Unveiling Holden's Vulnerability in "The Catcher in the Rye

The Catcher in the Rye VULNERABILITY OF A CHARACTER ESSAY

From the 2014 Higher paper: Choose a novel in which the vulnerability of a central character is apparent at one or more than one key point in the text. Explain the situation(s) in which the character s vulnerability emerges and discuss the importance of the vulnerability to your understanding of character and/or theme in the whole.

Remember: It is the SECOND part of the question that tells you what you need to do in your answer. In this case the question asks you to: Explain a situation (or situations) in which Holden s vulnerability emerges AND Discuss the importance of the vulnerability to your understanding of the character and/or theme

In what situations does Holdens vulnerability emerge? Leaving Pencey The encounter with Maurice Holden s journey to Central Park in Chapter 20 Chapter 25

Leaving Pencey Holden s vulnerability emerges when he writes the essay for Stradlater about Allie s baseball mitt which reveals: his enduring grief over his death; his tendency to digress or be unfocussed; his self-destructive streak [witnessed in the ensuing conflict with Stradlater, a flaw we see again in the encounter with Maurice] Holden s decision to leave Pencey is, clearly, a bad one: it puts him in an even more vulnerable position. How? It is important in revealing his alienation and tendency to run away from his problems Discuss the nature of his departure and how it could be interpreted [ I was sort of crying ; Sleep tight, ya morons! ]

The encounter with Maurice Establish how Holden s arrival in New York increases our awareness of his alienation, so, all in all, he is vulnerable when approached by Maurice Explain the circumstances surrounding the confrontation i.e. why Maurice comes to Holden s room and say how Holden has been feeling just prior to the knock on his door. Explain briefly what happens in the confrontation Holden s vulnerability emerges through Salinger s portrayal of a corrupt, seedy environment which increases our awareness of the theme of alienation AND Holden s display of self-destructiveness, with its strong parallels with the previous incident with Stradlater, reveals more clearly the effect this has upon his character

In Central Park Holden s physical and emotional vulnerability together create a sense for the reader that this is his lowest point Show awareness of how Salinger unites several of the novel s motifs here to deepen our sense of Holden s vulnerability and impending breakdown: Jane Gallagher; the ducks; Allie Comment on his decision to go home and see Phoebe Overall: alone; drunk; disorientated; looking for ducks [!]; freezing; imagining his own funeral Holden s observations of the lagoon and the city streets are symbolic of how he sees the world partly frozen and partly not frozen ; It was just very cold and nobody around anywhere and reflect, therefore, his vulnerable position

Chapter 25 The novel s climax provides the culmination of Holden s vulnerability: his physical state is worsening; he feels he is being swallowed up by his environment; it seems to him that he is surrounded on all sides by ugliness and profanity and he decides to go out West Describe what happens when Phoebe comes along and how her decision to accompany Holden forces him to see the consequences of such an action Discuss the final scene the carousel. How does its moving nature highlight Holden s vulnerability? Explain the symbolism of this scene and its relevance to the novel s title and Holden s fantasy