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In The Catcher in the Rye, the main character, Holden, can be perceived as a masochistic person. His younger brother, Allie, had died from leukemia and Holden somehow blamed himself. He thought of his brother as being a better person than he was and that he should have died instead of Allie. After his death, Holden projected his anger against himself in a masochistic manor. Three instances where the reader can see that Holden is a masochistic person are when he punched the car and garage windows, instigated a fight he knew he couldnt win, and when he lied on the train about having a tumor.
The night Holden's brother, Allie, died, Holden retreated into the garage and brutally broke his garage windows. From that alone, Holden broke and cut his hand up beyond belief. Even with his staggering hand, he continued to try to break his parents station wagons windows. These windows being stronger than the garage has made it impossible for Holden to break. He tried anyway and permanently damaged his hand to the extent that he could no longer make a fist. This insane act of violence against himself could definitely be defined as masochistic.
Holden was not only angry about his brother dying, but he felt that he was somehow connected to his brothers death. He felt Allies death was his fault and that he should pay for it with pain. Therefore, Holden went into the garage and severely hurt himself. Holden's masochistic act was definitely a result of his guilt in relation to Allies passing. Later in the book, Holden enraged himself at his roommate, Stradlater. Stradlater went on a date with Jane, who Holden dearly cared about, and Stradlater teased Holden about having sex with Jane.
Holden then instigated a fight with Stradlater knowing that he was physically inferior to him and that he couldnt make a fist in his right hand. He would surely lose! However, Holden continued to insult him up until it came to a point that Holden couldnt stand it anymore. At that point, Holden continued insulted Stradlater until he swung at Stradlater and missed. Enraged, Stradlater ended the situation by punching Holden in the nose.
Although Holden didnt hurt himself with his own hands, he acted in a masochistic manor through the use of Stradlater. Holden knew that Stradlater would react and hurt him, but he continued. Holden was so enraged that he cornered Stradlater into hurting him knowing what the outcome would be. After Allies death, Holden became mentally obsessed with staying a child forever. Being a child forever means no sex, which Jane supposedly came into contact with. Holden worried deeply about everyone he cared about as well as himself being a child forever.
Because of this, he wished that Jane could stay a child forever. That is why he was so furious with Stradlater for presumably having sex with Jane and ruining any chance of her staying a child permanently and keeping her innocence. The reader can end this example by tying in Holden's act of masochism through Stradlater to Jane and then to sex. From sex, the reader can tie together wanting to be a child forever and then to Allies death. Allies death was in this instance, the cause of Holden's masochism After leaving Peace, Holden took the train to New York. On the way, Holden met an ex-fellow classmates mother.
They talked for quite some time and towards the end of the conversation, she asked Holden why he was returning home so early. He hastily replied lying that he had a brain tumor and the conversation went on. At first glance, the reader may not think his excuse is of any importance, but that response is definitely an instance where Holden atleast felt an urge of masochism. Subconsciously Holden was still emotionally attached to his brothers death and would not let go. He still thought that it was his fault. Therefore, when asked why he left early, he came up with a reason that symbolized death, which he wanted to bring upon himself.
However, his response was not planned out. He subconsciously thought of an answer to symbolize the death that he wanted to bring upon himself. His answer not only symbolized that he wanted to die, but it also symbolizes a way in which he wanted to die; disease. This fatal disease symbolizes the disease that killed his brother, Allie. This symbolism is another way to determine the source of his masochism and subconscious choice of words.
Disease was directly related to the Allies death and that hints to the reader the cause of Holden's choice of words and masochism. Holden's reply can certainly be perceived as an urge of masochism towards himself due to his brothers death. In conclusion, the reader can see that the character, Holden, felt guilty about the death of his brother. With that same guilt, Holden acted or had an urge to act masochistically towards his own life. In each of the examples, Holden either acted masochistically himself, masochistically through others, or even had a mere urge of masochism. Holden is most definitely a masochistic character in The Catcher in the Rye.
Free research essays on topics related to: brother allie, wanted to die, catcher in the rye, choice of words, character holden
Research essay sample on Wanted To Die Choice Of Words
