Pride corrupts even the most charismatic people. This is one of the factors that made A Raisin in the Sun one of the best and most real plays in African American History. The author, Lorraine Hansberry, was successful in creating a well-rounded protagonist who was described in detail and developed throughout the book. The story is about an African American family who lives in a tight apartment in Chicago. Walter lives with his wife, kid, sister and mom who is about to inherit the money from his deceased dad, Mr. Younger. His sister Beneatha wants to go to medical school so part of the insurance money will be set aside for her tuition. Some of the money will also be used to buy a house in an all white neighborhood; mama's idea. Walter ends up learning about many aspects of life including the security of family when he decides to use the money for an ambitious project and it ends up being stolen.

Walter is “a lean, intense young man in his middle-thirties inclined to quick nervous movements and erratic speech habits.” (Act I Scene I p. 25) This description sets up the mood and foreshadows sporadic decisions and vulgarity. At the start of the play Walter seems much worn out. His relationship with Ruth, his wife, seems to be decaying perhaps due to the poverty and constant arguments. Walter even asks his wife “You tired, ain't you? Tired of everything. Me, the boy, the way we live - this beat up hole - everything.” (Act I Scene I p. 32) Behind his accusations are his internal true feelings of harrow and sorrow. Money is a big problem too, it is so bad that Travis, the couple's kid suggests “could I maybe go carry some groceries in front of the supermarket for a little while after school then?” (Scene I Act I p. 29) Although the situation is horrible (and partly because of that) Walter decides to come up with an entrepreneur idea with his group of friends. “You see, this little liquor store we got in mind cost seventy-five thousand…” (Act I Scene I p. 33) There is nothing wrong with dreaming and coming up with new ideas, as long as they will not hurt others.

The problem with Walter is that he is willing to take his sister's money for his little project. “You just got your mother's interest at heart, ain't you, girl?” (Act I Scene I p. 37) He says this to his sister intimating that her taking the money to go to medical school is abusive. This shows how hypocrite Walter can be since he accepted the money more than gladly “It ain't much, but it's all I got in the world and I'm putting it in your hands.” (Act II Scene II p. 107) He spends the whole play worrying about money so much that he misses what his wife needs to tell him; “Son - do you know your wife is expecting another baby?... I think Ruth is thinking "bout getting rid of that child.” (Act I Scene II p. 74-75) His mother wants them to move to a house that will comfort them better, for this new child to be born into a nice household. When her son cannot prevent his wife from having an abortion his mom admits “you are a disgrace to your father"s memory.” (Act II Scene II p. 75) His inability to prevent the death of his future kid shows not only his obsession with this shop but also his weakness. His own wife was not able to talk to him about such a serious matter, which comes to show how difficult he is to talk to. He is not necessarily a bad father though. He displays his love for his son in his dedication to make this liquor store work and promise his child a better future. Although he was drunk when he said it, part of that fatherly character comes out mixed with, of course, his own pride of being the one who take this family out of the circle of poverty even if he does use someone else's money. “your daddy's gonna make a transaction… a business transaction that's going to change our lives… And I'll pull the car up on the driveway… And I'll come up the steps to the house and the gardener will be clipping away…” (Act II Scene II p. 108)

Walter's partner Willy ends up taking the money. At the end even Beneatha's school money was lost in the proud transaction. Just when the situation was improving, the news come “Man, Willy is gone.” (Scene II Act II p. 128) His friend Willy ran out with the money. Walter finally appreciates the money and understands the significance behind it when he says “THAT MONEY IS MADE OUT OF MY FATHER'S FLESH-” (Act II Scene II p. 128) This occurrence makes Walter change his mind and give up all his pride that he had when a man called Linder came “We don't want to hear no exact terms of no arrangements.” (Scene II Act II p. 118) Now he says “We going to do business with him.” (Act III p.141) Finally his fatherly instinct and the love for his wife shone through his dull mask of arrogance.

There were three sisters living with their widowed mother in a small town where everyone knew each other. Tita, the youngest one, was destined to stay in the house to take her of her mother until she died while her older sisters, Rosaura and Gertrudis, were allowed to marry. It seemed like Tita was born engaged to the kitchen, since when she came to this world on the kitchen table, with all the scents and different smells. She would spend most of her young years doing what she did best and was allowed to do; cooking. Mama Elena, Tita's mom, had extremely strong rules and did not listen to her daughter's desires, or her own for that matter.

One day, a handsome young man named Pedro visited the sisters and fell deeply in love with Tita. Since she could not marry him, he agreed to marry Tita's sister, Rosaura. As horrible as this marriage might have seemed, Nacha, the maid, overheard that Pedro only accepted so he could get closer to his love Tita. The hidden love continued and grew stronger in their hearts as time went by, but there was nothing these secret lovers could do. Tita had to cook the wedding cake and she cried so much over the icing that everyone who ate it remembered their lost loves and ended up melancholic and nostalgic. Apparently, nobody ever really marries their real love.

Tita's only friend, Nacha, passes away and she is left by herself to deal with her dire situation. Pedro was still in love with her and her food but he had to eat Rosaura's hideous food. More tension is raised when Gertrudis, who was very open minded and free spirited runs away with some rebels that were attracted to the house by her scent caused by Tita's passionate recipe. However, this has to stop since Rosaura and Pedro had conceived a child.

