Holden's Reputation example essay topic
449 words
Dale Carnegie once said "Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation". However, this insightful admonition is much easier said than done to the majority of society. In a life where all you can really be is yourself, most find it unappealing. Throughout life people become bewildered by the flourishing amounts of "society propaganda". Advertisements for stylish clothes, centerfold hair, movie star-white smiles and even how to act if you " re "in" can be seen around every street corner. Since time began these billboards and TV commercials have had the ability to lure people in like flies to a bright light. Like the egotistical people who need everything that's new and now, fashion, of course, being their universe. Also, the less confident group, who truly believe that becoming these displays will make them elite. But the sad truth is, how can you blame them? Each and every person in this world longs to be accepted, and in this day and age in order to achieve your wanted popularity you can't always truly be yourself. Take for example the novel The Catcher in the Rye.
The main character, Holden Caulfield, is constantly criticized for the manner in which he portrays himself. Despite the harsh words and indignant faces of his peers, Holden behaves and carries himself the way he feels is respectable. He doesn't pretend to enjoy things he truly despises or dress in the conventional style the other boys do, and his reputation for that reason alone is dismal. Due to his misconceived character, Holden is confronted by accusations of rudeness, immaturity, unintelligence and of being an overall scrooge. In one instance, Holden, being the manager of the fencing team at his school, forgets the team's equipment on the train and causes them to forfeit their match. Although the mistake has been made before, the boys are merciless toward Holden and practically ban him from the group.
A well admired boy would have suffered a few exasperated comments for such a harmless blunder, but Holden's reputation wouldn't allow it. Being a shy individual, Holden usually chooses to stay in on nights of school activities like football games and pep rally's, which is seen as odd to the other boys. So inevitably, word gets around that the strange "recluse" kid never leaves his room and doesn't like to dress up for games and pursue the girls, which makes him weird. At a young age, reputation and character are difficult to combine.
Few have mastered the task of retaining their morale values while staying well-liked and "cool.".
