It is easy to relate to him and he is extremely likable, because I always wish to hold on to that sense of being 'forever young' (yes, a Dylan reference). I don't think most people truly want to ever grow up or lose the full sense of innocence, just like Holden. Adulthood holds a lot of harsh truths and a lot of two-facedness, which Holden despises the most; phonies, as he calls them. Holden also views things a little differently from others around him. He tends to take things to heart more. He is very sensitive on the subject of people losing their childhood innocence. He discovers that a girl he used to know and live next door to, is going on a date with his roommate, Ward Stradlater, and afterwards discovers that she no longer has her purity, her virginity, her ‘kings in the back row’. This theme is very present in the story. There is a passage where Holden does not want to disturb freshly fallen snow, because it represents this theme. Holden also tells of how he stumbles, and almost falls, something that we are afraid of doing at this point in our lives.
ReplyDelete