Luckily, Tita gets to take care of this child because her sister could not feed her son Roberto. When Mama Elena sees how close Tita is getting to the baby and his father, she decided to send the couple to San Antonio with the newborn. Because of this separation, Tita and decides to hide away from the trouble and loss by taking care of a pigeon. It is then when news arrive from San Antonio that Roberto died. Tita goes mad and is sent to a mental house in the United States. There she meets Dr. John Brown, who saves her from dismay and later asks her to marry him. Chencha was Tita's good friend who carried the news to Mama Elena. After her mother dies, she has to return and see Pedro again; tension builds up and Tita's heart is torn apart between the love of her life and the new man who saved her.

Esperanza, Rosaura's second child, is born and named by Tita. This makes Rosaura very jealous and makes Tita more intimate with the girl and her father. This younger sister's heart is compared to the water used to prepare chocolate that is boiled many times before actually making the chocolate. The passion keeps building up until Tita and Pedro cannot resist anymore and get intimate. After losing her virginity, Tita doubts if she should marry John and wonders if she is pregnant. The ghost of Mama Elena haunts her daughter for her betrayal.

At the end, Gertrudis returns to the ranch for a party and they all have a good time. Tita is freed from her mom's spirit after she stands up to her. Some years later, Rosaura dies of gases provoked by Tita's cooking after an argument, freeing Pedro. Her daughter was also freed and goes on to marry Alex; John Brown's son. As for Tita and Pedro, they were passionately ever after; they died together out of passion.

Dear Tita,

I know it is very hard to choose between a sister and a mother, and the man you love. Pedro just married Rosaura so that he could be closer to you. Sometimes guys make the worst choices out of love, but you have to understand him and comfort him.

It is very nice of you to take care of their child, and love him like your own. Be careful with these people because your sister is very bitter and jealous. You know what happens to passionate women when they are angry, some are even capable of making a whole wedding cry desperately. I would advise you to stay close to that child since he is your most precious relative now. Do not let anything or anyone take him away or put him in any danger. Remember that he needs you to survive.

Pedro will come to you if he really loves you and only then will you know if he is worth it. Do not wait for him so anxiously or get your hopes up, just live your life and he might drop by soon. Be proud of being a woman and value yourself or no one else will. You have seen even your mom being cruel and violent towards you; please do not do the same to yourself. The only one that can get you out of the whole you are getting in is yourself. I say we go out to the town, meet some guys like your sister Gertrudis did. Then you can go away far from all judgment and your evil mother. I will go with you, and we can take a couple of guys if you really want to. Maybe Pedro was not meant to be your husband, maybe he will regret not waiting for you, but do not sit here and wait to find out.

Waiting for you,

Yania ?

The dehumanizing treatment slaves got was physically exhausting and often very painful. Frederick Douglass wrote about many events when the dire images formed the mind of the reader make the book very challenging to read. A particularly harsh vivid image comes to mind when on page 52, the torture and mistreatment of a slave-woman is displayed with these words: “He made her get upon the stool and tied her hands to the hook. She now stood fair for his internal purpose. Her arms were stretched up at their full length, so that she stood upon the ends of her toes… red blood… came dripping to the floor.” The slave-owners did not get as much physical pain as they imposed upon the slaves to try to make them comply the orders of a supposed superior race. History shows that the slaves tried to fight back violently only found death. All this graphic pain and evil is depressing and even embarrassing, but a much deeper and complicated pain and evil was inflicted directly in the souls of the participants.

Most people would rather have corporal damage rather than mental and emotional. The psychological harm that slavery caused took its toll on slave-owners almost as much as slaves. Slave-owners who understood freedom and felt empathy towards the slaves were also corrupted. The readers can presence how the monster of slavery itself wrecked families by intimating that the thought of a group's dominance is an ethical belief. Douglass is able to show this devastating feature on page 81 when he writes “ My mistress, who had kindly commenced to instruct me, had, in compliance with the advice and direction of her husband, not only ceased to instruct, but had set her face against my being instructed by someone else.” Husbands dominating wives is a clear demonstration of how slavery licensed certain people to command others. In addition, the inferiority complex that some slaves were left with can be attributed to this home wrecking devil. Master had their slaves trained by force to act in a more convenient way for them, they would accuse slaves of misbehaving and punish them “To all these complaints, no matter how unjust, the slave must answer never a word.” (Pg. 60-61) This way of raising the slaves allowed their owners to keep them insecure and ignorant so that they would not know how to get out of that horrible deep hole and it had an impact that still lasts until today.

Nowadays, African Americans hold the whole issue of slavery in their favor and even grandchildren of slaves are getting capital that is supposed to somehow repair what the government did to their ancestors. The problem with that system is that it is teaching a race that slavery can be “repaired” which sounds completely incoherent. Slavery has not ended and it is seen in this country everyday with exploitation of people who their bosses even dare to call workers. An evil so big can only be fought with education and knowledge like Frederick Douglass decided to do. Besides showing how evil slavery is, he presents a possible solution to an issue of racism and cruelty.

The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave , proves that the system of slavery imposes the most evil power into humans, leaving them with a frightening apathy towards the “inferior” races. Not only did slavery make slave-owners be evil by beating slaves but it also destroyed homes and damaged the souls of all who participated in it. Frederick Douglass wrote “I was broken in body, soul and spirit.” On page 105, showing how the material is not all, and there are many ways to get hurt. The long lasting impacts of slavery are seen today even though Douglass suggested a good way to get rid of it. Therefore no matter where, this narrative should always be present in one's mind, to remember what the world once was and not allow it to ever go back.

