Thank you dude. I can't handle the overwhelming negativity towards this character. The call of the catcher is in us, and that's why we relate to Holden despite his bitterness and immaturity. Life implies death or perhaps more importantly, death implies life.
Exactly! Once we look past Holden's immaturities, I think we find a truly complex and enrichening character who informs us of life's most intrinsic dualities in relation to both life and death
This is gonna sound kind of sad. But I loved this book as a kid. Reread it again and again into my teens and it's had such a lasting impact. I loved this book and thought this was a great analysis and revealed to me things I knew intuitively but have been denying myself for so long. I'm 24, jobless in a massive rut. Been chasing an unachievable music dream. Travel and many drastic leaps and career changes have never really changed me. I've always held Holden in high regard, because I love the book so much. As have I held all my stupid self-destructive rock gods in the same light. Change hasn't come cos I can't let go of these ideals me and Holden held steadfast into destruction. This has just made it all the more clear to me. Especially as I just spent the last night sleeping on the streets in the snow. Check in with me in a year, we'll see if I embraced death. Keep up the good work sir
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I can relate in some ways - although I thankfully have a roof over my head, some may consider me a 28 year old starving artist, given that I have had limited artistic success and no tangible career at the moment. I'm glad you found my video useful in some way, and while undoubtedly you're encountering unbelievable trials and tribulations, I also want to honor the part of you courageous enough to pursue your life's calling in the first place. That to me is a mark of genuine character. And by all means, please keep me updated on your journey! If nothing else, your resolve is inspiring for me (and anyone else who finds your story) I wish you the best my friend :)
A part of growing up is realizing you have to be somewhat of a phony just like everyone else. It’s ok to have steadfast morals, but after a while we have to stop dreaming and wake up to cold reality.
Get a shit job and save up to Get on a plane to India… to Cambodia, to Vietnam, have an adventure with beautiful people…live in the warmth being looked after by kind poor people and you help them by working for them
What an insightful analysis, this is by far one of the best ones I’ve heard from The Catcher in the Rye. Something I’d like to point out though is that Holden didn’t quite fear death- instead he used it as a form of escaping his own reality when the situation didn’t work out for him..anyways amazing analysis!
Thanks so much! I appreciate the kind words. I think I agree with you if I understand you right. I’m not sure if Holden was consciously afraid of literal death, but rather his escapism from reality appears to me intertwined with his fear of the figurative death of his childhood. Maybe You could shorten my argument to “coming of age” instead lol
Don't forget that Salinger was hospitalized in the Army with PTSD after working at a concentration camp as an interpreter. He worked on this novel while in Europe.
@@SandfordSmythe Salinger’s life story is something that many people ignore. Salinger saw and experienced horrifying things. He likely witnessed the worst things actions and words people are capable of…likely even from his own comrades. He saw treachery, cruelty, and the indifference to other’s lives. I think Holden’s obsession with “phonies”, his judgey nature, and his constant questioning of people’s real intentions may be a reflection of that.
I never understood death being so closely tied in with the theme. I'm teaching this to my 10th graders now. One of my favorite books but I'm still figuring it out, more than 20 years after reading it for the first time. Thanks for this!
Wow, truly insightful! You shed light on so many of the deeper themes of this book, with such a straightforward yet profound understanding of the subject matter
I'm not gonna lie, I was confused and not the biggest fan of the book after reading it. But with this amazing analysis, it's got me thinking and its actually a beautiful book. Thanks Mate! :)
Crazy. I’m a 63 year old woman who read this in high school. and really liked it but had a hard time coming to terms with it but you had to say really helped me to make sense of it. Thanks for your input.
wow, this is such an interesting take, great analysis! for me though, I am not too convinced that Holden changes by the end. I mean, him recognising that you have to let children learn as they go yes; and probably that he has to do the same. But it's all very hypothetical. Your point concerning this is literally is based one sentence (about the golden ring). And the fact that he misses people from New York, despite them having any close relationship; doesn't that show that he still holds on to this nostalgia similar to his from his childhood? Even if not, I feel like he still lacks self-reflection by the end. He definitely does not realise "the errors of his ways", in my opinion. For example, he doesn't know what to think about what happened, even though he clearly told it/wrote it down which inevitably leads to some sort of self-reflection. Additionally, because he says something along the lines of "I don't know if I will put in the work, maybe, maybe not". I kind of get what he means by saying that one doesn't know what one will do in the future unless they will do it. But to me again this seems like distracting from the fact that he does not have a motivation, the "calling" you mentioned, because knowing this would make you very fond of what you are planning to do or having your intuition guide you, even if only in this very moment.
