Chapters 13-15: Thoughts

2. Chapters 13-15: Thoughts • Relationships, sexuality • Sunny represents another attempt at female companionship, but this can only be superficial, sexual, and devoid of emotion. • This represents his conflict: something he needs but fears. • This is also seen in Sally Hayes, who is conventional, superficial, and phony, but to whom Holden is drawn for her looks. • Clearly afraid of the adult world, Holden shies away from intimacy and is scared of his emerging sexuality.

3. Chapters 13-15: Thoughts • Alienation • Holden’s encounter with Sunny: In addition to his moral refusal to go through with it, he is also depressed about her age, which is very close to his. He hates the thought of the store clerk who sold her the dress doing so in the ignorance that she is a typical teenage girl buying a new dress, when it really is her uniform. • He emerges from this scene more wounded and hurt than he was before. • This encounter also reaffirms his understanding of a cruel and senseless adult world. • So he takes refuge in isolation, which only deepens his alienation and loneliness.

4. Chapters 13-15: Thoughts • Interesting note: J.D. Salinger at one time sold one of his short stories to be made into a Hollywood film, which he hated and regretted, which may be why Holden refers to D.B. as a “prostitute” who sold out his writing art. • When Salinger was a boy, his nickname was “Sonny.” • Could the homonym “Sunny” come from this notion of prostitution?

5. Chapters 13-15: Thoughts • Loneliness • At this point in the novel, it’s clear that loneliness is at the heart of Holden’s problems. He is on an almost manic quest for interaction. • He is aching for Jane, who represents the type of companionship he wants. Their moments of intimacy were subtle, innocent, and extremely personal. • Holden’s worldview is to see childhood as innocent and good; adulthood as superficial and evil. He rationalizes his loneliness by pretending that every adult around him is phony and annoying. • The incident with the nuns surprises Holden because these adults don’t fit into his worldview of adults. They are kind, intelligent and sympathetic.

6. Chapters 13-15: Thoughts • But his interaction with Sunny also shows that he is what might be called a “good kid.” • He doesn’t go through with it. • He always stops when a girl says “no.” • He has to get to know a girl before he gets intimate with her.

7. Chapters 13-15: Thoughts • Phoniness • Lillian Simmons and the Navy guy: perfect examples of Holden’s phoniness criticism. • Holden has a hard time praying to Jesus, whom he likes. He is bothered by how the Disciples let Jesus down, indicating the importance of friendship and loyalty to Holden. • Holden’s other favorite Biblical character is “that lunatic and all, that lived in the tombs and kept cutting himself with stones.” • That man’s name is Legion, who is a troubled soul who resists being tamed, much like Holden.

8. “The Graduate”

9. “The Graduate” • Ben Braddock is a 20-year-old (about to turn 21) college student; track star, awarding winning scholar; debate; cross country; newspaper editor. • Yet, it all means little to him upon graduation.

10. “The Graduate” • He is disenchanted with the wealth and trapping of his upbringing and his parents’ generation/values. • His transformation from confused youth to young man begins with his affair with Mrs. Robinson, the wife of Ben’s father’s law partner. • Yet, it’s immediately clear how empty the relationship is: built solely on physicality. • “If you think I do this for any other reason than sheer boredom, you’re wrong.”

11. “The Graduate” • Ben’s other important quotes: • “I’m sort of disturbed about things.” • I don’t think of you that way … I’m mixed up.” • “I’m just drifting” • “I’ve had this feeling ever since I graduated; I have the compulsion to be rude all the time.”

12. “The Graduate” • Important quotes continued: • “Plastics … There is a great future in plastics” (Mr. McGuire) • “Is it just the things I stand for that you despise?” (Mr. Robinson)