The main character, Gatsby, was described in the first pages as a man with “an extraordinary gift for hope.” (P. 2). Throughout the book, the green light across from Gatsby's house to which he reaches full of hope is used as a symbol of this optimism. The light came from Nick's cousin, Daisy. Gatsby would do anything for her, including taking the blame for a hit and run accident. The reader discovers this because when Nick asks Gatsby if Daisy was driving the car that killed a woman he replies “of course I'll say I was.” on page 143. This book is trying to give out a message to the generation of appreciating life more because some people actually worked to get where they are. This might seem like an irony since all Gatsby did to get to the top was illegal, but in his funeral after a death brought on by the love of his life; his own American Dream, Gatsby's father explains his son was “bound to get ahead” because of his self-improvement book. (P. 173). The idea was to make Gatsby abnormal for his hope and determination to self-improvement so that people could notice the lack of hope and initiative during the 1920s. Fitzgerald was trying to send a message that would awake the superficial nation. Simultaneously, the writers of the Lost Generation were not so different from the image the author shows in the book.

Regardless of the prohibition law in the 18th Amendment, the Lost Generation drank their doubts and fears away. In the book there are countless scenes where alcohol is present. In fact there is a character, Owl Eyes who admits his drunkenness himself on page 45; “I've been drunk for about a week and I thought a library would sober me up.” The presence of alcohol is indispensable in the book to show how these people found comfort. There was a general atmosphere of fright and the question on everyone's mind was “what will happen next?” That is why people drank, instead of answering the question and without noticing that what happens next is directly influenced by the people. Once again, Gatsby becomes an ironic figure because he feeds people alcohol but stays away from it. He only throws his huge parties because he hopes one day the love of his life, Daisy, would come. Overall the alcohol image of the book is very much like history says it was. Although these disillusioned authors painted a picture of superficiality and reckless alcohol consumption, there is a much deeper message behind the ugly picture; the quest for the meaning of life.

Not so much characteristically of the 20s, the search for the meaning of life is slightly touched upon in the book. In reality, that was the Lost Generation author's goal; to somehow understand why they were here and what their purpose was. They wanted to share with the public their ideas on the happenings of the era. Almost ending the book, the narrator, Nick, jumps into a conclusion that since the people that did not adapt were all from the West, then maybe there is something about the Midwest that does not allow them to survive in the busy East. He shows this on page 176 by saying “perhaps we possessed some deficiency in common which made us subtly unadaptable to Eastern life.” This is, in a deeper way, an attempt to reach the meaning of life; a try for an answer to all the chaos. The book reveals many facets of people in general and symbolically tries to explain them.

Another aspect of the meaning of life is the famous American Dream and how it can be infinite different roads for each person. For Nick it could be possessing morality while Gatsby's American Dream was clearly Daisy; “Gatsby believed in the green light.” (p. 180). Nick's dream, however, evolves throughout the book on his policy of reserving judgment. At first Nick was sure that “reserving judgments is a matter of infinite hope” (p. 2), but after coming face to face with hope itself he changed and made a realization of what hope really means. By the end he finds that he is disgusted by Daisy's cheating husband who was partly responsible for Gatsby's death, Tom, and thinks “I couldn't forgive him or like him.” (P. 179).The story itself is a big explanation of Gatsby's behavior and Nick's opinions; it has lost people in a lost world.

Therefore, The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald is a picture of the consumerist society that the Lost Generation was disappointed with. The book talks about hope, shows the dramatic alcohol scene and tries to explain human behavior and the meaning of life. This generation, a fruit of WWI, has shaped the way the world thinks today. Its pessimist approach to occurrences is still around and the war ideals have not yet vanished. Fitzgerald's book, however, is always there for when we want to open our eyes and stop creating the same kind of people and repeating the same mistakes. At the end Fitzgerald strips of his Lost Generation skin by closing the book on a more positive and hopeful note by saying “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back carelessly into the past.” Introducing once again the principle of appreciating life and the belongings it lends us.

At many points in the book, Holden would admit he did things he shouldn’t be doing. For example, on page 98 he says “I felt so depressed you can’t imagine.” At that moment he understands he is depressed and needs some help. Right after that, on page 104 he even says “I felt like jumping out the window.” That is an evident sign of a serious case of depression that needs to be treated. Though he never admitted to have a judgmental problem, he did realize he was depressed.

In the beginning Holden was sure of what he was doing, no matter what it was. He was calmed and did not really care about life; he showed it on page 12 when he told Spencer “I’m flunking everything else except English anyway.” He did not really seem to care or be worried at all. This is very different from later thoughts like when he realizes “Every time I came to the end of a block and stepped off the goddamn curb, I had this feeling that I’d never make it to the other side of the street.” This feeling I beyond his depression, like he can’t control it, as if his head was trying to tell him something.

Lastly, when Holden got to the hospital he really opened up and started talking. One of all his problems was that he would not talk to anybody in the book; he was very closed and would hide a lot of his innermost feelings. The whole story is told by him, and it reveals a lot, so probably he understood that to get over something it is good to talk about it. He even starts to miss people as he remembers them, his true feelings came out. On page 214 he says “Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you’ll start missing everybody.” That is a huge sign of personal growth which is the best way to change.