Thanks for the kind words and the insightful reply!! I think there's a great argument to be made that there's no substantial/lasting change solidified in Holden for sure. The reality is much of the ending is based on speculation. To me, the most powerful aspect of the ending is this sense of humility, or at least confusion in Holden. For the entirety of the novel he's completely set in his ways about the phoniness of reality, and his confusion and softness of nature to me gives a lot of hope for his character. To your point, where he actually goes from there is up for grabs, and its certainly possible that he can revert back to his old ways.
It's been so interesting to read this masterpiece at three different points in my life. At 14 years old, I identified with Holden; and almost looked up to him for his moxie to venture out on his own. Although it stressed me out how he was so reckless with his money. To stay independent, he needed to be more careful with his spending, ha ha. In my mid-20's, I identified more with the themes of cruelty and unfairness in the world. Life is rough. In my 40's, I felt bad for Holden, and picked up on subtle themes of mental illness and possibly sexual abuse. Great video analysis, old sport.
I always consider that the sign of fantastic literature - that the story evolves and grows as we grow! I personally couldn't stand Caulfield when I read him as a teenager, but grew far more sympathetic and patient with him as I revisited the story 10 years later
Incredible analysis! Currently writing my own script for a video essay. The book is translated in Russian, though it is hard to grasp these ideas from the translation, for people tend to include their own interpretations into the finished piece of work, emphasizing one theme, yet distorting the other. With your permission I'd be happy to translate and share some of the main points from your analysis with due respect to your work as a link and reference to it in my essay.
Very deep and interesting analysis. I think you really catch the point for many aspects, for few others I'd read a different meaning... Anyway very cool and not phony at all. 😉
I just finished reading this book but only now that i hear your analysis do i actually understand it 😂 One of the more unique and fascinating books I've ever read, if you want to know the truth.
I think it’s a love/hate book. Your perspective sees him as holding on to a false dream, and even describe him as Oedipal. I disagree, and I would describe him as Rousseauistic, who believes in the protection of innocence and a disgust with the monotony of adult life. “Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains” - Jean-Jaques Rousseau
Hey, I appreciate the video essay. I do agree with your sentiments and your arguments, but I feel that the wording of "death" is a little to heavy here to describe Holden Caulfield's reformation. I do not believe that someone's growth is death. As you said, it is figurative... but I feel that the title does not reflect your argument. I think it should be titled as, "The Life of Holden Caulfield".
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Thank you dude. I can't handle the overwhelming negativity towards this character. The call of the catcher is in us, and that's why we relate to Holden despite his bitterness and immaturity.
Life implies death or perhaps more importantly, death implies life.
Exactly! Once we look past Holden's immaturities, I think we find a truly complex and enrichening character who informs us of life's most intrinsic dualities in relation to both life and death
Apparently lemons are my spirit animal.
They’re one of my favorite motifs in the symbolist fiction I call life.
Cheers!
🐇
This is gonna sound kind of sad. But I loved this book as a kid. Reread it again and again into my teens and it's had such a lasting impact. I loved this book and thought this was a great analysis and revealed to me things I knew intuitively but have been denying myself for so long.
I'm 24, jobless in a massive rut. Been chasing an unachievable music dream. Travel and many drastic leaps and career changes have never really changed me. I've always held Holden in high regard, because I love the book so much. As have I held all my stupid self-destructive rock gods in the same light. Change hasn't come cos I can't let go of these ideals me and Holden held steadfast into destruction. This has just made it all the more clear to me. Especially as I just spent the last night sleeping on the streets in the snow.
Check in with me in a year, we'll see if I embraced death.
Keep up the good work sir
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I can relate in some ways - although I thankfully have a roof over my head, some may consider me a 28 year old starving artist, given that I have had limited artistic success and no tangible career at the moment.
I'm glad you found my video useful in some way, and while undoubtedly you're encountering unbelievable trials and tribulations, I also want to honor the part of you courageous enough to pursue your life's calling in the first place. That to me is a mark of genuine character.
