catcher in the rye internal conflict quotes

He feels he has no control over how he feels, that things just happen. On another level, it shows Holden’s helplessness in controlling what’s around him. He feels upset that everybody can go in when it rains, but not Allie. Analysis: Holden says this in reference to Allie. Quote: “It’s not too bad when the sun’s out, but it only comes out when it feels like coming out” (156). His feeling sorry for ugly girls also highlights the inner struggle he has with sexual attraction. The problem, however, is that Holden assumes everybody is suffering. Analysis: Holden shows another component of his personality: the ability to empathize with others’ suffering.

I feel so sorry for them sometimes” (85). He wants to die because everybody is a “phony” yet wants to live because he doesn’t want the “phonies” to judge him. He claims he wants to be isolated, yet is overly concerned with what everybody else thinks about him. His reason for not doing it gives the reader a glimpse into his contradictory nature. Analysis: Shortly after Holden is assaulted by Maurice, the elevator pimp, he takes a bath, goes to bed, and confesses he would have rather killed himself than go to sleep. I didn’t want a bunch of stupid rubbernecks looking at me when I was all gory” (104). I probably would’ve done it, too, if I’d been sure somebody’d cover me up as soon as I landed. He shows that drinking for him is an escape.Quote: “What I really felt like, though, was committing suicide.

Jane's father would not be respectful enough to her family by not being decent, and he also avoided societal expectations by not wearing clothing like normal people in their society.Ī bit later in the story, Holden is talking about dancers, and how if one is a 'lousy dancer, the best thing to do is stay at the table and just get drunk with her' (Salinger 71). This shows that Holden's way of thinking is that if one does not wish to deal with a situation, it is best to drink. This shows how disrespectful drinking makes someone. and run around the goddam house, naked' (Salinger 32). He starts talking about her life when they were young, and he gets to her 'booze hound' father and how he would 'booze all the time. One of the first times drinking is seen is when Holden is talking to Stradlater about Jane. Drinking also occurs when someone is being disrespectful to the people around them, connecting back to avoiding societal expectations.

Throughout Catcher in the Rye, Holden often uses alcohol as a way to numb the input he gets from interacting with other people.

Catcher in the rye internal conflict quotes