Ackley's Descriptive Writing In The Catcher In The Rye

When describing Mr. Spencer, Holden uses words relating to being disgusted by the old mans appearance. He didn’t appreciate Mr. Spencer’s apparel either as his chest was exposed and he could smell Vick Nose Drops in the air (page 7). This image implies that Holden doesn’t approve of aging or the concept of working towards death. A second image is expressed when Holden talks about the food supplied at Pencey Prep. He says that although they are served stakes, it is impossible to cut into them and describes how phony the food is (page 35). This service shows how the school annoys Holden and why he can’t stand being there any longer. A third example is when he is dancing with the three girls in the Hotel lobby, he described the one girl as “dragging the Statue of Liberty around the floor” (page 74). This image portrays that Marty can’t dance very well and he can’t stand being with her; Holden may even be displaying that he is better than her. Perhaps Holden believes we are not equal and are instead based on our level of

Holden loves to judge Ackley, but the two characters are more similar than Holden would like to admit. Holden is just as lonely as Ackley. They were the only two students that didn’t show up to the school football game (22). Neither of them had close friends, and they both were sarcastic, nosy and critical of others. When Ackley first appeared in the book, he began to irritate Holden by asking him question after question while Holden was trying to read (24-30). Immediately afterwards, Holden began

Teenagers often struggles with school due to the difficulty to get good grades and interact with teachers and other students. Holden is at Mr. Spencer’s house because Mr. Spencer wants to

This quote is from Holden’s conversation with Mr. Spencer. Mr. Spencer is his former history teacher, who has asked Holden to meet and discuss about the latter’s situation at Pencey. Mr. Spencer tries to understand Holden and is probably one of the few people who tries to point Holden in the right direction. This conversation is significant because Holden is lectured about the importance of playing by the rules. Likewise, through this talk, Holden shows his isolation and victimization. He identifies himself as the victim on the ‘other’ side of the game where everyone is against him. At this point, Holden shouldn’t have any grudges because he’s from a good family, and he’s a bright guy when he applies himself. His bitterness is also understandable as he’s only trying to protect himself from the perplexing games of the world.

The Catcher in the Rye is a novel by J.D. Salinger. It is narrated by Holden Caulfield, a cynical teenager who recently got expelled from his fourth school. Though Holden is the narrator and main character of the story, the focus of Salinger’s tale is not on Caulfield, but of the world in which we live. The Catcher in the Rye is an insatiable account of the realities we face daily seen through the eyes of a bright young man whose visions of the world are painfully truthful, if not a bit jaded. Salinger’s book is a must-read because its relatable symbolism draws on the reader’s emotions and can easily keep the attention of anyone.

Holden as a character displays the alienation of himself through his behaviour. Holden is not the same as many people and believes that everyone is a ‘phony’. Throughout the novel Holden realises more and more that he is different and sees the world differently to others around him. Holden has created an identity for himself and doesn’t want that to be diminished therefore he alienates himself from the rest of society to decrease the chances of that happening. Holden’s old school, Pency Prep, has the motto “since 1888 we have been shaping young boys into splendid, clear-thinking men.” (pg. 2) This increases Holden’s motivation to leave the school as it will be shaping his identity into something he doesn’t want to be; a man. Holden is all about protecting those younger than him from the dangerous world of adult hood and by alienating himself he feels he has a better chance of

Holden Caulfield is a character who has been through rejection and wishes to protect others innocence. He is a teen boy who is the main character in Catcher in The Rye by J.D.Salinger. He has an older brother named DB, a younger sister named Phoebe, and a younger, deceased, brother named Allie. Holden retells his story on him, trying to be the catcher in the rye. Holden has been kicked out of different colleges. He has been rejected by different girls. Holden goes through his life story. He talks about being kicked out of Pencey, his friend Jane, his “acquaintance” Stradlater, and how, when, and where Allie died. Society is to blame for Holden Caulfield's decline in mental stability. Society does not help Holden. Instead, they ignore his

“Catcher In The Rye”, is Holden’s dream. He stands in a field of rye, while catching children who are playing too close to a cliff. This represents his love of children’s innocence. When he sees kids who are innocent and how real it is, it makes him very happy. Little things upset him, such as bad words on a wall, because of how powerful pure innocence is to him.

His childish side is first seen while in one of the bathrooms at Pencey Prep, where Holden finds himself “sort of in the mood for horsing around” and feels “like jumping off the washbowl and giving old Stratlater,” one of his older friends, “a half nelson” (Salinger 34). Although he is sixteen years old, certain characteristics of a young boy are still preserved, for Holden has yet to grow out of them. Holden energetically plays with Stradlater in order to get his attention, rather than communicating to his acquaintance in a sophisticated manner due to a lack of maturity and known alternatives. This creates a notable tension between his hyper, boy-like liveliness and his insightful, dark seriousness, which continues to plague him throughout the rest of the novel and signals towards how such tension can be present in one’s own life. Despite Holden’s occasional youthful outbursts, he also possesses certain aspects of maturity at Pencey Prep. When summarizing one of his other friends named Ackley, he describes how one “had to feel sorry” for the boy because of his

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is the story of a young man making his way through New York city, enduring hardship, and figuring out life along the way. Although the story focuses on Holden at this point in his life, the story also details events that have happened previously, throughout his childhood and adolescence. These events have been a part of the development of Holden as a character, and make up the reasons Holden behaves and does things a little differently than others. Holden Caulfield is a lonely person who becomes increasingly depressed throughout the story. He is also judgmental towards others and continuously lies as a form of entertainment.

On one of Holden's papers he had to write about the Egyptians. However, Holden writes one paragraph about the Egyptians, and he leaves a note to Mr. Spencer which says "It is all right if you flunk me though as I am flunking everything else except English anyways. (pg 12). " This quote shows that Holden was empathetic towards Mr. Spencer because he cared about his feelings when he would fail Holden. However, when Holden goes to talk with Mr. Spencer, Mr. Spencer just wants to know what Holden thinks of flunking out of Pencey and what he's going to do in the future, instead of asking how he felt about the situation.

Mr. Spencer, his old history teacher from Pency, wanted to give him some advice which sounded like a lecture so Holden ended their conversation and hated him after the talk. His family friend and teacher, Mr.Antolini was kind and pitied Holden, and once Holden realized that he was showing some affection towards him since he realized the pain he was going through, he dismissed him as a

Holden’s relationship with his own dorm room members while at Pencey Prep shows how Holden recognizes people who are genuine, while ignores or de -legitimizes people he feels

Holden is having a conversation with Mr.Spencer about

Spencer and Holden begin chattering and talking about Mr. Thurmer the headmaster and how life is a game. Holden is still skeptical about this metaphorical connection about life and how it is a game. He does not fully grasp the concept nor the idea of what he does now will affect the outcome of his future. According to Holden it is only a game if one is an important person that has an important role. As the conversation continues, Holden is asked if he cares, and if he ever wonders about his own future. Holden responds saying he does care, but says he is not too worried about what is ahead and is fine at the moment. Old Spencer’s statement to this response that Holden gives, he expresses to Holden in return that, “You will,’ Old Spencer said,