And by all means, please keep me updated on your journey! If nothing else, your resolve is inspiring for me (and anyone else who finds your story)
I wish you the best my friend :)
A part of growing up is realizing you have to be somewhat of a phony just like everyone else. It’s ok to have steadfast morals, but after a while we have to stop dreaming and wake up to cold reality.
Get a shit job and save up to Get on a plane to India… to Cambodia, to Vietnam, have an adventure with beautiful people…live in the warmth being looked after by kind poor people and you help them by working for them
Sooo... how's it going?
where you at bro?
Ok this is exactly what I needed to know. Thank you
No problem! Thanks so much for watching :)
What an insightful analysis, this is by far one of the best ones I’ve heard from The Catcher in the Rye. Something I’d like to point out though is that Holden didn’t quite fear death- instead he used it as a form of escaping his own reality when the situation didn’t work out for him..anyways amazing analysis!
Thanks so much! I appreciate the kind words. I think I agree with you if I understand you right. I’m not sure if Holden was consciously afraid of literal death, but rather his escapism from reality appears to me intertwined with his fear of the figurative death of his childhood. Maybe You could shorten my argument to “coming of age” instead lol
Don't forget that Salinger was hospitalized in the Army with PTSD after working at a concentration camp as an interpreter. He worked on this novel while in Europe.
@@SandfordSmythe Salinger’s life story is something that many people ignore. Salinger saw and experienced horrifying things. He likely witnessed the worst things actions and words people are capable of…likely even from his own comrades. He saw treachery, cruelty, and the indifference to other’s lives.
I think Holden’s obsession with “phonies”, his judgey nature, and his constant questioning of people’s real intentions may be a reflection of that.
I never understood death being so closely tied in with the theme. I'm teaching this to my 10th graders now. One of my favorite books but I'm still figuring it out, more than 20 years after reading it for the first time. Thanks for this!
My pleasure! Glad you found it helpful :)
Wow, truly insightful! You shed light on so many of the deeper themes of this book, with such a straightforward yet profound understanding of the subject matter
Thanks so much Rian! I appreciate your kind words and am glad you enjoyed the video :)
just finished the book, then watched this, great analysis man!
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it!
I'm not gonna lie, I was confused and not the biggest fan of the book after reading it. But with this amazing analysis, it's got me thinking and its actually a beautiful book. Thanks Mate! :)
Thanks for the kind words! I'm glad you found it helpful :)
Just want to thank you man for this great analysis of one of my favourite books ever
No problem! Thanks so much for watching
Watching this before my english exam. Thank you for this, I love this novel with my heart
No problem! Happy you found it helpful, and best of luck on your exam!
amazing analysis, really gonna help my buddy and i with our presentation 👍🏻 thank you! you really got me thinking deeper about the book
Love to hear it! Good luck on your presentation 👍
That's a deep analysis, keep it up bro
Thanks so much, I appreciate it !
Crazy. I’m a 63 year old woman who read this in high school. and really liked it but had a hard time coming to terms with it but you had to say really helped me to make sense of it. Thanks for your input.
Glad you found my takes on it helpful 😊
Thatks for analysis, dude. your review killed me, it really did:)
Thanks for the kind words! Glad you enjoyed it!!
Just finished reading the book. Thank you for making this video, such a great analysis!
Glad you enjoyed it!
wow, this is such an interesting take, great analysis! for me though, I am not too convinced that Holden changes by the end. I mean, him recognising that you have to let children learn as they go yes; and probably that he has to do the same. But it's all very hypothetical. Your point concerning this is literally is based one sentence (about the golden ring). And the fact that he misses people from New York, despite them having any close relationship; doesn't that show that he still holds on to this nostalgia similar to his from his childhood? Even if not, I feel like he still lacks self-reflection by the end. He definitely does not realise "the errors of his ways", in my opinion. For example, he doesn't know what to think about what happened, even though he clearly told it/wrote it down which inevitably leads to some sort of self-reflection. Additionally, because he says something along the lines of "I don't know if I will put in the work, maybe, maybe not". I kind of get what he means by saying that one doesn't know what one will do in the future unless they will do it. But to me again this seems like distracting from the fact that he does not have a motivation, the "calling" you mentioned, because knowing this would make you very fond of what you are planning to do or having your intuition guide you, even if only in this very moment.
