The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger

Ah, Holden Caulfield. What an interesting character. How could someone who is illiterate possibly have so much to say about life? How could someone, flunking out of the majority of his classes, possibly be so right about it? Holden is a big, juicy contradiction. (Like starbursts.)

Although I am barely into this book, I already know Holden is a very complex character. One thing that I think is very interesting is that he is completely and totally aware that he can't speak/write properly, and yet he doesn't do anything about it. This, and the fact that he is a bit lazy, is the root of his grade problem. Sure, he curses everyone that has to do with his failures, but they aren't really the ones to blame. It's ironic that, as I'm reading, I am seeing a thought-provoking side to him that he never shows his teachers. He ideas are wonderful, but he just has a hard time writing it down on paper. It seems like he wants to do better, but every time he tries, it fails. I think that part of the reason is because Holden has such a negative outlook on life in general.

I believe that Holden is 100% capable of doing better in school, and in life in general. A big chunk of the problem is that he has such a pessimistic mindset, that when he actually does something, he fails! In elementary school one time, there was this bench. It was pretty low to the ground, and people were jumping over it. I said I didn't want to because I was scared I wouldn't make it, and fall on my face. You know what happened? I tried to jump over it, and I didn't make it. Perhaps if Holden had a more confident outlook on life, he could accomplish his goals.

Holden actually said, "She's really smart...As a matter of fact, I'm the only dumb one in the family. My brother D.B.'s a writer and all, and my brother Allie, the one that died...was a wizard. I'm the only really dumb one." ("She" is referring to his younger sister Phoebe.) It's just plain sad that Holden thinks he isn't good enough, and is comparing himself to his other siblings. He is beating himself up, yet it seems as if he is unfazed. Holden has built walls around himself to protect him from his failure, which all started with his negative attitude. Holden's life would be a lot better if he just believed in himself, like I believe in him.

There are so many cynics and depressed people out there, that if they just believed in themselves and the world even a little bit, their lives could be much sunnier-and by extension, the lives of the people around them.