Holden criticizes everyone around him including himself. In chapter three, he starts off saying: “I’M THE MOST TERRIFIC LIAR your ever saw in your life” (22). This quote states how much he knows he is a big liar and is somewhat proud and ignorant about it. He criticizes the way people act. He notices the littlest things, such as Mr. Spencer secretly picking his nose in a way. “He made out like he was only pinching it, but he was really getting the old thumb right in there” (13). He’s aware of what people do and he defines other people’s behavior quite well basing it on their actions. “He kept standing there. He was exactly the kind of a guy that wouldn’t get out of your light when you asked him too” (28). Holden thinks and analyzes many of the people around him and the situations that are happening around him plenty of times. This tells me that he is an observer. He describes a couple of people surrounding him as phonies because he thinks that they aren’t showing their real personalities towards others, yet he continues to lie about many things which makes him a phony in a lot of ways as well.
I really like your response. Although I am confused with some parts such as; his criticizes the way people act just because he is an observer? Can it mean something else also such as; Holden criticizes the way people act because he is trying to figure out himself or who should he be according to others.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Holden's criticisms can definitely mean something else. It could be like what you said, that Holden criticizes because he is trying to figure things out about his own personality. Maybe he doesn't even realize he's analyzing everything too much. Maybe he is confuse, like what you said on who he should be according to others.
ReplyDeleteI like your response because you clearly state how Holden thinks and acts towards other peoples actions.
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