After seeing all this, I can deduct that Holden changed and will keep changing with the help of specialists. He proved to everyone that he is not as immature as it seemed and that he can step back, reflect upon life and make stronger decisions. However, at the end of the day, the key is still interpretation and imagination. His signs of change were small, but a happy ending is only for those who see it that way.

The story takes place in an American city of the future where everybody was being pleased, or so thought the government. The population is enormous in the time of the story and, stated in page 87, “Bigger the population, the more minorities… The bigger your market, Montag, the less you handle controversy, remember that!” To avoid civil rights movements and complaints in a place full of different people with different beliefs, Firemen actually start fires; the worst ever seen. They are “official censors, judges, and executors” as described by the captain of the Firemen on page 88. Since all the houses are fireproof and there is no more need for firefighters, fire-igniters came along; burners of books. Montag, a frustrated married fireman who thinks is happy meets an eye-opener around the corner.

After his wife tries to commit suicide and is saved by the emergency doctors who are very busy at that time, Montag meets Clarisse Mc Clellan. This teenager has heard stories of the past, which is our present, and always walks with Montag until they reach their neighboring houses. She tells Montag about the truth that lies in books and how he destroys it. She questioned Montag and left in him in uncomfortable situations like that time she asked “Do you ever read any of the books you burn?” in page 37. Soon, the fireman starts realizing how people have no time for beautiful simple things in life and in the middle of his revelation, his young helper dies.

Subsequently, Montag starts trying to save the books and the knowledge that lies within the inked pages held together by the hands of people who still remember them. After burning a woman with her books, he becomes curious about what books might say and compromises his wife by committing the crime of keeping books in his house. In his desperation because of the situation with his wife which he talks about in page 110 by saying “I can’t talk to the walls because they’re yelling at me. I can’t talk to my wife; she listens to the walls.” (The walls had TV’s on them) Montag goes to an old book lover he once met. Together they decided to restore the old value of the books.

At the beginning od their adventure, Montag is discovered and forced to do things he might regret such as killing his own boss with the same fire that killed his precious books. His wife was the one who put out an alarm saying he had books in the house and went away denying him. Being persecuted by the police and having no more wife, this man seeks Faber (his friend) for help. Montag has to flee searching for more people that think like him. The book comes to a surprising resolution that is only enjoyable when it is read, after all, books should keep their value for ever and be read, not summed up to people.

“I’ll just tell you about this madman stuff that happened to me around last Christmas before I got pretty run-down and had to come out here and take it easy.” (Salinger 1)

The author mentioned “out here” referring to the place where he is now. This whole story seems to be told by him to someone maybe at an institution or a hospital.

“… D.B… he’s my brother and all… He wrote this terrific book with short stories… Now he’s out in Hollywood, D.B., being a prostitute.” (Salinger 1 – 2)

This is just some information about his older brother, who was expected to show his younger brother the way. Seems like a frustrated writer that fell into the Hollywood scene and started going down the wrong path. The fact that his brother still accepts him and does not get stuck on this fact reveals how open-minded and probably family oriented he is.

“I was the godam manager of the fencing team… I left all the foils and equipment and stuff on the godam subway.” (Salinger 3)

Besides the fact that the author does not have the best vocabulary, some anger comes through with this quote. Also, his clumsiness and forgetfulness without care are evident.

Chapter 2

“I just mean that I used to think about old Spencer quite a lot, and if you thought about him too much, you wondered what the heck he was still living for.” (Salinger 6)

Obviously this young man does not see himself growing old like his teacher and has no sense of appreciation or respect. One thing is speaking one’s mind, another thing is speaking the bizarre, deep, cruel thoughts one thinks. For such a young kid to think that a man that still works and has breath left at night to talk to him has nothing to live for, it makes me think he has nothing to live for, really.

“I am flunking everything else except English anyway.” (Salinger 12)

Visibly a smart boy, just lazy and maybe way too opinionated, to the point when it’s rude. At least he tried to make his teacher feel better in his own twisted way.

“I’d never yell ‘Good Luck!’ at anybody. It sounds terrible” (Salinger 16)

The way he thinks of the phrase is very interesting and I have come to realize that I do share his point of view. However, he does not notice that it is being yelled to him, and with good reason.

Chapter 3

“[Ackley] started walking around the room, very slow and all, the way he always did, picking up your personal stuff off your desk and chiffonier.” (Salinger 20)

Ackley sounds like one of those people who others only feel pity for, and he does not seem to mind that. In a way, he’s always there at least, like a school relic or a monument.

“Then I said, ‘The reason you’re sore at Stradlater is because he said that stuff about brushing your teeth once in a while. He didn’t mean to insult you, for cryin’ out loud’” (Salinger 24)

The author’s roommate is honest and to tell a young man to start brushing his teeth, he must be at least a little conceited and think the world is at his feet in my opinion. The author himself is not that humble because he repeated what his roommate said, these boys really speak their minds.

“[Stradlater] always walked around in his bare torso because he thought he had a damn good build. He did, too. I have to admit.” (Salinger 26)

It is funny how he contradicts himself and in a sense it seems like he really likes his roommate, as if he’s going to miss him when he leaves Pencey.

Chapter 4

“Stradlater was more of a secret slob. He always looked all right, Stradlater, but for instance, you should’ve seen the razor he shaved himself with… He never cleaned it or anything.” (Salinger 27)

Some envy towards his friend comes out here, it is pretty disgusting to see someone shave with a rusty razor but there is no reason to be telling whoever he’s telling this story too. Guys are guys and I thought they were supposed to keep each others reputation intact as long as they are friends, but then again, I’m a girl.

