Jason Litt Ms. Grgas World Literature and Analysis-1 23-January-2013 Culmination Journal: Siddhartha and The Catcher in the Rye Siddhartha walks into the local Starbucks where he is meeting up with an old friend, Holden Caulfield. Holden: Yo Sidd, it’s about time you showed up here. I’ve been waiting for only a half-hour. Siddhartha: Sorry about that. I don’t believe in using fuel-powered vehicles. I like to enjoy the nature, and also in order to protect nature I walk, which is how I got here. Holden: What drink do you want to get Sidd the legend? Siddhartha: Well, I think I’m going to go with the Calm Brewed Tea. How could I resist? It is just so pure and from the Earth I can’t go against the natural environment for some of that “phony stuff” like you always say Holden. What about you? Holden: Every day since I was a kid I’ve gotten the Caramel Apple Spice. It helps me stay awake and alert all day so I can focus on homework. Just kidding! You know I don’t do homework. That’s for phonies! Siddhartha: Holden, I recommend that you stay in school; it’s the only way that you will ever succeed in life. It is quite obvious that you have had many problems in the past few schools that you’ve attended. Something I’ve learned from my journey is that there is always time to turn your life around and start over again! Holden: I doubt that. Anyway, I think we should catch up a little bit. It’s been a while. When was the last time we saw each other? When we were both around 12 years old? So, how have the ladies been treatin’ you? Siddhartha: Yes, I’m pretty sure we last saw each other sometime around then when I was a Brahmin’s Son. Time sure does fly! I was kind of dating a young lady named Kamala. Our relationship came to a close a... ... middle of paper ... ...ject for me to talk about, but ever since my brother Allie died, life hasn’t been the same. His own innocence was cut short… Holden begins to cry silently trying not to draw attention from the other people in Starbucks. Siddhartha: You know what Sidd? That’s enough for today. We talked about a lot. Let’s meet up here tomorrow at 2 PM and discuss your brother some more. Holden wipes away tears and gets up from the table The next day Siddhartha met up with Holden back at Starbucks. They started talking about what Holden could do to improve his study habits and get back on the path that his life started on…At the end of the year Holden and Siddhartha were finished with Ms. Grgas’ World Literature and Analysis class with an average of a 97. Holden got a 100 on his New York State English Regents exam at the end of the year. Holden is yet to get a grade below a 90 in
He viewed him as some sort of God. Siddhartha gained tons of knew knowledge on his journey. With his new found knowledge, he could now teach Govinda, just as Govinda taught him. Siddhartha had finally completed his life goal. He had finally reached true enlightenment. In this quote, the author uses figurative language to illustrate Siddhartha’s journey and his evolution.
Holden returns to school and goes to his bedroom in the dorm. In his room quietly reading, his neighbor Robert Ackley came in. Holden describes him as a pimply, insecure, annoying boy with a bad dental hygiene. When Holden’s roommate Stradlater who was “madly in love with himself” (27) arrived home after the football game, Ackley abruptly left. Stradlater tells him that he has a date with a friend of his, Jane Gallagher. Jane is someone that Holden really cares for and because he knows the way Stradlater is, Holden became worried for her. “It just drove me stark raving mad when I thought about her and Stradlater parked somewhere in that fat-assed Ed Banky’s car”. (48) Holden became depressed and lonely, so out of the blue Holden decides to pack his things and leave for New York a few days earlier. On the train to New York, Holden meets the mother of one of his schoolmates. Not wanting to tell his whole life story, he told her his name was “Rudolf Schmidt”, the name of th...
She tells Holden that she is very sorry and she is hopeful that he will be well soon. Holden then catches himself in a lie and he remarks, "Once I get started, I can go on for hours if I feel like it," (58).
Siddhartha is a much respected son of a Brahmin who lives with his father in ancient India. Everyone in their town expects Siddhartha to act like his father and become successful. Although he lives a very high quality life, Siddhartha is dissatisfied and along with his best friend Govinda- wants nothing more than to join the group of wandering ascetics called Samana’s. This group starves themselves, travels almost naked and must beg for the food they survive on. This group of people believes that to achieve enlightenment and self-actualization: body image, health, physical and material desires must be thrown away. Although this is the life Siddhartha wished for himself, he soon discovers that it is not the right choice for him. Near desolation, Siddhartha happens upon a river where he hears a strange sound. This sound signifies the beginning of the life he was born to live – the beginning of his true self. Hesse uses many literary devices to assure Siddhartha’s goal of self-actualization and creates a proper path for that success.
Holden struggles to make connections with other people, and usually resorts to calling them phonies whenever they upset him. He finds natural human flaws in people and runs away from connection immediately. His date with Sally shows this. Near the end of the date, Holden tells Sally about his plans to run away from life. When Sally gives him practical advice, Holden is quick to escape connection by calling her “a pain”. Sally’s advice would definitely guide Holden in a more realistic direction, but that is not what he wants to hear. Conflict always arises in his mind even if there is little in reality. His struggles with finding connection also make him too apprehensive to call his old friend Jane. Holden likes to think of Jane as a pure and perfect girl that he can
The second step of Siddhartha's journey is realizing that although he has knowledge, knowledge is not enough without experience. Experience can be gained through practicing knowledge. Also he realizes that thought and sense must be used together to find the way. He meets with Kamala whose beauty and intellegence overwhelms him. Kamala's observation and sensitiveness help Siddhartha to develop his sense of love. To paid for her lectur, he has his "think, wait, and fast"(chapter 5, page 46). With Kamala's help in another lecture, he gains the combination of the simplicity and intelegence.
