JD Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye - Summary & Analysis

[@Fiction_Beast]

Top 20 American novels: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gomvn5eKpbpjm9U

[@jeffreygao3956]

Cooper>>>>>Clemens.

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

I used to *adore* The Catcher in the Rye. I still do, although my perspective on the novel has changed as time has gone by. When you read this when you're a teenager, your view of Holden is a whole lot different than when you read it as an adult. Still, it's a powerhouse work, and the finest portrait of teen angst ever written.

[@Fiction_Beast]

I love this novel too

[@ReligionOfSacrifice]

@@Fiction_Beast, I always thought that Holden is actually an adult man who is walking outside the mental institution with a family member and their child and that he envisions they are other people at times and that he is reliving moments that mattered to him. Like seeing your sister and her daughter, but thinking the daughter is your sister at times and thinking your sister is your old girlfriend at times. Just my two cents. It blurs at times whether you can call it his actual experience or this adult man thinking he's doing these things, but at the end it pretty much makes it have to be that he was wrong on all that he was seeing and is no longer a teenager, as I read it.

[@yxvoegl2263]

@@ReligionOfSacrifice Huh?

[@ReligionOfSacrifice]

@@yxvoegl2263, like a forties man thinking of things as if he were still young. He sees his neice as a younger sister that once was. So on and so forth. He sees people taking their leave of him, but he isn't too clear on who the hell is who.

[@katieblake3023]

How so? How did your view of Holden change now as an adult? Genuinely curious.

[@jamesallison9662]

Catcher in the Rye is a very humorous book. From Holden failing English, while reading Out of Africa and Great Gatsby, to the tourist girls straining their necks to see Gary Cooper, to discussing Romeo and Juliet with the nuns. It's hilarious.

[@scottystcloud7086]

Its a tremendous book. All the haters will hate because in its core, its calling out human behavior that very much still exists today. Phonies = superficial, fake, shallow people. The hustle culture, the idea that wealth "makes you". Holden is still spitting bars to this day 60 years later and some people (you know who they vote for) can't handle anything that pops their bubble.

[@nickcastor1583]

The only subject holden didn’t flunk in was English, btw.

[@hippiecheezburger5457]

It’s weird we can be smart but at his age I just didn’t give a shit about school or applying myself. Why was I like that I could’ve been a contender and a really good student probably lol it was because of some kind of transitioning in adolescence and some kind of depression and having bad self esteem. When you don’t believe in yourself you really don’t believe in other people. Your self image reflects the world around you this book is amazing

[@brEZ527]

I was assigned to read this in English a month ago. At first I didn’t really like the novel because the first couple chapters was just Holden complaining about his life. But I as I kept reading I started to relate and empathize with some of his emotions. Now after finishing this book, I realized that I enjoyed reading it, and that the message it tells you is really important, and it really makes me think about my life as a child and my life as a teenager, and future life as an adult. I hope I’m able to enjoy the rest of my teenage years and all my adult years as much as I enjoyed my childhood, back when I had almost no care in the world and a huge imagination.

[@BLOXKAFELLARECORDS]

Your so lucky. My life is almost over... I've lived half of it already. Your just starting out. Lucky you. Lucky you.

[@Memoonaafza]

Totally agree

[@hippiecheezburger5457]

All you do when you’re a teenager is complain and you have to learn to grow up everyone says this about the novel and they don’t get the book

[@holdencaulfield2417]

The "French" line killed me, it really did.

[@nikkivenable73]

Goddamn right. 😊

[@clankclank79]

Good one

[@Endymion766]

This is my favorite book I think. I also saw some of myself in Holden and I also had my Holden moment when I dropped out of college and people tried to send me to a mental institution. But I don't and never have missed school even though I went back and got a different degree. I changed my degree from music to bullsh@t so I could fit in with everyone else and I've never been more mildly disappointed with reality in general. At least they pay me now, though, and I can buy donuts. Donuts are never phony; they just go stale.

[@te9591]

Donuts are phony if the box is on a phone book.

[@Endymion766]

@@te9591 WTF?! lol

[@deathnote5918]

@@Endymion766 You can still do music man. Don't give up on that. Music is my passion too. I work a day job but I make time out of the day for my craft. You don't need to go to college again to learn music either!

[@Endymion766]

@@deathnote5918 i no longer have that passion

[@jeffreygao3956]

If it’s your favorite, you must not have read very many books.

[@caucasoidus_anglicus]

I think I still have to agree with Holden on grownups being fake even though I’m now an adult myself, everyone always tells you that lying is bad, and it is, but then they force you to lie if you don’t lie you can get fired, blacklisted, all sorts of shit. It happens all the time, even in situations where the other party knows you’re lying (and probably knows that you know that they know, if that made any sense) you’re still expected to lie just for the sake of helping them save face or whatever other bs reason people have to dance around eggshells in conversation. I hate it, shit drives me nuts.