“Stradlater was always doing that, he wanted you to think that the only reason why he was lousy at writing compositions was because he stuck all the commas in the wrong place.” (Salinger 28)

That quote is very funny because it is so true. Stradlater was definitely conceited and he thought everybody had to do what he wanted because he is popular. As for the author, he knows how to analyze people and writes the true thought of a quiet guy.

“’Who’s your date if it isn’t Fitzgerald’? I asked him… ‘I’m thinking… Uh. Jean Gallagher.’…‘You’re damn right I know her. She practically lived right to me, the summer before last…’” (Salinger 30 – 31)

Chapter 5

“I didn’t have a date or anything, so I and this friend of mine, Mal Brossard, that was on the wrestling team decided we’d take a bus into Agerstown and have a hamburger and maybe see a lousy movie.” (Salinger 35 – 36)

It is interesting how the way he writes is just like the way young people talk even though the book was a copyrighted in 1945. The author is a little too unconcerned with life though, it is scary how he really does not care about anything.

“I wrote about my brother Allie’s baseball mitt… he had poems written all over the fingers and the pocket and everywhere… He’s dead now… He was terrifically intelligent.” (Salinger 38)

The death of his brother must have been really important for his family and himself; he remembers the exact date.

“I slept in the garage the night he died, and I broke all the goddamn windows with my fist, just for the hell of it.” (Salinger 39)

The death of a family member is really painful, but that kind of reaction only comes from someone that is not very healthy. Especially the fact that he says he just did it for the hell of it instead of admitting he was hurt because his brother died.

Chapter 6

“‘You always do everything backasswards.’ He looked at me. ‘No wonder you’re flunking the hell out of here,’ he said. ‘You don’t do one damn thing the way you’re supposed to…’” (Salinger 41)

This quote just confirms how arrogant Stradlater is, and I find the way he said it rather funny because he was not even supposed to write it in the first place so maybe he should think of who’s really the one that doesn’t do what he’s supposed to do.

“‘What’d you do? I said. ‘Give her the time in Ed Banky’s goddam car?’… I got up from the bed, like I was going down to the can or something, and then I tried to sock him… Anyway, the next thing I knew, I was on the floor and he was sitting on my chest, with his face all red.” (Salinger 43)

It was tough for the author to see this friend of his mess with who he had once liked and evidently, not gotten over.

“I had a feeling old Ackley heard all the racket and was awake. So I went through the shower curtains into his room, just to see what he was doing.” (Salinger 46)

Like any guy, it looks like he’s trying to hide that what he really needed was a friend to talk to. As I’ve mentioned before, Ackley does seem like the kind of guy nobody really likes but he’s always there.

Chapter 7

“I felt so lonesome all of a sudden. I almost wished I was dead.” (Salinger 48)

Finally he’s starting to realize that beyond all the fun and independency that looks so cool there is a real person and he needs things he does not have.

“So what I decided to do, I decided I’d take a room in a hotel in New York… Then, on Wednesday, I’d go home all rested up and feeling swell. I figured my parents probably wouldn’t get old Thurmer’s letter saying I’d been giving the ax till maybe Tuesday or Wednesday.” (Salinger 51)

That was so spontaneous, just to leave and never see those people again, it made me think there are so many times when teenagers want to do this, this book reflects who we are and where we would end up if we did anything we wanted.

“When I was all set to go, when I had my bags and all, I stood for a while next to the stairs and took a last look down the corridor. I was sort of crying. I don’t know why.” (Salinger 52)

He acts like he never knows why he’s sad, even when he is ready to leave yet another school, it makes me sad.

Chapter 8

“All of a sudden, this lady got on at Trenton and sat down next to me… She was around forty or forty-five, I guess, but she was very good-looking. Women kill me. They really do. I don’t mean I’m oversexed or anything–although I am quite sexy.” (Salinger 54)

This quote is really the fist time he talked about girls directly, now he seems more like a normal guy. Nevertheless, he is talking about a woman that could be his mother; I don’t know how that makes me feel.

“I had her glued to her seat. You take somebody’s mother, all they want to hear is what a hot shot their son is.” (Salinger 56)

He was lying to this woman about his son just because he thought she had a lot of sex appeal. Lying is almost like a game to him, to see if people believe him and while he’s at it, he tells them what they want to hear.

“‘No everybody’s fine at home,’ I said. ‘It’s me. I have to have an operation.’ ‘Oh! I’m so sorry,’ she said. She really was, too. I was right away sorry I’d said it, but it was too late.” (Salinger 58)

At least he started feeling sorry about lying because he realized it was getting a little too serious.

Chapter 9

“‘You know those ducks in the lagoon right near Central Park South? That little lake? By any chance, do you happen to know where they go, the ducks, when it gets all frozen over? Do you happen to know, by any chance?’” (Salinger 60)

How analytic, I was always satisfied by the idea that they just fly away on their own, kind of like he did. Perhaps the ducks and himself do need someone to take them somewhere.

“I was probably the only normal bastard in the whole place.” (Salinger 62)

A teenager that broke all the windows in the garage when his brother died, tried to fight his roommate for a girl that he does not dare to say hello to and got expelled from more than one boarding school thinks he’s normal. It is funny how we always think we are the normal ones without realizing that the “abnormal” are probably thinking we are rare.