Another important scene is when Holden says, “…I kept walking and walking up Fifth Avenue… 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 the other side of the street. I thought I’d just go down, down, down, and… Every time I’d get to the end of the block I’d make believe I was talking to my brother Allie.
Holden does not try at all in school. Holden also said he was flunking four out of his five classes. The only reason he was passing English is because he is learning the same concepts as the ones he learned at the last school he flunked out of. The same night he talked to Mr. Spencer, he also got into a fight over a girl with his roommate, Stradlater. After this fight, Holden packed up his most valuable belongings and headed into the city.
that he is trying to hide his true identity. He does not want people to know who he really is or that he was kicked out of his fourth school. Holden is always using fake names and tries speaking in a tone to persuade someone to think a cretin way. He does this when he talks to women. While he is talking to the psychiatrist he explains peoples reactions to his lies like they really believe him, when it is very possible that he is a horrible liar and they are looking at him with a “what are you talking a bout?” expression. Holden often lies to the point where he is lying to him self.
Holden shows a particular liking towards children over adults. He values the innocence and authenticity of children and he tries to protect them from the phoniness and evil of the world. When he goes back to his old school at the end of the novel to give a note to Phoebe, he sees an obscenity on the wall that infuriates him. He says, "Somebody'd written `F*** you' on the wall. It drove me near damn crazy. I thought how Phoebe and all the other little kids would see it, and then finally some dirty kid would tell them-all cockeyed, about it and maybe even worry about it for a couple of days. I kept wanting to kill whoever'd written it" (201). When Holden's sister Phoebe demands that he tell her one thing that he really likes, Holden's responds saying, "I like Allie...And I like doing what I'm doing right now. Sitting here with you, and talking and thinking about stuff..." (171), showing that he's most content in the simple and innocent world of his childhood.
It is evident that Holden Caufield has specific moments where he can recall and apply them wherever he is in life. His unleashing of children and their ability to explore the world without assistance has helped him transition to the real adult world. His fascination with ducks has made him realize that nothing is ever permanent and no one can always be there for when ever one falls. Lastly, the passing of a loved one can be times of despair but learning to grow and fight the internal struggle can help bring ease. Holden has really transformed from an egoistic individual to a genuine gentleman, he has grown from his experiences and is able to tolerate more pain. The reality has struck Holden no matter how distorted the outside world is to him, maturing is inevitable and using these moments will always be something for him to live for.
“There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time.”[1] Everyone faces adversity in their lifetime, and how one deals with the issues is what sets one apart from the other. In Siddhartha and The Catcher in the Rye, both Holden and Siddhartha face a barrage of issues. These difficulties, if not dealt with, can be debilitating; however, if the victim tries to resolve them, the issues become obsolete. Both Holden and Siddhartha face great adversity, these difficulties include: relationships, emotions, destiny, and suicide. While both characters dealt with these issues, the manner in which they were dealt with was extremely different. The differences between Holden, a teenage dropout with no regard for future; and Siddhartha, the Buddha, “The one who has awakened,” are very apparent.
Siddhartha, after realizing that the Brahmins will not aid him in achieving his ultimate goal, joins the Samanas. This brief stay wit...
Holden lacks the essential ability to motivate himself, which he needs to survive in the 'real' world. He continues to be kicked out of every school he attends because he fails to apply himself, his simple reasoning being 'How do you know what you're going to do till you do it? The answer is, you don't' (213). Everybody else in his life tries to encourage him to care about school and his grades but it doesn?t make any difference. From the start of the novel Holden?s history teacher at Pencey tells him ?I?d like to put some sense in that head of yours, boy. I?m trying to help you. I?m trying to help you, if I can? (14). But the fact of the matter is he can?t help him, Holden has to help himself. The drive to succeed has to come from within him, ?I mean you can?t hardly ever do something just because somebody wants you to? (185). In order for Holden to succeed he has to want it for himself. The only problem being Holden is unable to will him into doing anything he is not genuinely interested in, therefore missing out on further knowledge he could acquire that would truly entice him. Holden gives up on school because he fears if ...
While Holden was attending Pencey Prep, he formed a relationship with his history teacher, Old Mr. Spencer. Mr. Spencer was really the only teacher that Holden liked. While Holden was getting ready to go into Mr. Spencer?s bedroom, he said, ?His door was open, but I sort of knocked on it anyway, just to be polite and all.? (7). This showed his respect for Mr. Spencer and his privacy. It also showed that Holden had manners but had enough of a friendship with Old Spencer to talk with him in his own home. However, Holden felt a little uncomfortable with the situation when he actually saw Mr. Spencer, started talking to him, and felt a lecture coming on. Holden often thought about Mr. Spencer. While walking to Mr. Spencer?s room, Holden thought, ?? If you thought about him too much, you wondered what the heck he was still living for?. But if you thought about him just enough and not too much, you could figure it out that he wasn?t doing too bad for himself.? (2-3). Holden saw Mr. Spencer as childlike and helpless which made it easier for him to form a relationship with an adult.