[@chuntoon1]

You do the best books. I'm 40 and have just started on a list of great novels in history and found your channel after reading Pride & Joy and needing to hear more about it and and found your dive into it beyond perfect. Once again, I'm wildly impressed with your insights and thoughts and how well you put together these amazing videos. Thanks for them!!

[@grmpEqweer]

I have mental illness. I also recognize that our society almost certainly helps precipitate tendencies towards mental illness, then scapegoats the mentally ill. Something like 1 in 4 people are on psych drugs in the US.

[@Fiction_Beast]

1. Life is too easy so we don’t have to struggle to survive which makes us soft and fragile. 2. Pharma companies push doctors to diagnose more and prescribe more as quick fix for the symptoms not cause which becomes addictive. 3. You get immediate sympathy from parents and society if you are ill. We are lonely so we need peoples sympathy. Most mental illnesses (not all) are very specific to how wealthy a country is so just like obesity borders make you fat and ill. My solution is send young people from rich countries to a poor country for a few years so they toughen up a bit.

[@samikshakumari9783]

I can completely relate with this character Holden... i don't think anything about future....and other people keep thinking even about their future generations...Lol.😑.we keep thinking about future because people around you doing the same....sometimes i think they aren't living but actually waiting to die.

[@chuntoon1]

21:50 I just read it for the first time at 40 and related to it as a midlife crisis book for sure, though it reminded me of that teenage feeling of being out of place for sure too.

[@fifthavenue8505]

I'm so glad I found your video. Just a great analysis. I had lost my affection for Catcher in the Rye after reading unpleasant things regarding the author. You have reminded me of what a fantastic novel it really is, so thank you! Also, your choice of artwork is truly wonderful and thank you for including the names of the artists!

[@kwaemsam96]

“When you’re happy, you do dumb things” 🤣 I died!!! Great video

[@Aurelius11605]

yeah! that part killed me!

[@winniethuo9736]

@@Aurelius11605 🤣Its true though Tthink about it🤣🤣 iam tapping my thy and banging the foot to the ground. Curious!

[@katieblake3023]

@@winniethuo9736 More accurate to say "When you're happy AFTER a period of deep unhappiness, you do dumb things". Sober positive people rarely tend to dumb things. But I get it, that turn was funny as hell lol

[@thisfoodhits6205]

Wow, the best analysis I’ve seen of this book, way better than the whole unit we did on it in high school 😂 Thank you for this!

[@akkaines]

I remember in highschool when we had to read this book, everyone was complaining about how boring and stupid this book was, but I personally really liked and enjoyed it. I read the book two more times and still did not find something I disliked🧐 After hearing your analysis in this video, I can see why I had liked it. Wonderful video again!

[@Fiction_Beast]

Thank you! I guess it appeals to the artistic type people.

[@TheAndrewSchneider]

I remember reading this in high school and this marking essentially the watershed of when I started preferring British novels from then on out…

[@Fiction_Beast]

I am begining to think it resonates more with non-Americans.

[@RainerRilke3]

@@Fiction_Beast as a non-american I can confirm. Might have to do with experiencing how spectacularly and tragically capitalism can and does fail in most of the world

[@katieblake3023]

@@RainerRilke3 says the guy typing on a computer and enjoying tech and all the modern comforts brought by...wait for it: Capitalism. smh.

[@RainerRilke3]

@@katieblake3023 I literally live in a socialist country lol

[@katieblake3023]

@@RainerRilke3 So? That statement still stands, all the goods you enjoy all products of capitalism. And lol I highly doubt that: Unless all your possessions are owned and distributed by state, then it's not 100% socialist state as all your stuff you own still relies on capitalism, even by definition.

[@gracefitzgerald2227]

I listened to the audio book on KZbin by Edgar friendly 2. The guy sounded like he was 40 but did a killer job catching Holden’s angst. Loved it! You’re right, when you’re fed good stuff, you find yourself within. Jordan Peterson lost me somewhere along the way. It’s one thing to be a teen and full of piss and vinegar, and another to be Jordan Peterson who seems to be derailing. Before I get any sh$t, I’ve read his last 2 books and gone to a lecture. BTW I never watch your videos😭. I always listen, but I watched this one. Thank you for labeling the art. It’s a subtle touch and I]one day I’ll just binge and watch them, all.❤️❤️

[@Fiction_Beast]

Appreciate it. Actually this was the first video, I added the titles to the paintings. It's time-consuming but I will try to do as much as possible.

[@rosariomontoya1826]

Bravo for your amazing analysis! Wow. Thank you.

[@sharontheodore8216]

This video is so comprehensive and informative linking the past with current affairs. When mentioning how cushioned kids grow up to be weak I was reminded by Michael Hope who said: ‘Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak me

[@Fiction_Beast]

Thank you so much!

