NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
Who is Holden really? ? ? A lousy, uninteresting phony? Or is he the most intelligent and cleverest person you ever met? Well This question isnt really easy to answer. Personally I think that he is a very intellectual human who unfortunately doesnt know how to use his intellect and who is suffering from major mental problems. On the one side, he is this guy who tries to be cool and accepted by other people.
However, on the other hand, he is this little lonely child who is seeking for someone who will comfort him and play with him. This essay will try to answer the question of who Holden really is and will try to explain the reasons for his abnormal behavior: Does he reveal his real face? The tough guy who is constantly using vulgar language or is he the weak fragile guy who cares about where the ducks go in winter? You have to try to see the truth behind all of the lies and contradictions to find out who Holden really is and who he wants to be. The next few paragraphs will explain all of this to you and make it clear to you that Holden actually is an intelligent young man who is very vulnerable and constantly on the search for recognition and love. Holden describes himself as a 16 year old boy who is obviously very unhappy and sees himself as the worst and useless member of his family.
He talks about himself as having had a lousy childhood; however, he doesnt want to discuss it because he is bored of everybody asking him such questions. What he actually means is that he is tired of life and practically hates almost everything about it. He doesnt see much sense in life since everything seems to turn against him. It is quite unusual for a young person of his age to reflect on death so frequently.
There are several passages in the book where he ponders about his own death. His only worry is how he would look once he was dead or who would come to his funeral. He compares these thoughts with his memories of the cemetery where his favorite brother is berried. One time he keeps discussing a situation of how is would be if somebody had shot him in his stomach and he was slowly bleeding to death; then again we find a place where he offers to blow himself up with an atomic bomb! I would regard all these death related thoughts as a cry for help and attention.
Our main character is constantly using vulgar language: He thinks that everything is either a goddamned... or something phony. He has the habit lying all the time, not only to characters in the book, however, also to the reader. He even admits to his dishonesty on page 14 when he says Im the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life.
He says that he just cant stop himself from doing it which shows that obviously something is very wrong with him. I would say that he is insecure of himself and has the need to camouflage reality. Mostly it is also due to a very strong inferiority complex. On the first page Holden gives us a short description of his brother D. B. You can tell that Holden really isnt too fond of him.
He declares him a prostitute of Hollywood because of his job and only makes negative comments about him. In reality he is jealous of his brother because he has a well paid job, lots of money, recognition and friends. Holden even goes farther and tells the reader that he hates movies because of his brothers involvement in them. This changes later when he starts spending more time in movies with friends or with his sister Phoebe.
This paragraph just shows how Holden behaves as a character and gives a short insight into some of his mental problems. As the story progresses Holden gets into more and more trouble: He is kicked out of schools, tries to lie his way through life and gets more lonely and helpless by the hour. Holden who is actually a very intelligent boy flunks out of many schools. He doesnt get kicked out because he isnt capable of doing the work but because of just not doing it.
This allegation proves to be right by him passing in English (the only subject that he likes) and failing in the rest of the subjects. He adds little notes to his exam papers where he sort of encourages his teacher to not hesitate with a bad degree. He, however, is let down by them. At the beginning of the book there is a scene when he take to his history teacher: Mr. Spencer about his life, etc. While he is doing this his teacher is practically paying no attention to him and is picking his nose.
Holden interprets this as a insult, however, thinks that it is correct because it is only him the teacher is talking to. This is an example of Holden's inferiority complex. He keeps thinking that he is worth practically nothing and everybody can treat him badly. This is actually not his fault because he cant do anything about people letting him down all the time and himself being pushed around. There are many passages where you can see how sensitive Holden is. We already noticed this when he sends a message to the teacher to prevent that the teacher would feel bad after flunking him.
In another chapter he talks about a boy who was obviously not as wealthy as he was and was obviously ashamed of his old suitcases. Such a situation is painful for Holden. Then again he explains that he cannot tolerate a situation when he is enjoying a big meal and somebody else would have to be satisfied with less. Holden is obviously very softhearted what he is trying to conceal with a rough language. Near the end Holden wants to go on a date with his old friend Sally. Before he does this he goes to eat at a snack bar.
There he sits next to two nuns who are collecting some donations. Holden now shows his gentleman side and contributes $ 10 to the nuns. This shows that also a person like Holden has a good heart. He actually does this because he is feeling lonely and wants to talk to someone.
Another example is when at two occasions he tries to start a conversation with a cab driver. He asked them where the ducks, which he once saw at central park go in winter because he actually is concerned about the ducks. He hopes to get an intelligent conversation going, however both cab drivers think that he is crazy. After being let down by that he makes another attempt to fight his loneliness by inviting the cab driver for a drink. He unfortunately is again disappointed and has to go on by his own. Poor Holden just looking for a freind to talk with and being let down every single time.
How can he actually get more normal and comfortable when nobody wants to do anything with him. Even when near the end he gets Sally on a date he ruins it by insulting her and then both hating eachother by the time the day was over. You really cant blame Holden for his problems when nobody tries to help him. He would need somebody who makes himself feel better and more accepted by other people and not like a runaway who nobody cares about. If somebody would do that it would probably can Holden so much that he could be described as normal. A major problem for Holden is his position in his family.
Obviously he is full of admiration for his brother Allie who passed away. This boy seemed to have everything what he would like to have. Allie was everybody's favorite: a fantastic student, intellectual and a very good person. When he died Holden lost his idol and fell deeper into his already depressing life.
The situation with Phoebe, his sister is similar. He likes her a lot and thinks that she is so much better than he is. His brother D. B. , obviously, has also reached a high position in life. Holden only has the honor that girls want to be in contact with him, in order to be reminded to his famous brother. He feels very little and inferior to all of them.
As you hopefully have noticed by reading this essay is that Holden is a quite hard character to judge. He, on the one side, is a sensible, sensitive gentleman, however, on the other hand he is the complete opposite. His behavior changes rapidly in many situations. I hope that I could also convince you that deep down inside Holden actually is normal and quite intelligent.
He doesnt show it very well because of his mental problems. I think that if his family would care more about him and not about his dead brother Allie Holden would have a far more relaxed and happy life. It is not Holden's fault that he is what he is, but it is the people around him who influence him to such actions.
Free research essays on topics related to: inferiority complex, brother allie, vulgar language, mental problems, cab driver
Research essay sample on Brother Allie Inferiority Complex