Thanks for the kind words and the insightful reply!!
I think there's a great argument to be made that there's no substantial/lasting change solidified in Holden for sure. The reality is much of the ending is based on speculation.
To me, the most powerful aspect of the ending is this sense of humility, or at least confusion in Holden. For the entirety of the novel he's completely set in his ways about the phoniness of reality, and his confusion and softness of nature to me gives a lot of hope for his character. To your point, where he actually goes from there is up for grabs, and its certainly possible that he can revert back to his old ways.
Thats the best analisys i ever seen🤯
Thanks!!
It's been so interesting to read this masterpiece at three different points in my life. At 14 years old, I identified with Holden; and almost looked up to him for his moxie to venture out on his own. Although it stressed me out how he was so reckless with his money. To stay independent, he needed to be more careful with his spending, ha ha. In my mid-20's, I identified more with the themes of cruelty and unfairness in the world. Life is rough. In my 40's, I felt bad for Holden, and picked up on subtle themes of mental illness and possibly sexual abuse. Great video analysis, old sport.
I always consider that the sign of fantastic literature - that the story evolves and grows as we grow!
I personally couldn't stand Caulfield when I read him as a teenager, but grew far more sympathetic and patient with him as I revisited the story 10 years later
Incredible analysis! Currently writing my own script for a video essay. The book is translated in Russian, though it is hard to grasp these ideas from the translation, for people tend to include their own interpretations into the finished piece of work, emphasizing one theme, yet distorting the other. With your permission I'd be happy to translate and share some of the main points from your analysis with due respect to your work as a link and reference to it in my essay.
Thanks for the kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed the video.
And for sure, that's fine with me!
Great analysis. I reread this novel every five-years, or so.
Thanks! This is definitely one of those novels rich enough to give you a new meaning every time you read it
@@seanberube Just buddy read it w a girl who'd never read it before.
really good analysis, i completely agree with everything you said
Thanks so much!
so this was just incredible.
Thanks!
needed this explanation for my essay, appreciate you
I'm glad I could help! Best of luck on your essay
One of my favorite books
very nice
that was a good analysis ...
Thanks!
Yessss
Very deep and interesting analysis. I think you really catch the point for many aspects, for few others I'd read a different meaning... Anyway very cool and not phony at all. 😉
Thanks for the kind words!!
Good analysis man!
Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it
I just finished reading this book but only now that i hear your analysis do i actually understand it 😂 One of the more unique and fascinating books I've ever read, if you want to know the truth.
Glad you found my analysis helpful.
I'm glad you enjoy the book too! In my opinion it's one of the most underrated books out there
This is amazing!!
Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it :)
I think it’s a love/hate book. Your perspective sees him as holding on to a false dream, and even describe him as Oedipal. I disagree, and I would describe him as Rousseauistic, who believes in the protection of innocence and a disgust with the monotony of adult life.
“Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains”
- Jean-Jaques Rousseau
this is hella good bro
I appreciate the kind words, thanks!
An interesting Petersonian analysis
Thanks! Lol
Well unless the cliff symbols the time Line between childhood and adulthood. A theory I read somewhere...
Brilliant
Thanks!!
His Name is Robert Paulson, His Name is Robert Paulson, His Name is Robert Paulson
Her name is Teresa Kovach,her name is Teresa Kovach,her name is Teresa Kovach,...............Pocatello Idaho?
Dobre noche.
Ceskoslovenska.
Hey, I appreciate the video essay. I do agree with your sentiments and your arguments, but I feel that the wording of "death" is a little to heavy here to describe Holden Caulfield's reformation. I do not believe that someone's growth is death. As you said, it is figurative... but I feel that the title does not reflect your argument. I think it should be titled as, "The Life of Holden Caulfield".
That’s a very fair critique!
If you wanna know what happened to Holden just watch madman, Holden is Don Draper
Interesting! I'd like to check it out
While I think what you’re doing is self analysis, for this is not the meaning at all.
I think meanings are mostly just opinions. There's many interpretations of this work, and I think this is a nice analysis and argument.
Try to compare this trash book with the "A man called ove".
You are a silly billy
Thats the best analisys i ever seen🤯