[@jeffreygao3956]

I don’t buy that at all.

[@christianmcdepressed5899]

Thank you so much for this video, I’m listening to this before bed so it’s nice to listen to. I’m currently doing my first readings of Russian novels, so this channel is amazing. I haven’t read catcher until the eye since right before I went to military school so this video in my inbox is awesome, again thank u so much Side note, I’d love to see u do a video on the symbol of horses within Russian novels. I’ve noticed that most times horses are brought up within Tolstoy or Dostoyevsky, good things don’t happen them (rushnikov’s dream in crime and punishment or vronsky’s horse in Anna kernina)

[@Fiction_Beast]

Thank you so much! Horses are quite an important symbol in Russia and especially its connection to the south-eastern steppes and the Golden hordes. Another example is in Lermontov, when Pechorin is chasing his lover, his horse collapse and he gives up his chase to reflect on his own life. In Gogol's Dead Souls, Chichikov makes a run with his troika (three horses) to escape the people when he's exposed and again Russia reflects. I think it is the vastness of the country means horses are blessing to traverse the long distances but a curse when they fail. I will think about it. It's an excellent suggestion.

[@destinyforreal9744]

This is my favorite channel I think that you were fantastic at teaching things and making it fun

[@Fiction_Beast]

Cheers!

[@randystone4903]

I identified very much with this book having transferred 5 times in my 5 year highschool career and eventually getting a GED. I can laugh about it now and understand my Childhood PTSD with ADHD which made relationships tough to maintain. His flights of fancy was very common for me and I continue to see most people as very boring with their materialistic goals. I think Holden would have made a great counselor because of his dream to save others, The Catcher in the Rye who would keep others from going over the edge he knows so well. Holden is exactly the type of person I made friends with as his type of alienation among teenagers became more common in the late 1960s. We were "punk nerds" (two words we didn't have back then that eventually became social movements) who weren't able to relate to the fictitious goals of a happy life.

[@tnkr_vidia7256]

Read this book long long ago. I am delighted to listen to your summary and analysis.

[@calvingrondahl1011]

I read Catcher in the Rye in High School in the 1960s. I became a newspaper cartoonist so I get it.

[@Funfromrudauli]

Thanku so much ...for this wonderful analysis ❤❤.... hoping and waiting for more literary stuff by you ❤️

[@personanongrata987]

I read "The Catcher in the Rye" while in my mid-forties about twenty years ago. I didn't like it and wondered why Salinger's editor didn't do a better job of copy-editing his manuscript. That there might be more depth to it than just about some kid who loves to complain a lot totally escaped me. I love the paintings and videos in your presentation, and perhaps someday I'll re-read this crazy-ass novel after I've re-read Dostoevsky. --

[@Fiction_Beast]

I think timing is very important. I read it in my mid-twenties and i loved it. If I read it now, I would feel the same as you did. A lot of Americans are forced to read it in schools which i think is a bit too early to appreciate it.

[@ReligionOfSacrifice]

John Curry, is "The Brothers Karamazov" worth reading, and why? You too, Fiction Beast, is "The Brothers Karamazov" worth reading, and why?

[@Fiction_Beast]

Watch my video on karamzov

[@jeffreygao3956]

Don't reread it. Your first impression was 100% accurate. There is no depth to it whatsoever.

[@ElinWinblad]

@@jeffreygao3956a picture book to a toddler is everything and moving/deep to an adult it’s empty. Books - sometimes have a limited time in which when read are great. If I reread it now as an adult I probably wouldn’t like it but I connected with it as a teen- adults are most definitely fake (that still holds true even though I understand now )

[@seeker8]

It's interesting that everyone love a children because they are innocents, they are in the moment of now not attract or burden by past or future. Meanwhile elderly should also be in a moment, all story that show old people who worry about tomorrow (money, family honor, etc.) when they might kick the bucket next chapter are usually miserable or cruel and a source of hate or sorrow to their family, so why should an normal adult choose the future when choosing now is what make elder and children more happy and (maybe?) become good people. You can be in the now and still work hard because you know it will make your life better but if you only focus on doing it for the future you will never get to experience now for there will always be more. Some people sacrifice their future so they can have now, other sacrifice their present for a future that will never come for they don't know how to stop. Most great story I seen end some where between, at the ever changing now, before the happily ever after that we'll never get to see. that what this summary make me think of, maybe I'll give this book a read later. right after 8-9 book I plan to read a few months ago.

[@Agostoic]

Fantastic analysis, thank you.

[@Handlename735]

Such an amazing video so very well done

[@TF2Starlight]

This is an amazing essay

[@Fiction_Beast]

Thank you!