“She used to be a burlesque stripper or something. Anyway, I went to the phone and gave her a buzz.” (Salinger 63)

It sounds like the underground prostitution business, to think about a woman like that. He was really feeling lonely, and a little crazy to call someone that late and make an offer like he did.

Chapter 10

“While I was changing my shirt, I damn near gave my kid sister Phoebe a buzz, though. I certainly felt like talking to her on the phone.” (Salinger 66)

He is family oriented, after all, at least he respects his little sister, probably the only person he truly enjoys talking to; a kid.

“I could hardly stop myself from sort of giving her a kiss on the top of her dopey head… ‘Hey! What’s the idea?’ ‘Nothing. No idea. You really can dance’ I said ‘I have a little kid sister that’s only in the goddam fourth grade. You’re about as good as she is, and she can dance better than anybody living or dead.” (Salinger 72)

Even though he thought she was not very bright or attractive, just her ability to dance and maybe some hormones made him kiss her.

“There isn’t any night club in the world where you can sit in for a long while unless you can at least buy some liquor and get drunk. Or unless you’re with some girl that really knocks you out.” (Salinger 76)

His vision of life is so pessimist it scares me. There are so many things to think about at his age and all he thinks about is alcohol and girls.

Chapter 11

“All of a sudden, on my way to the lobby, I got old Jane Gallagher on the brain again. I got her on, and I couldn’t get her off.” (Salinger 76)

He’s thinking of her so much he might be obsessed.

“I felt a hand on the back of my neck and it was Jane’s. It was a funny think to do.”

(Salinger 79 – 80)

I’m sure Jane thought it was a romantic or daring thing to do, maybe even a hint, but since this guy doesn’t really care about anything, nothing really moves him, he thought it funny.

“Ernie’s a big fat colored guy that plays the piano. He’s a terrific snob and he won’t hardly even talk to you unless you’re a big-shot or a celebrity or something, but he can really play the piano.” (Salinger 80)

Once again, some envy comes through towards this guy that plays the piano because he can and he does it good.

Chapter 12

“‘Hey Horwitz’ I said. ‘You ever pass by the lagoon in central park? Down by Central Park South?’… ‘Well, you know the ducks that swim around in it? In the springtime and all? Do you happen to know where they go in the wintertime by any chance?’” (Salinger 81)

He seems like an obsessive kind of guy, things get on his head and it is impossible for him to get them off. Taxi drivers that late at night don’t care for the ducks in the lake, but it is a good question.

“I was surrounded by jerks. I’m not kidding.” (Salinger 85)

The author sat down and thought he had everyone figured out all the time. Maybe what he thought the people were doing was not near the truth, and he thought everyone was corny so much that it got corny itself.

“It made me mad, though, when I was getting my coat. People are always ruining things for you.” (Salinger 87)

He thinks his night is ruined, and it might be; he does not have a date, cannot talk to his sister and hates everyone, but that wasn’t his brother’s ex-girlfriend’s fault.

Chapter 13

“I walked all the way to the hotel. Forty-one gorgeous blocks… Sometimes you get tired of riding in taxicabs.” (Salinger 88)

Having nothing better to do, and one of those weird obsessions he gets caused him to walk so much.

“I know you’re supposed to feel pretty sexy and all when somebody gets up and pulls their dress over their head, but I didn’t.” (Salinger 95)

After he degraded all girls he actually didn’t feel like using a prostitute, that’s nice. Getting a prostitute must be pretty depressing though.

“‘Ten for a throw.’ ‘He said five. I’m sorry–I really am–but that’s all I’m gonna shell out.’” (Salinger 98)

The prostitute wanted more money than the man who sent her had said he was going to charge him. The client stayed strong and paid only what he said he would.

Chapter 14

“I felt so depressed you can’t imagine. What I did, I started talking, sort of out loud, to Allie.” (Salinger 98)

He talked to his dead brother in his sorrow, which is not as weird as it might seem after I thought about it.

“‘I awreddy got it’ Sunny said. She waved five bucks at me. ‘See? All I’m takin’ is the five you owe me. I’m no crook’ All of a sudden I started to cry… Then what he did, he snapped his finger very hard on my pajamas… it hurt like hell.” (Salinger 103)

The prostitute and the man who sent her came back for five dollars and Maurice (the man) hit the author as he cried. He is still so innocent in a way; he might even be starting to get scared.

“I felt like jumping out the window. I probably would’ve done it, too, if I’d been sure somebody’d cover me up as soon as I landed. I didn’t want a bunch of stupid rubbernecks looking at me when I was all gory.” (Salinger 104)

Blaming the people around him again for not doing what he supposedly feels like doing.

Chapter 15

“What I did do, I gave old Sally Hayes a buzz… ‘Swell. Well, listen. I was wondering if you were busy today. It’s Sunday, but there’s always one or two matinees going on Sunday. Benefits and that stuff, Would you care to go?” (Salinger 106)

He invited his ex-girlfriend, another girl he really did not care for and thought was stupid, to the movies.

“Anyway, these two nuns were sitting next to me… I asked her if she was out collecting money for charity and all. She said no… ‘I could make a small contribution…’” (Salinger 109)

Even though he did not seem very concerned about life, this shows he does have a heart and cares about other people, maybe even more than he cares about himself.

“To tell you the truth, it was sort of embarrassing, in a way, to be talking about Romeo and Juliet with her. I mean that play gets pretty sexy in some parts, and she was a nun and all,” (Salinger 111)

It is amusing to see people that can only relate nuns and priests to sex. There are so many more things in the play to talk about and of course a young man could only think about the sexy parts.

