Someone once said, “Lonely is not being alone, it’s the feeling that no one cares.” This quote is very true because people in lie usually feel lonely due to the fact of not having someone to talk makes a huge difference in people lives. In the book “Catcher in the Rye” written by JD. Salinger, is about this 16 year old boy Holden, leaving Pencey Prep to have a change in scenery. He is failing all his classes, he doesn’t have any friends or family with him and he feels very lonely. He takes a train to New York City to stay at a crapy hotel for a while. He comes across very unique situations with a pimp and a prostitute then a conversation with two nuns about “Romeo and Juliet.” In chapter 16 Holden is rehashing memories of his childhood with his sister. In the book, “Catcher in the Rye,” written by JD. Salinger, the main character Holden is portrayed as a lonely and confused teenager longing to connect with other, his thoughts on a little boy and his changing emotions.
In the beginning of the chapter, Holden is portrayed as lonely teenager wanting to connect with others thought his perspective of this little boy. One Sunday, there was a family walking together in the city. They were possibly coming home from church. They seemed very unwealthy, and there was this little boy and “...his parents paid no attention to him, and he kept on walking next to the curb and singing 'If a body catch a body coming through the rye.' It made me feel better. It made me feel not so depressed any more” (115) In this chapter, Salinger portrays the main character Holden as a confused and lonely teenager by giving the readers a look into Holden's head and his perspective of the family. Holden is feeling very lonely in the city by himself when he comes across this family. Holden’s thoughts about Phoebe and the joy he feels in response to the young boy’s song both indicate his idealization of purity and childhood. Holden can tell that the boy in front of the church comes from a poor family, but this doesn’t stop the young child from singing in a sweet, carefree way. Through all the chaos of New York he hears this little boy sing and it makes Holden smile. To Holden, this is very touching and significant, since he wishes he himself could embody such unbridled happiness despite the various hardships that have occurred to him throughout life. Therefore that is how Holden is portrayed as a confused teenager.
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Lastly, in chapter 16 Holden feels confused and lonely because of his mixed emotions. In the middle of the chapter. One Sunday, there was a family walking together in the city. They were possibly coming home from church. They seemed very unwealthy, and there was this little boy and “...his parents paid no attention to him, and he kept on walking next to the curb and singing 'If a body catch a body coming through the rye.' It made me feel better. It made me feel not so depressed any more” (115) In this chapter, Salinger portrays the main character Holden as a confused and lonely teenager by giving the readers a look into Holden's head and his perspective of the family. Holden is feeling very lonely in the city by himself when he comes across this family. Holden’s thoughts about Phoebe and the joy he feels in response to the young boy’s song both indicate his idealization of purity and childhood. Holden can tell that the boy in front of the church comes from a poor family, but this doesn’t stop the young child from singing in a sweet, carefree way. Through all the chaos of New York he hears this little boy sing and it makes Holden smile. To Holden, this is very touching and significant, since he wishes he himself could embody such unbridled happiness despite the various hardships that have occurred to him throughout life. On that same day, Holden goes to park and he sees this little girl. They start talking and quicedently, the little girl knows Holdenlittle sister Phoebe. When Holden was finished talking about Phoebe,”... I asked her if she’d care to have hot chocolate or something with me, but she said no, thank you.” (119) In chapter 16, Salinger presents Holden as a confused and lonely young boy longing for someone to be in his presence. In this quote Holden is longing to interact with someone even if it is a little girl. I think we can come to the conclusion of moving to New York City wasn’t the greatest idea for Holden because he is confused and has no path or plan for himself. He also didn’t realize that he wasn’t lonely at Pencey even though he didn’t have any close friends he still had people his age to talk too or be around and that is comforting whether he knows it or not.
In conclusion, in chapter 16, the main character, Holden is portrayed as a lonely and confused teenager longing to connect with others, his perspective on a little boy and his changing emotions. Just like real teenagers in the 21st century today!
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