Holden And Stradlater example essay topic

The novel The Catcher in the Rye is about a young man named Holden Caulfield who is on a subconscious quest to find love. Holden attends a private school named Penny where he feels he does not fit in once again. Holden Caulfield is reliant on physical love, family love as well as friendship in order for him to feel accepted in society. Holden has a subconscious desire for physical love to make him feel a part of society. Holden hired a prostitute to help him get over his feelings of being alone and secluded from the rest of society.

He had just left his school and was all alone so he needed a physical love to make him feel with it. Holden felt he had true love with Jane because they connected on such a compassionate level. When Stradlater took out Jane, Holden got very upset because Stradlater was known for 'giving girls the time' and Stradlater does not love Jane as much, if at all, like Holden does. Because Holden did not have a physical relationship with Jane, he feels like he cannot connect with Stradlater on a personal level since Stradlater got something Holden wanted. Jane used to hold Holden's hand and put her hand on his neck, which made Holden feel very loved by her. So when Stradlater took Jane out Holden felt very secluded because Stradlater was taking Jane away from him.

Holden took Sally out for the afternoon to go see a play. When the two of them got into the taxi to go to the theater Holden decided to do what Stradlater does. He decided to seduce sally into messing around with him by giving her no alternative just as Stradlater does... This made Holden feel equal to Stradlater because he was also doing physical things with girls in the back of a car, just like what Holden presumes Stradlater and Jane did in the back of the coaches' car.

"We horsed around a little bit in the cab on the way over to the theater. At first she didn't want to, because she had her lipstick on, and all, but I was being seductive as hell and she didn't have any alternative". (page 125) Holden shows that on a subconscious level he thinks receiving physical love will make him feel more accepted by society. Holden needs to feel his family's unconditional love because that is what will make him feel he is still a part of society. Holden needs Phoebe's love most of all, he cares very deeply for her and considers if he would hurt her in many situations. Holden really is not considering death from illness, he is thinking about if he committed suicide how Phoebe would be if he was gone.

Holden doesn't admit that his family loves him because he's too scared of disappointing them. 'I started thinking how old Phoebe would feel if I got pneumonia and died. She likes me a lot. I mean she's quite fond of me. ' (page 156) Holden still feels lonely because Allie is gone. Allie was another love that Holden lost tragically and misses greatly.

Holden is very depressed and alone and still wishes Allie could be there to make his love present; to make Holden feel he's a part of a family and a part of society. Holden went to his house to visit Phoebe and once he got in the door he knew he was at home again. He realized how much he missed home and wanted to be back home with his family. Mr. And Mrs. Caulfield returned home from their outing and were oblivious to the fact Holden was there but Holden felt the presence of their strong love for him and he felt like he couldn't leave. When he did begin to leave he suffered a great loss, which made him cry. He cried because he was forced to leave his family once again and he really didn't want to be alone he wished he could be there a part of a small society called family.

Holden doesn't have any friends that make him feel he is a part of society so he tries to really win them over by being overly generous. Holden and Stradlater are not real friends they are roommates. Stradlater knows he is popular and a big part in society so Holden sucks up to him to get the feeling he is to. Holden would do anything for Stradlater in order to stay on his good side such as lending him his favourite jacket and writing him a composition for his class the next day. This is something Stradlater catches on to; he knows that if he calls Holden a buddy and acts as if he's all chummy with Holden, Holden will do what he says to maintain that.

'Be a Buddy. Be a Buddy roo. Okay?' (page 28) Holden likes the feeling that Ackley doesn't have anyone to talk to so he comes to talk to Holden. That makes Holden feel like he is somewhat popular even though he doesn't like Ackley that much. Holden also likes that Ackley is always around, even though Ackley bugs Holden he likes the fact that he's not alone. Eventually Holden is so terribly lonesome that he wants friendship from anyone.

He " ll even beg for it. Anyone that will make him feel like he's not alone in the world is someone he " ll cherish. 'Have just one more drink. Please I'm lonesome as hell. No kidding. ' (page 149) Holden will do anything to have the feeling that someone needs him. Holden has had a rough life because all his love sources seem to disappear or not end up loving him at all resulting in the fact that Holden feels he's not a part of society.

Holden needs to feel that he's needed, loved and appreciated before he " ll begin to not feel so lonely in life. Holden feels he is not getting enough physical love, family love and friendship in general to make him feel he is a wanted human being.