Chapter 16

“There was this record I wanted to get for Phoebe, called ‘Little Shirley Beans.’ It was a very hard record to get.” (Salinger 114)

Once again, his devotion and love for his little sister shows. Perhaps it is because he has already experienced the death of a younger sibling and realized that he might lose Phoebe too. Proof of the saying “You don’t know what you have until you lose it.”

“This family that you could tell just came out of a church were walking right in front of me… The kid was swell… He was singing that song ‘If a body catch a body coming down the rye.’… The cars zoomed by, brakes screeched all over the place, his parents paid no attention to him, and he kept on walking next to the curb and singing…” (Salinger 115)

The author might have felt a little identified with this kid, since life went by him so fast and he concentrated in other things. So many people around him just watching or not noticing him at all and he was still wondering what happens to the ducks in the winter time.

“You could go there a hundred thousand times, and that Eskimo would still just be finished catching those two fish… Nobody’d be different. The only thing that would be different would be you… You’d have an overcoat this time. Or the kid that was your partner in line the last time had got scarlet fever…” (Salinger 121)

The idea that one can never repeat anything in a lifetime seems true to me. There is never a day exactly like another; they might be horrifically similar, but not equal.

Chapter 17

“You never saw si many phonies in all your life, everybody smoking their ears off and talking about the play so that everybody could hear how sharp they were” (Salinger 126)

To the author, everybody is a phony and in reality, we all are inside. We are phonies because we think others are phony because of the way they act or talk, or even look.

“‘Look, I said. ‘Here’s my idea. I know this guy down in Greenwich Village that we can borrow his car for a couple of weeks… What we could do is , tomorrow morning we could drive up to Massachusetts and Vermont, and all around there, see. It’s beautiful as hell up there… We’ll stay in these cabin camps and stuff till the dough runs out. Then… I could get a job somewhere…” (Salinger 132)

He just got the craziest idea to go live somewhere far off with Sally, the girl he still doesn’t really like. This guy is starting to sound a little insane and out of place.

“‘C’mon let’s get out of here,’ I said. ‘You give me a royal pain in the ass, if you want to know the truth.’ Boy, did she hit the ceiling when I said that.” (Salinger 133)

When he told Sally the truth, she obviously got hurt. This might be the reason why he lies so much, because people will never tell others what they want to hear unless they lie.

Chapter 18

“The trouble with girls is, if they like a boy, no matter how big of a bastard he is, they’ll say he has an inferiority complex, and if they don’t like him, no matter how nice a guy he is, or how big an inferiority complex he has, they’ll say he’s conceited.” (Salinger 136)

Since his friend had a bad experience with that, the author assumes all girls do that, although it is true in most cases.

“Then, after the Rockettes, a guy came out in a tuxedo and roller skates on… He was a very good skater and all, but I couldn’t enjoy it much because I kept picturing him practicing to be a guy that roller-skates on the stage.” (Salinger 137)

This quote reveals more of his attitude toward talented people because he believes he doesn’t have a talent.

“I was in the Boy Scouts once, for about a week, and I couldn’t even stand looking at the back of the guy’s neck in front of me… I swear if there’s ever another war, they better just take me out and stick me in front of a firing squad.” (Salinger 141)

D.B. went to Europe on D-day with the army, and he didn’t do anything too dangerous, but the narrator has another view of war and doesn’t like discipline.

Chapter 19

“I bored him a lot. I really did. He amused me though. He was one of those guys that amuse me a lot.” (Salinger 144)

The guys that really amuse him a lot must be the phony intellectuals, and he invited one, Luce, to have a drink just for personal entertainment.

“‘…If she was decent enough to let you get sexy with her all the time, you at least shouldn’t talk about her that way’ ‘Oh, God!’ old Luce said. ‘Is this going to be a typical Caulfield conversation? I want to know right now.’” (Salinger 145)

According to what Luce assumes, the author probably only thought and talked about sex and girls, and thought about them quite a lot too.

“He was leaving his tip and all and he was ready to go. ‘Have just one more drink,’ I told him. ‘Please. I’m lonesome as hell. No kidding.’” (Salinger 149)

As his old mate Luce left, the author started to realize how desperate and lonely he must feel to invite someone like him to exchange a few words.

Chapter 20

“When I was really drunk, I started that stupid business with the bullet in my guts again. I was the only guy at the bar with a bullet in their guts. I kept putting my hand under my jacket, on my stomach and all, to keep the blood from dripping all over the place.” (Salinger 150)

Pretty much self explanatory, he went to a bar, got drunk and started acting like if he was wounded just because, and he knew it, too.

“‘Holden, this I me.’ It was old Sally. ‘What’s the big idea?’ ‘Sally? That you?’ ‘Yes–stop screaming. Are you drunk?’ ‘Yeah. Listen. Listen, hey. I’ll come over Christmas Eve. Okay? Trimma goddam tree for ya. Okay? Okay…’” (Salinger 151)

In his intoxication, he called Sally to accept an offer she had made a long time ago, he must have felt really lonesome.

“I started thinking how old Phoebe would feel if I got pneumonia and died… I figured I’d better go sneak home and see her.” (Salinger 156)

Most teenagers think of sneaking out of their houses, not inside, but Holden wanted to see his sister, she seems to be all he is still around for.

