Mini-Socratic Seminar

2. Mini-Socratic Seminar QUESTION 1 Psychoanalyze Holden. What is at the root of his problems? What incidents or thoughts Holden has expressed so far show this? QUESTION 2 The book was written more than a half a century ago. Yet, many feel that it reflects contemporary adolescents’ feelings and experiences. What is timeless and universal about the novel? What can you specifically relate to in the book? Not relate to at all? QUESTION 3 Is Holden a sympathetic character? If he were a student at WHS, would you be his friend? Why or why not? QUESTION 4 Holden dislikes much about people, his life, and the world. But what does he like or see as good in the world? Does the book end on an optimistic note?

3. Chapters 7-12: Thoughts • Phoniness • Holden is very annoyed with Ackley’s phoniness. Yet, Holden tells extravagant lies to Mrs. Morrow about her son Ernie; he uses a fake name (Rudolph Schmidt, the janitor at Pencey); and even claims to be leaving Pencey because of a brain tumor. • This constant lying is evidence of immaturity and even imbalance, but are his intentions cruel, kind, or simply careless? • Holden constantly berates movies as phony, but he clearly has seen a lot of them.

4. Chapters 7-12: Thoughts • Loneliness • On his way to New York, Holden wants to call someone but can’t think of anyone: D.B. is in Hollywood; he “doesn’t feel like” calling Jane; and Sally Hayes’s mom hates Holden. • He keeps mentioning though that he wants to call Phoebe, who sounds a lot like Allie: red hair; unusually clever for her young age; humorous (She writes fictional stories about “HazleWeatherfield,” whose last name she adopts as her middle name.) • Phoebe is Holden’s soul mate

5. Chapters 7-12: Thoughts • Even though it’s late when Holden gets to his hotel room, he is almost on a desperate mission for human interaction, from Faith Cavendish, to the girls at the Lavender Lounge, to even the cab drivers. • Note Holden’s slip with the first cabbie: He gives the cabbie his home address. This may indicate Holden’s subconscious yearning for home.

6. Chapters 7-12: Thoughts • Pain of growing up • Holden keeps asking where the ducks go in winter. • This may be his way of expressing fear and sadness that the ducks are there one day, gone the next – just like Allie. • He may need reassurance that they (and Allie) are OK, wherever they are. • More likely, he may be subconsciously wondering where is he going to go? Who is going to take care of him?

7. Chapters 7-12: Thoughts • Symbols: The red hat revisited • Uniqueness and individuality. • He is very self-conscious about it. He mentions it every time he wears it, and often does not wear it if he is going to be around people he knows. • This mirrors Holden’s need for isolation versus his need for companionship. • The hat connects him to Allie (and Phoebe)

8. Chapters 7-12: Thoughts • Writing structure • Salinger cleverly structures the narrative to signal there is more to the story than Holden lets on, all of which contributes to Holden’s decreasing mental stability. • Holden never seems particularly concerned about his own behavior. He often seems angry but rarely discusses his feelings. • What emerges, however, is the desperation, pressure, and trauma he endures during this difficult time in his life.

9. Chapters 7-12: Thoughts • He never mentions himself. He avoids introspection and reflection on his own shortcomings and problems by focusing on the world around him, usually critically. • However, his focus on other people reveals the extent to which he longs for companionship, love and compassion. • After her stepfather’s intrusion, Jane is overwhelmed by a pain she cannot articulate. This is similar to Holden’s situation. • He is struggling with pain he can’t talk about with anyone in the book.

10. Chapters 7-12: Thoughts • Sexuality • What Holden sees through his window at the Edmont Hotel both confuses and excites him. So he calls Faith Cavendish, a promiscuous girl recommended to him by a former classmate. • On the other hand, Holden thinks people should only have sex if they care deeply about one another, and the “crumby” behavior he sees seems disrespectful (although on some level, he seems to like it). • What bothers him is his perception that sexual attraction can be separate from respect and intimacy, and that sex can be kinky. • He meets the three older women in the Lavender Room, who depress him for being enamored with fame and famous people. His flirting is comical and ultimately humiliating for him. • “Sex is something I don’t understand. I swear to God I don’t.”

11. Chapters 7-12: Thoughts • He clearly also has affection for Jane Gallagher: the only person outside of his family that he has shown Allie’s glove to. • He loves her idiosyncrasies: golfing with her eyes closed; moving her mouth in all directions when she speaks; keeping her kings in the back row. • Jane is an example of Holden’s devotion to those he sees as innocent; he can’t protect her from the Stradlaters of the world, and it frustrates him. • Their physical relationship was mild: Holden was completely enthralled when they merely held hands and when Jane put her hand on the back of his neck.