[@galonovoa3220]

Such an epic analysis

[@blavatovsky9553]

Bro, thank you. Keep the good work

[@Fiction_Beast]

Thank you too

[@nobodyspecial7185]

THis novel always hit home to me as I was sent away thousands of miles to a military school and really relived it

[@anuradhatiwari85]

This one is such a great novel...such an eye opening explanation...Holden is such a relatable character...❤

[@Fiction_Beast]

Thank you!

[@harrisonrehse1199]

I did not open this Catcher in the Rye video expecting to hear a Jordan Peterson quote and capitalist propaganda LMAO

[@Sunnhia]

Me neither… definitely not my cup of tea

[@aitheignis]

Catcher in the rye really remind me of Dazai's No longer human. Except Holden is a less extreme version of Oba and he can and still have something to anchor himself at the end of the story.

[@madtntfreak360]

Real

[@immortal5383]

Never read this, but I definitely have felt and said many of these ideas. I'm still not over how everyone around me is "acting/fake." It's quite jarring to go out in the real world and realize all your dreams about life and the future were naive.

[@krinkle909]

This novel does an amazing job at representing American culture

[@nigelbryant7980]

Beautiful video. Salinger, Dickens, and Peterson we’re all touched on brilliantly.

[@Fiction_Beast]

Thank you!

[@jaiattray1021]

bestest explaination.

[@YOSSARIAN313]

Knowing the Salinger was an emotionally stunted manchild makes the book make more sense

[@drew9351]

He doesn't go to a mental institution he goes for tuberculosis and talks to a psychoanalyst while there

[@journeymanX]

on a semi related note,makoto shinkai's weathering with you feels like catcher in the rye in the opening sequence anyway,you have a 16 year old kid named hodaka who ran away from his home and school to try his luck in tokyo the guy even has an H at the start of his name similar to holden,then gets treated like trash by the adults similar to holden and at an internet cafe we see hodaka with a copy of catcher in the rye

[@gilsondee1130]

great ! thanks!

[@willyjoerockhead]

I have a question about his school to begin with...Why was he in a "boarding school" for a high school. Is that a common thing? I don't think i've heard of that before except a juvenile detention center. it would be different if he was in college, but high school?

[@oc2538]

Usually wealthy families send their sons and daughters to boarding schools from 13 years of age. It is common in the UK, America and Australia. I would say 30% of my university classmates in the UK went to boarding schools. They'd see their parents on holidays and sometimes on weekends. I found those students had the easier time of adjusting to university but they also were exposed to things they shouldn't have been exposed to. I personally wouldn't send my children to a boarding school even if I had the money.

[@MalaakStage]

This is a great essay. Is there a written version?

[@nikkivenable73]

THIS WAS BRILLIANT! Weak men make for hard times. We are seeing the fruits of this in the West, esp in America. I live here and am often disgusted by what we have turned into. I despise safe spaces, everyone gets a trophy, no one gets their feelings hurt, everyone should be treated the same all the time, etc. None of this is making one person any happier…certainly not in the long run. Like Holden, I want to escape to the mountains and chop my own goddamn wood.

[@Fiction_Beast]

I think we are so comfortable that our mind creates anxieties that don’t exist.

[@bumpyshow745]

Increasingly worried as I cant find anything wrong...

[@AdamLocke-h8d]

There is nothing to talk about. This is me, my whole life, even feeling weird having sex with girls and no I'm not gay at all. Stop thinking so hard. This is how some people really are.

[@JuanReads]

Great video!

[@Fiction_Beast]

Thanks for the visit

[@mdp125]

Why the change of thumbnail? Thought it was pretty fitting

[@Fiction_Beast]

I'm experimenting to see if people click more.

[@shreyapatil1]

I can relate so much with Holden 🤣

[@OguzDemirelli]

Fear the fear of the future

[@sarowarrafi2140]

Great video. ❤️❤️

[@Fiction_Beast]

Thank you! 🤗

[@gyanprakashraj4062]

Who like struggle..

[@geraldmeehan8942]

In Russia there was no such thing as a citizens until 1905. In America there are no such thing as citizens today, only CONSUMERS

[@Fiction_Beast]

I think consumerism is not just in America, it is global. i have not bought any clothes in the last 5 years. I think a lot of people are waking up from the shopping addiction.

[@geraldmeehan8942]

@@Fiction_Beast Me either I try to support corporations least as possible. I just learned that about Russian citizenship yesterday. Even the nobles status was strictly at behest of Czar

[@sharontheodore8216]

Sorry . . . Good times create weak men and weak men create hard times.

[@jonvia]

Fun fact: A lot of famous 'lone gunmen' have had a copy of this very book in their possessions at their homes. Coincidence?

[@Fiction_Beast]

i dont think so.

[@lauratanner8475]

Coincidence? Read the book!

[@yxvoegl2263]

A lot more of them have had a copy of the Bible in their homes.

