An Analytical Biography of The Catcher in the Rye Essay Example for Free

An Analytical Biography of The Catcher in the Rye Essay Critic Jonathan Baumbach explores the significance of innocence in J.D Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye. He claims that the novel is not only about innocence, but actively for innocence-as if retaining one’s childness were an existing possibility. Not only that, but he states that Holden wishes to be a saint: the protector and savior of innocence by preventing them from falling into the cruel adult world of corruption and fickleness. Although he also wants someone to prevent his own fall since he is in fact still a child himself. Baumbach states that this is Holden’s paradox, saying that he must shed his own innocence to protect innocence. These statements are what send Holden off into the three day soul-searching quest that dooms Holden to sinking into insanity in our novel. The critic opens with a rather descriptive insight about how others view and critique Salinger’s first and only novel, as well as pointing some of the flaws that Catcher has: â€Å"The novel is sentimental; it loads the deck for Holden and against the adult world, the small but corrupt group that Holden encounters is not representative enough to permit Salinger his inclusive judgments about the species.† Baumbach claims that Holden does not have enough information to comment on the phoniness of humanity as a whole based on his observations of only a select few. As the critic investigates further, he makes a few interesting points. Some of which regard Mr. Antolini: Holden’s former English teacher. Baumbach claims that Antolini’s kindness to Holden is triggered by a homosexual interest that he has in the protagonist. Pointing  out the flaws in his teachers marriage, as well as ambiguous actions that he had done while with Caulfield. Based on Baumbach’s misguided interpretation the reader could be lead to think that of Mr. Antolini’s gesture as one of a perverted old man rather than as one of concerned mentor. Additionally, the critic moves on to discuss Holden’s concern of where the ducks go during the winter. He claims that what Holden really wants to know is whether there is a benevolent authority that takes care of the ducks; for if there is one for the ducks, there is must be one for people as well. Next, Baumbach switches focus to Holden’s prayer to Allie, which takes place before he goes to visit his family’s apartment. The critic postulates that Holden’s prayer to Allie is not so much an act of anguish as an act of love. However, if one closely examines the scene in the novel, the reader will realize that Holden’s prayer is actually the act of one wallowing in self-pity, of one that has truly hit rock bottom. After examining Jonathan Baumbach’s critique I can gather that he is a wonderful writer, he uses a colorful vocabulary and his sentences are perfectly structured. Although a line should be drawn when using more complex vocabulary; for while reading the critique the reader will likely find themselves having to look up several words to understand the points the critic is trying get across. Not only that, but the critic makes several assumptions based on very little information or goes out on a limb to make a point. Moreover, Baumbach’s points regarding Mr. Antolini’s homosexual nature, the significance of the Central Park ducks, as well as Holden’s prayer to Allie are not entirely concrete, and leave themselves open for dispute. When a reader goes through a book more than once, they find things they never caught while reading it through the first time. One would realize that Holden views Mr. Antolini as a father figure and a role model and comes to him looking for all the answers to the questions no one has figured out yet. For example, during the story when Holden arrives at Mr. Antolini’s apartment, He knows that Holden is spiraling downward and is basically aiming to fall into that insanity he has been drifting towards throughout  the novel, he warns him of this and eventually the two head to sleep. Now the controversial action that causes some of the audience to believe that Mr. Antolini is sexually interested in Caulfied, is that he awoke to find him stroking his hair. Holden misunderstood and made such a rash decision to put everyone into that Phony corrupt persona that he believes humanity is composed of, and storms off out of his home. If Holden was thinking more clearly he would’ve probably been able to handle the situation more responsibly, realizing that Antolini was only stroking his hair in more of a concerned fatherly way. The reader can tell by the way Holden refers to Mr. Antolini they have a strong relationship and he views him as a surrogate father, and not some perverted old man that Baumbach has painted him out to be. Additionally, As far as the Central Park ducks are concerned†¦Holden’s obsessive curiosity about what happens to the ducks during the winter shows the more child-like side to his character. Although Baumbach believes that Holden is searching for a higher power, instead helps him relate to that child innocence he is so fond of. It gives him the hope that change isn’t always permanent. It also helps the reader compare Holden’s