Holden's Dream Job

Holden’s dream job is to be a “catcher in the rye”. Coincidentally, this is also the title of the book. He wants to protect the children who are playing “some game” in rye field from falling off a cliff. “‘I mean if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them’” (Salinger 173). After thinking about this quote for some time, I start to wonder whether Holden is again referring to the game of life. Earlier in the book, he was talking to Mr. Spenser about how life was a game. Holden did not believe it was a game for anyone but the people that played like the hotshots. This leads me to think that Holden wants to protect or teach these people who do not know what they are getting into from falling victim to the game. I think his plan to teach them was carried out by writing this story.

Conquering Expectations

Step. Step.

What if I am not what he thinks?

Trying my hardest to stay in sync.

Don't say the wrong things.

Won't say the wrong things!

Talk about the weather

Can't go wrong,

can you?

Step. Step. Step.

Don't even know what

he looks like. 

Don't even know what 

I look like!

Step.

"Excuse me,

where is the restroom?"

"This way."

Step. Step. Step.

Hair straight, 

makeup adjusted,

dress smoothed.

Step. Step.

This is it. 

Could be the one.

Don't screw it up.

Won't screw it up!

Step. Step. Step. Step.

Wait.

This is not how it should be-

what about me?

First impressions..

Isn't love above all this?

Just want something real-

something right.

Forget the world-

all the perilous happenings.

Forget the people-

all staring. Laughing.

Gotta like me

for me.

Forget about looks.

Forget about worry.

Gunna let me tight,

pinned up, 

hair down. 

I am

on MY way. 

If Ever I had a Favorite Line...

"'Did you ever get fed up?' I said. 'I mean did you ever get scared that everything was going to go lousy unless you did something?'" (Salinger 130).

This quote has spoken to me since the first time I read it. It just has so much meaning! It speaks in so many ways, and I feel like every person that reads this sees it differently; yet, we could all relate to it! For Holden, who is just "fed up" with life and the game that it is, this quote tells us why he acts the way he does. If he plays the game, everything in his life would just be lousy. What is life if you can't make it what YOU want it to be? He is so different because he is trying to do something. More than most of the rest of us can say. We are all content to just play along with the game. What's the worst that could happen right? It seems to work for most people. But then, where is the happiness for those people? Where is the individuality? What if we had a world full of Holden Caulfields?