Chapter 21

“I sat there on D.B. ’s desk and read the whole notebook. It didn’t take me long, and I can read that kind of stuff, some kid’s notebook…” (Salinger 161)

He finally went to his house and went through his little sister’s notebook as she slept in his older brother’s room.

“‘You did get kicked out! You did!’ Old Phoebe said. Then she hit me on the leg with her fist… ‘You did! Oh, Holden!’ She had her hand on her mouth and all. She gets very emotional, I swear to God” (Salinger 165)

Once his sister found out he had been kicked out again, she got sad and angry.

“‘Daddy’ll kill you!’ she said. Then she flopped on her stomach on the bed and put a goddam pillow over her head.” (Salinger 165)

Holden’s sister got so angry she wouldn’t talk to him, and he thinks she’s crazy…

Chapter 22

“‘You don’t like anything that’s happening.’ It made me even more depressed when she said that.” (Salinger 169)

Phoebe is wiser than her brother and she tells him he has an attitude problem and there’s nothing he really likes.

“‘I like Allie,’ I said. ‘And I like doing what I’m doing right now. Sitting here with you, and talking, and thinking about stuff, and–’ ‘Allie’s dead…’ ‘… Don’t you think I know that? I can still like him, though, can’t I?’” (Salinger 171)

Once Holden thinks of something he likes, after thinking for a long time, all he could talk about is his dead brother and his little sister. There are no hobbies, career goals or any of those things most teenagers have.

“Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all… And I’m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the 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… I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all.’” (Salinger 173)

Besides that the title of the book is mentioned, this quote shows a little more of his caring side and how confused he is.

Chapter 23

“Mr. Antolini was very nice. He said I could come right over if I wanted to.” (Salinger 174)

Holden called his old teacher to go live at his house until his parents were told he had been expelled.

“Anyway, we dances about four numbers, and then I turned off the radio. Old Phoebe jumped back in bed and got under the covers.” (Salinger 175)

Finally he got to dance with his sister which is what he loves to do.

“‘You can take it all. You can pay me back Bring it to the play.’ ‘How much is it, for God’s sake?’ ‘Eight dollars and eighty five cents. Sixty five cents. I spent some.’ Then, all of a sudden, I started to cry…” (Salinger 179)

His little sister let him borrow some money which is a reason to cry because it is depressing that a kid on elementary school gives her big brother who just got kicked out of high school and has nowhere to go her Christmas presents money. At the same time, that gave Phoebe the security that he would come back to return it.

Chapter 24

“‘Thanks,’ I said. I took a cigarette from the box he offered me. ‘Just once in a while I’m a moderate smoker.’”

Lying like always; he had lied to Mr. Antolini who offered his house to him. He smoked a lot in Pencey and more when he got kicked out.

“I woke up all of a sudden. I don’t know what time it was or anything, but I woke up. I felt something on my head, some guy’s hand. Boy, it really scared Hell out of me. What it was, it was Mr. Antolini’s hand… ‘What the hellya doing?’ I said. ‘Nothing! I’m simply sitting here, admiring–’” (Salinger 191-192)

His old teacher was petting him on the head in the middle of the night, he was nice for letting him sleep there, but the petting is very weird, Mr. Antolini had been drinking a lot, too.

“‘I left my bags and all at the station. I think maybe I’d better go down and get them. I have all my stuff in them’… ‘You’re a very, very strange boy’” (Salinger 192-193)

Since his bags where at the station in one of the lockers, the narrator saw in that an opportunity to go away from his rare old teacher. It’s funny that the teacher who was patting the student in the middle of the night thought he was strange for trying to leave as soon as possible.

Chapter 25

“Anyway, I kept walking and walking up Fifth Avenue, without any tie or anything. Then all of a sudden, something very spooky started happening. Every time I came to the end of a block and stepped off the goddam curb, I had this feeling that I’d never get to other side of the street.” (Salinger 197)

That feeling is a big sign of depression or some other mental condition only the person whose mind is twisted has control over. He did spend the night at the station, which must not have been pleasant.

“Finally, what I decided I’d do, I decided I’d go away. I decided I’d never go home againand I’d never go away to another school again. I decided I’d just see old Phoebe and sort of say good-bye to her and all, and give her back her Christmas dough, and then I’d start hitchhiking my way out West.” (Salinger 198)

That style of thinking resembles a lot of what many of us think, but never do. Holden is like the result of a teenager who does everything he fantasizes with.

“I was damn near bawling, I felt so damn happy, if you want to know the truth. I don’t know why. It was just that she looked so damn nice, the way she kept going around and around, in her blue coat and all.” (Salinger 213)

One more time, Phoebe makes him feel happy and forget all his troubles, even the rain.

Chapter 26

“I could probably tell you what I did after I went home and how I got sick and all, and what school I’m supposed to go to next fall, after I get out of here… A lot of people, especially this psychoanalyst guy they have here, keeps asking me if I’m going to apply myself when I go back to school next September.” (Salinger 213)

This whole story was told in a mental hospital where his parents took him to psychoanalyze him and get him to be better at school.

“… D.B asked me what I thought about all this stuff I just finished telling you about. I didn’t know what the hell to say.” (Salinger 213)

Holden is obviously tired of people asking him questions, but his brother is just concerned.

“Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you’ll start missing everybody.” (Salinger 214)

That is very true, every time a story is told, people are remembered and usually there is some bond with that person that is stronger than time.