perfect world in which time stands still (Like in the Museum of Natural History), to the real world which is constantly changing. Proving that he isn’t searching for some sort of â€Å"higher power† in the ducks, but it was a way to keep in touch with his innocence of his childhood. Lastly, when Holden hits rock bottom in the novel he says a prayer to Allie, in which Baumbach claims that it is an act of love and anguish. Although, this isn’t entirely true. Holden is actually wallowing in his own self-pity, how could he pray to Allie for help when while Allie was alive he wouldn’t even allow him to go on his bike with him and a friend? Sure, he feels regret for it now that he is dead and no longer with him, but it happened yet again when Phoebe wanted to run away with him and Caulfied turned her down the same as he had done with Allie. Proving that after hitting rock bottom Holden is desperate enough to pray although he doesn’t actually believe in God, but is hoping that there is one to not only save him but the soul of his deceased brother as well. In conclusion, Baumbach as a critic did write a well-written review of J.D Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye although it was a bit difficult to understand at times, he made a clear point and backed up his point with facts from the novel. He had colorful vocabulary and his critique flowed well together. Although the critique was a bit on the longer side I did enjoy reading it. The Catcher in the Rye which is believed to be J.D Salinger’s most famous work, had been an everlasting favorite of teens and tweens of the literary scene. This novel known for its stylized prose and focus on themes of angst, alienation, and rebellion has received wide acclaim for its extraordinary sense of originality. This novel will endure as a lifetime favorite of adolescence everywhere because it has life and is probably the most original piece of its time. An Analytical Biography of The Catcher in the Rye. (2016, Oct 18). We have essays on the following topics that may be of interest to you

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Jesus in the Old Testament Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Jesus in the Old Testament - Research Paper Example This paper will not pretend to argue these positions thoroughly, but is written with the intention of presenting these three positions for the reader’s information and consideration. The first position is that as God was in the Old Testament, therefore Jesus was also there, since God the Father and Jesus, the Son, are both one God, along with the Holy Spirit, together comprising the Trinity. The second position is that Jesus is in the Old Testament, as his coming was foretold by the prophets. The third position is that Jesus was in the Old Testament and that the standard chronology of the historical Christ is inaccurate, and that the New Testament, with disciple accounts, refer to spiritual relationship with Jesus and not to physical co-existence. The foundation for the Gospel positioning of Jesus is that He became both God and human to live and die for our salvation (Luke 24:44), and this happened because God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoe ver believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). This was made possible because the God of the Old Testament, Jesus of the New Testament, and the Holy Spirit are all one, three manifestations of one God. Jesus is god in the human form and we are made in his image. Jesus is lord and the lord is and was with us always, in the Old Testament times, in the New Testament time, and today, in these times. When the Old Testament speaks of God, it is primarily God the Father that is being spoken of. When the Old Testament speaks of God being manifest in physical form for our salvation, then that is Jesus the Son being spoken of. Both of these presentations of God are revealed in the Old Testament, quite clearly. God did not suddenly spin off a new aspect, just in time for the New Testament to be inspired. In fact, in the first chapter of John, we are told: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginnin g with God. All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men (John 1, KJV). In the Old Testament, the book of Genesis, we are told, â€Å"In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth† (Genesis 1:1, KJV). From these passages, we understand that Jesus was present in the very beginning. He was the Logos. He was the creative Word which gave life. He was not there as an assistant to God, or a relative of God’s, but rather He was in fact God. The Old Testament starts with the story of the beginning, creation, a time in which everything was void. Clearly Jesus was there and active as God, from the very first verse of the very first book of the Old Testament. The second position about the presence of Jesus in the Old Testament is that the prophets knew of him and spoke of him. The coming of Jesus was foretold by the prophets, in the Old Testament. God spoke through Nathan and told David : And when thy days be fulfilled and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever (II Samuel 7:12,13, KJV). Jesus’ birth was foretold: Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign;