ThetwoScrewballs

Nicholas Bender Stephen Pansolini 10/21/10

1. How does the symbol/motif come up in the novel, and how does it impact what is going on? What happens immediately preceding or immediately following a mention or discussion of this idea or thing?

- **Every time there are screwballs in the book Holden gets very scarred because he has bin in many bad situations also he feels that he should leave and not come back. With the Antolini when he was taping his head he was very scared and he left the house and did not come back.**

· 2. What is the mood when this idea or thing is brought up? Would you associate this with times when Holden is content? frightened? frantic? confused? Is this mood consistent with every incidence of this motif?

-It comes up in the novel in a bad way. Holden is associated with this when he is tired. It come into the story when ever he is in a bad ways like when he is with the Antolini's also when he was with Maurice and sunny. The other time he was in a situation was with sally Hayes Holden got very drunk and asked sally to move with him and have kids it made everything very strange so it did not work out.

3Is Holden alone when this motif/symbol occurs? If not, with whom is he interacting? How would you characterize that interaction? Does this motif occur both when he is alone and when he is with other people? Is there a connection to be made?

-Holden isn't alone. He is interacting with Mr. Antolini. I would characterize that interaction as awkward and screwball while he is asleep, Mr. Antolini pets Holden's head. This motif only occurs when he is with other people.

· What does this motif/symbol tell you about Holden, in a “big picture” way - Does this suggest anything about his personality? His weaknesses or strengths? His sense of himself?

This motif suggests that he doesn't feel comfortable when someone like him is doing something like that. Every time he drinks or there are drinks around him it ended up bad for Holden the situation are bad all the time its never good for Holden. · Tie it all together: Did any pattern emerge? Pick out other words or ideas used in conjunction with this motif. Look back on your investigation and come up with a single sentence that sums up what you’ve discovered.

Thesis: In the story //Catcher in The Rye//, Holden ran away from interacting with other people because he didn't want to cope with what was going on due to his depression. First, when Holden wants to interact with some people, he always changes his mind at the last second. Secondly, Holden doesn't seem to be used to interacting with others. Finally, Holden doesn't feel comfortable sometimes when he interacts or socializes with others. Avenue 1: First, when Holden wants to interact with some people, he always changes his mind at the last second. Support Sentence: This supports the avenue because when he interacted with the prostitute Sunny and wanted to have a good time, he suddenly changed his mind and still paid for it. Holden felt "more depressed than sexy." (Salinger 96) Explanation: He felt depressed all day and he thought it would be fun but it didn't do anything. He just wanted to have some fun by himself without any people around. Avenue 2: Secondly, Holden doesn't seem to be used to interacting with others. Support Sentence: This supports the avenue because ever since his brother Allie past away, he felt lonely. One example is said in a quote: "I slept in the garage the night he died, and I broke all the goddamn windows with my fist, just for the hell of it." (Salinger 39) Another example is said in another quote when he was talking to some nuns: "When they got up to go, I did something stupid and embarrassing. I was smoking a cigarette, and when I stood up to say good-bye to them, by mistake I blew some smoke into their face. I didn't mean to do it but I did it." (Salinger 113) He felt like he needed a companion with him but he wasn't use to asking someone for companionship. Explanation: One example is when Holden goes out on a date with Sally Hayes. In the middle of their date, Holden asks her to marry him, runaway together, and live a new happy life in the woods. Here is an example from a quote: "We'll stay in these cabin camps and stuff like that till the dough runs out. Then, when the dough runs out, I could get a job somewhere and we could live somewhere with a brook and all later on, we could get married or something." (Salinger 132) Sally thought it wasn't a good idea and both of them end up arguing about and then she decides to leave. Avenue 3: Finally, Holden doesn't feel comfortable sometimes when he interacts or socializes with others. Holden is still is depressed about his brothers death. the death of his brother has compromise his state of mind. When he was going to have sex with Sunny Holden cowered his way out of the situation. Holden was just talking to Sunny and when he sat down again he "tried to keep the old conversation going." (Salinger 96) In addition, when he interacts with his friend Spencer, he tries to start a conversation about stuff that he likes but Spencer isn't really interested. Some examples are when Holden was talking to Spencer about sex and girls. After a few minutes, Holden decides to leave. I think the reason he changes his mind all the time is because he does not want to lose anyone. Support Sentence: This supports the avenue because when he slept in the Antollini's house, Mr. Antollini started petting Holden's head. Holden was a little freaked out and decided to leave. Explanation: It really scared him but it was Mr. Antollini's who was sitting on the floor with the lights off petting Holden with his hand. He was freaked out by it. Mr. Antollini said that he was "admiring" something about Holden sleeping. Even when Holden was leaving, Mr. Antollini kept insisting that he should stay and get some rest.

Conclusion

Restate thesis: Throughout the story //Catcher in The Rye//, Holden tried to run away from interacting because he didn't want to be involved with what was going on due to his depression. Avenue 1: First, when Holden wants to interact with some people, he always changes his mind at the last second. Avenue 2: Secondly, Holden isn't used to interacting with others. Avenue 3: Finally, Holden doesn't feel comfortable sometimes when he interacts or socializes with others. Closing: It's hard to lose someone you love but we can't do anything to bring them back. We just need to move on.