Blog Option One: Considering a writing technique/ studying
symbolism in the text.
Please create a
connection between the article above and our discussion of the baseball mitt. In this article above, how does the writer
use a simple discussion (the complaint about the rattle in the car) to push
forward a greater idea? What is this
article really about? Also, could
this second-half of this article apply to Holden in some way? How so? Please quote from the article and the
novel within your response.
In both the blog above about the car and Holden’s essay we see a simple
object such as a baseball glove or a rattle in a car being a symbol of a deeper
and more sensitive and emotional problem within people. Just like in Catcher,
no one else can understand your symbol, whether it’s a mechanic who can’t hear
your rattle or a teacher who doesn’t understand your brother’s glove. This idea
shows that while in the blog post the author talks about the car she is really
talking about the deep rooted problems we all have in our lives. These problems
can be as simple as a stressful life or trip, however, in Holden’s case he has
the stress and weight and sadness of his younger brother’s death which we can see
in his narration of the baseball glove that keeps him moving and now we can see
that Holden has created a shell that he refuses to shed for anyone except, occasionally,
the reader. Because of this shell Holden has created no one else can validate
his struggle and he appears to become a troubled child who refuses to apply
himself and is repeatedly thrown out of schools, but when he opens his shell
for the reader we see a much more sensitive and caring Holden than the other
characters see and because of this we see a diverse and complex character
instead of a failure.
I appreciate the diction used throughout the article and the thorough explanation of the connection between the rattling and Holden. Do you think if Holden never lost Allie he would be a functioning member of society, unlike what he is now.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that you addressed the depth the article presents with the emotional meaning in the rattle and Holden's baseball mitt. I agree that Holden has stress and sadness from his brother's death, and I think that it shows through his attitude in the book. At many points, things make him "Sad as hell". Most importantly though I think is Holden's reaction to Stradlater not liking his composition. " I went over and pulled it straight out of his god damn hand. Then I tore it up." (Salinger 41) I think his strong reaction to Stradlater's comment shows what the baseball mitt means to Holden, similar to the rattle has with the narrator. Do you think that if Stradlater had approved of the story and been pleasant about it towards Holden, that Holden might not have left Pencey?
ReplyDeleteReally strong work. The quote "you could tell she was trying to get in good with me." really helps show that he is good at seeing people's arterial motives but he is still nice to them even if he thinks they are trying to take advantage of him. This really shows his complexity because it shows he is quick to judge yet he is kind despite his judgement. How do you think that Holden will evolve and what do you think the big event will be that alters the course of his life?
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the detail that you used to describe and compare Holden's baseball mitt to the rattle in the car and I also agree with how Allie's death has made Holden more sensitive, but if Allie had not died would Holden still have the sensitive side that has become present within the book?
ReplyDelete