[@jeffreygao3956]

@@yxvoegl2263 If you call for burning the Bible, there’s hell to pay…

[@cyphaborg6598]

ironically their interpretation is going off the deep end. By making ' the fall " the enemy you'd probably not notice your own fall. again.. irony.

[@coldistheshoulder]

wow. why read a book when I can listen to you explain everything to me. bravo. side point but I do wonder if your Japanese culture influences your interpretation a bit too much here. North America at the time this was written was experiencing the greater cultural extrapolation of individualism, and this novel certainly explores the wider effect of this concept and how it was being operationalized in society, rightly or wrongly. It needs to be stated that the nature of order as a part of maintaining a cohesive social whole is so much more a part of the Japanese mindset than it is here in North America. I dont think you can rigidly enforce such a demarcation concerning what Salinger was trying to say about this issue especially as he thought as a North American person, not a Japanese person. But anyways great job overall. One last thing - because Jordan Peterson is such a tool, it would be nice if you could reference some other people, as his effete, pompous windbaggery is just too much. Behind all the high falutin intellectualization of everything in between all the ten dollar words the guy really doesn't have much to say at all, and there are lots of other current cultural figures who are more worthwhile of being name checked than he is. cheers

[@amitojha9]

That analogy with midlife crises 👍

[@genevievehawkins9856]

25:42 How often do you hear "Fake it until you make it "

[@ladyterror4663]

I didn’t like Catcher in the Rye at all as a teenager or as an adult. I related to Holden and how he saw things, but overall I felt he was just a selfish person. He’s boring and self absorbed about how he feels the world should work, almost like it should conform to work better for him. The main character is a jerk and quite frankly I felt like he deserved to be given a good dose of reality from the world.

[@insertmemorableusernameher6795]

He just like me fr

[@ryan-lu8iw]

waiting for a potential call out at my teenage years

[@seshiria_4290]

damn right

[@haubenmeisewillow-tit331]

I am not jet at the end of the novel, but speaking from my experiance as a teacher, I would say, he sufferd from an excessive dose of puberty! Its wonderfull to see, that what you suspects as a teacher seems to be the truth: that even if they speek respectfully with you and try to understan you, you dont want to know what is acctually going through their head! 😂

[@Hellismary]

Omg! Yes more American authors 🤩! Thank you!

[@donaldkelly3983]

I had a very brief time with Holden in high school. After finishing CR, I jumped to Franny and Zooey, which I found bland and boring. CR left me wondering what the big deal was about this novel? My baffled reaction to CR stems from growing up in the Reagan Era, a greedy, materialistic period in American history, not given to idealistic rebellion. This may explain why the significance of the Hippie Movement baffles me. I have issues with Mr. Peterson, also. Complaining about "kids these days" reminds me of the phrase "sour grapes." Urging young people to clean up their house before they attack anyone else's is a sound statement, but if followed completely precludes any social change at all. Which maybe Mr. Peterson's goal.

[@Fiction_Beast]

I don't agree with JP's political views, but his psychological message of getting your sh*t together resonates with me a lot. His message that competence is power is so true. So before changing the world, you have to pay due to those who came before you is very much how Nietzsche articulates his ubermensch journey. I think he's specifically targeting those who want to change society without really thinking about or understanding the consequences. but he does have a bad habit of lumping a lot of people together as radical marxists or postmodernists. I think social change is inevitable, it's part our evolutionary DNA, but changing the world because I dont feel happy today is not wise, becuase if the world changed I may not be happy. So that's why he says you better sort out yourself before embarking to change the world.

[@degarpaykararyan3140]

That's all about

[@heybusiness1]

This is fuckin awesome

[@saheelahmed6338]

Holden even thinks that he wants to be a deaf dum and wants to marry a girl of the same and that makes it understand that he wants to be alienated from the society and want to be only on himself to go for a process.❤

[@minervastuckinnwo]

you are wrong about that money, technology and amazing inventions are inventions of capitalism. Money was already used over 5 thousand years ago in Mesopotamia. Technology was also already being developed by our ancestors in the prehistoric times with stone tools for example. And in the USSR, like Vladimir Demikhov created the world’s first implantable total artificial heart in 1937, he launch of Sputnik 1, the first human-made object in space, on October 4, 1957 effectively marked the beginning of the space age, and was one of many Soviet firsts in space travel innovations.The satellite was developed in the 1950s by Soviet scientists, most notably Sergei Korolev. Also our modern day phone. Soviet engineer Leonid Ivanovich Kupriyanovich successfully created a mobile phone in 1957. By 1963 he had refined his invention and began selling the “Altai”, a palm-sized mobile device that predated the Motorola phone by ten years. And many many more that if you bothered to ever critically think about our economical/social systems and why we all have to work over 40 years for 40 hours a week for our boss (mostly multiple bosses) who exploits us directly by paying us just as much as needed so we will not starve to death and battle again for looking for another job which will make us vulnerable to competition again. Tell me where is freedom in capitalism? The freedom to starve and to sell my body and my soul to corporations is the only one we have. Try telling billions of poor people in the world of whom the majority lives in CAPITALIST states about how they are free! Or tell that to the 50 plus million of Americans who are either poor or at the minimum and also cannot just buy what they want, go to vacations, have free time for themselves or mental stability since they always have to struggle with meeting their financial ends. Poor analysis of it.

[@Fiction_Beast]

You're right capitalism didnt invent money or tech. I guess i meant to say that capitalism made money indispensible aspect of modern life and mass produced technology. when I talk about capitalism i tend to focus on early capitalism of industrialisation of 19th century.

[@ahmedbellankas2549]

It seems that holden is like mersault (camus' stranger)

[@OkGreat3]

What song is playing in the background 7:10

[@Fiction_Beast]

Chopin funeral march

[@OkGreat3]

@@Fiction_Beast thank you 😊

[@hayatkaidi7889]

Waiting.... 😃

[@diegogalvan2804]

The funny thing is that Peterson’s rant last week makes him Holden. Peterson called a woman ugly and then quit Twitter because everyone was mean to him.

[@Fiction_Beast]

I didnt know that.

[@keepcalmcarryon3358]

@diego galvan Close but no cigar Diego Peterson was questioning modern western cultures stance that you can be “healthy” and “beautiful” while being fat in this cover girls case technically obese He didn’t run from Twitter, he was shut down

[@keepcalmcarryon3358]

@diego galvan actually the fat girl wasn’t the cause of his Twitter suspension… It was not using the proper pronoun for an American transgender actress

[@BrightGarlick]

Brilliant!

[@Fiction_Beast]

Thank you

[@yxvoegl2263]

Holden is no rebel, he's a spoiled rich kid. His parents are wealthy, he's going to an upper class prep school, nearly everyone he encounters in the novel is rich. When he left school he seemed to have quite a bit of money, so if he wanted to escape he could have taken a bus to New York, stayed in a cheap motel or the YMCA, and looked for a job. But instead he took a train, stayed in a fancy hotel, then basically ran home to his rich parents. The very few common people he meets, he has no real interaction. He asks the cabdriver about where ducks go in the winter, not asking him how he can afford to raise a family with the job he has. He most likely didn't want to ask the prostitute about how she managed deal with the degradation of her job. (Maurice was most likely rich, and was the one who degraded Sunny.) The novel is very well written, but has no real substance.

[@silversnail1413]

He's typical sixteen year old boy, not Che Guevara. What do you expect? Of course his conversations are going to be vapid. Of course he's going to run home to his parents when it gets tough. Holden essentially being a product of the materialistic world he hates and can't stop criticizing is clearly intentional on the part of the author, but even then social commentary was not the main focus of the book and it was mostly about honestly depicting the state of mind of a troubled, confused young man during a strange period of his life. Therein lies the substance. I'm sick of people pointing out that Holden is hypocritical and shallow as if it's a profound observation or some huge flaw with the book. Pretty much everyone in the book calls him out for it including his own sister! I think a lot of people expect Holden to be a hero or a pillar of virtue but the fact of the matter is that he's just human like the rest of us, only richer and much more depressed, and just because a person comes from wealth doesn't mean they can't encounter hardship in life or be misunderstood or even abused by those closest to them.

[@yxvoegl2263]

@@silversnail1413 No, Holden is not a typical sixteen year old. He's a kid for some reason who doesn't want to grow up. There are no reasons why, except that he finds everyone a phony. He's rich and depressed, sure, but he's in therapy to help, as we find out at the end of the novel, paid for by his rich parents. I don't expect for him to be Che Guevara, but don't you think there should be some social commentary? As I pointed out in my comment, he has no contact with the working class or the poor. His desire is to be someone to catch kids from falling off a cliff, but where would he live? In a penthouse apartment next to the cliff? He wanted to be a deaf mute in Montana so he didn't have to talk to anyone, but would he be living in a penthouse apartment there? He not only refuses to grow up, but he refuses to leave his rich world bubble. I think Salinger should have brought in at least a little bit of real world people, working class and poor, but that would have made it a very different novel. But a much better one.

[@silversnail1413]

@@yxvoegl2263 Holden does refuse to grow up but why should he? He's spoiled, his parents provide everything, and even deliberately flunking out of school doesn't have major consequences. He's the victim of a poor upbringing and parents that would clearly rather just throw money at their problems than take the time to instill values in their son. And considering how false and hollow most of the adults around him are, it's certainly no surprise that he's in no great hurry to join their ranks. He's just a depressed kid going through a rut and in many ways the fact that he's considered a black sheep and so unremarkable in contrast to his siblings is because of his intolerance or inability to swallow the falsehoods of the privileged, success-driven and materialistic world he's been born into. His extreme and borderline unhealthy idealization of youth and innocence is the result of his beloved brother dying at such a young age and his often cynical but sometimes very genuine observations of how these things tend to lose importance as people get older. It's also worth noting that while considered immature and spoiled during the period the book was written Holden actually comes off as fairly resourceful and mature compared to many young adults and teenagers of today. I know a lot of people in their twenties who can't even book their own hotels or survive on their own in the big city for any length of time, let alone bluff their way into fancy bars.

[@yxvoegl2263]

@@silversnail1413 Holden says nothing at all about his parents or how they brought him up, so I don't think you can say he's a victim of poor upbringing. Yes, they are rich, and send him to an exclusive private high school, but that doesn't mean they didn't try to instill values into him. Before he ranted about "phony" adults, he made fun of his fellow students, specifically Ackley, and also Stradlater, whom he seemed jealous of, calling him a secret slob, getting into a fight with him because he was going on a date with a girl Holden knew. Later, on the train to New York, he runs into the mother of one of the students at Pency, and begins spewing lies about how great her son is. He seems to be as phony as the adults around him. And is Holden mature? His ideal job was to be the guy who kept little kids playing a field of rye from running off a cliff. And at the end of the novel he wanted to hitchhike out West, to work a simple job and pretend to be a deaf-mute. Resourceful? He spent what seemed to be a large lump of money on train fare instead of bus fare to New York, he checked into an expensive hotel instead of maybe the YMCA, paid money for a prostitute (and didn't even have sex with her), took a taxi instead of a bus or walking. It seemed his money ran out in only one day. Not very resourceful if you ask me. I don't know what young people you associate with , but I'm sure that 99.99% of all young people know how to check into a hotel. And most young people can survive in the big city, except maybe the ones who have rich parents they can move back home with. As for bluffing their way into a bar, back when this novel was written it was easier to walk into a bar if you were underage. But Holden didn't really bluff his way in--they didn't serve him alcohol.

[@plateoshrimp9685]

Peterson? You must be joking.

[@Icimaintenant9]

❤️

[@goodo5691]

Holden seems too mature in some ways..for a 16 yr old..drinking in cocktail bars, knowing the artists who play there..maybe thats how it was for young rich kids them days

[@davidtrindle6473]

This imposter experiment is very controversial and has been thoroughly debunked in recent years due to poor design and implementation

[@BooksbySelena]

Priviledge kid. Yet so lost. Money cannot buy happiness, but his parents keep sending him to different schools when he fails instead of finding out what is wrong with him. He is clearly lost and immature. Very self-absorbed, but there is a disconnect between him and society. He complains a lot, but fails to see himself and his own flaws. I'm not sure why this is a classic. The book is an endless rambling of cynicism.

[@OguzDemirelli]

Interesting you mention Peterson, when I mention him I get called racist. Such small minds we keep company

[@maiyamichaela6854]

I don't agree with this analysis.

[@Tupacshakur30]

Will they ever make a film ? Holden today in real life would of been a rapper. Eminem ? 🤔

[@lukeamato423]

Shia LaBeouf

[@Tupacshakur30]

@@lukeamato423 🙈

[@Joe-do8ps]

M

[@seymourpant]

'muh capitalism'

[@randysisk5254]

Your interpretations of capitalism are childish and misplaced. Perhaps you should do some comparative research to come to a more mature understanding of this economic system compared to other systems. Salinger made no comment on capitalism, nor did Caulfield. You've awkwardly inserted your own political bias into what was supposedly a literary analysis. Unnecessary and undeserved.

[@MYMOTHERISAFISH006]

How someone says something to muh capitalism. Capitalism besto darn you socialist.😤

[@AdamLocke-h8d]

See most of you are the phonies he is talking about. Your all looking for a reason to make the book about you. Why can't you just accept, this is how some people are? I'm 49 I just read it for first time, this is who I am! I just felt like, I'm not alone after all.

[@teresamirbaha4181]

Ngl this is the worst analysis and video essay I’ve seen about catchet in the rye. It’s like you completely missed the point

[@MalaakStage]

Why?

[@zachcouch8654]

This book is trash. Boring. Uninspiring.

[@patrickleone4494]

Stetson doesn’t tell people to stop complaining and grow up. Maybe know what the hell you’re talking about before you make your next video.

[@sharontheodore8216]

By the way, clothing companies like Zara, H&M and so on cause the biggest damage to the environment.

[@Fiction_Beast]

I have not bought any clothes for almost 5 years.

[@minervastuckinnwo]

By the way, the US military produces more carbon emissions than over 140 countries together :))) but you won't be against imperialism hm

[@Saber23]

Honestly I hate this author, this book and most of all the character of Holden Caulfield I’m not sure if it’s a cultural thing cause of where I’m from but no matter how many people try to make excuses for him or explain the “profoundness” behind “The Catcher in the Rye” I just can’t get behind it Holden to me is just a spoiled brat and a pissy one at that but either way opinions aside thanks for the video my guy keep working hard 🙏

[@Fiction_Beast]

a lot of people think so.

[@Saber23]

@@Fiction_Beast oh ok, good to know I’m not alone lol

[@keepcalmcarryon3358]

@Saber weird that you mention “where I’m from” but you don’t mention where you are from Are you spoiled? Serious question… Between your computer and online hobbies, it doesn’t seem as tho you are too hard done by

[@Saber23]

@@keepcalmcarryon3358 and everyone who lives in the modern day within “developed countries” is spoiled to an extent most of us don’t have to deal with even a quarter of what people had to deal with back then

[@Ronin3Zero9]

Oof

[@mellomojared]

One of my least favorite books ive ever read.

[@devilofether6185]

I think this is a very bad take; you are taking societal problems caused by capitalism, and internalizing them to be about personal responsibility. Holden's goal as the catcher is to create a boundary between innocence and reality; but it doesn't question reality. Why are they playing ball in the rye field in the first place? shouldn't we cut the rye to prevent accidental casualties? (or at least move to a safer spot). Capitalism is both the cliff and the rye; you can't change the cliff, but you can change the Rye, because it is a product of your labor; but we are not supposed to cut the rye, because Capitalism needs it to sustain itself. Cliffs are getting steeper, and the rye is getting longer and less predictable; but you insist on delaying the problem with capitalist idealism, because the Catcher always inevitably loses. What happens if the catcher is successful? The kids will grow up being isolated with no experience on how to navigate the field, and they will stumble off a cliff due to anger, boredom, insanity, or depression. People are not sculptures they change and rot, Kids grow up to be dysfunctional adults because their mind is in a childlike state, and they do absurd things like try to shoot John Lennon. in less extreme terms, they become useful inauthentic pawns for capitalism, and further its goals, to reject sincerity, and embrace superficiality, so they can sell you shit you don't need and ideas that hurt you. when kids aren't allowed to grow up naturally; they outgrow their container, and break out contorted and monstrous; potentially someone who desires to kill the catcher, or the kids he protects (look at Baldur from God of War; in this analogy, Freya is the catcher) What happens when the catcher inevitably fails? who is there to protect kids after they have fallen off the cliff? Your philosophy states that you must suck it up, no matter how unfair or cruel that is. The catcher abandons adults once they can no longer control and contain them. If the kids that fall have not actually grown up, they will find a way to grow up outside of the system, potentially with bad influences leading to more contortions; they will have to or die. the Catcher leaves the kids that manage to escape, to die in the streets, it is not his job to catch adults or criminals. If kids do manage to grow up without some big tragedy, they will become a different kind of pawn for capitalism, They become the new catchers, but also cliff-builders and rye farmers. They do it not because they want to hurt people, but because they no longer have any resistance left, or worse; actively profit from the system, and are motivated to make it worse for the next generation. Imagine a world where we do not need catchers, rye farmers, or cliff-builders; we would not need to protect people's innocence, because the world is a welcoming and friendly place; that only becomes welcoming in a more complex way when you grow up, because you have the agency to be authentic. You won't have to suck up to a boss, you won't have to go to war, society rehabilitates, not hides its less adjusted people; so the world is safer. If you call me utopian, you are a hypocrite, because having faith in capitalism is absurd given its track record for all but the luckiest people in society; and even many of the lucky ones, like Holden. Capitalism is the root conflict of The catcher in the rye, not its solution; we do not need to sell our soul, our innocence, our idealism if we can cultivate a community that is ACTUALLY safe.

[@teresamirbaha4181]

because it’s a rant disguised as an essay about a book. It barely manages to get past surface level reading. Assumptions and connections are made on the basis of nothing. The majority of this video doesn’t actually take it’s time to thoroughly analyse the language and themes of the book. But when it does it is completely random. He claims Holden has a problem with phony people and capitalism because he cannot be fake and fit into a lying society…huh? Holden lies almost the entire time. He is barley if never truthful and is a walking contradiction and the critique of capitalism is not really justifiable as a central theme. Like where does he base this off of? The author of the essay praises capitalism as the defining driver of the future when it is currently evidently killing ever prospect of a future. And to top it all of we’ve got the famously most pseudo scientific Jordan Peterson references and low effort video editing just trashing you full with barely related stock images. Very lazy stuff. It’s quite depressing how such a great and human book can be so misinterpreted when it falls on deaf ears who only like to see their own world view affirmed.

[@chrislane8466]

Insufferable.

[@Fiction_Beast]

Me or Holden?

[@chrislane8466]

@@Fiction_Beast the book.

[@anridvalishvili5908]

What a misunderstood review