So far the Catcher in the Rye is about a boy named Holden who was kicked out of his boarding school school for failing a bunch of classes. One of his teachers named Mr. Spencer who lived in a house near campus wanted to see him before he left. Holden is a pretty pessimistic kid with a reasonable bit of an attitude. Mr. Spencer or as Holden called him "old Spencer" was an old man around 80 who taught history.
Spencer heard that Holden was leaving because he failed all but one of his classes (including Spencers history class). It seems that Spencer wanted to give Holden a life lesson of sorts before he left. Spencer seems like he was being condescending to Holden (to the best of his ability because he is a sick and frail old man) in the way he talked to Holden and what he expected of him.
Spencer seems like a stereo-type old man nearing death and aware of his mortality who wants to almost make himself feel better by showing people things about the life that he lived and telling people life lessons. He was that sort of lecturing kind of man. At a point he says to Holden, "Life is a game, boy. Life is a game one plays according to the rules." Where Holden responds "Yes, sir. I know it is. I know it" and in his head Holden says "Game, my ass. Some game. If you get on the side where all the hot shots are, then its a game, alright ill admit that. But if you get on the other side, where there aren't any hot-shots, then whats the game about? Nothing. No game."
You can see that Spencer is easy to disagree with because he is old and he bases his opinions and life advice on the life that he remembers he lived. He seems to be the kind of person that somebody who has authority issues would not easily get along with. He uses "phony" words like grand. Which IS a phony word. I almost feel sorry for Spencer because the book describes him as very sick and his whole room was covered in tissues and you know, stuff for sick people. He is an old man and death is nearer to him than it ever was before so he deserves a little respect.
The whole 'meeting' he speaks condescendingly to Holden saying this with a tone and showing his teacher type authority.
Spencer doesn't seem like he actually wants to help Holden, but make himself feel better. Is that the real reason that Spencer is helping Holden, to feel better? Is Holden really gaining anything from his teachings? It seems that Holden and Spencer are alike in someways, like how they both disagree with one another. They do have different opinions on life but everyone has different opinions. They both seem hard-headed and stubborn, but maybe that is why the author chose them.
ReplyDeleteAt the point that he says to Holden, "Life is a game, boy. Life is a game one plays according to the rules."
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think that his mindset is like that? I feel sorry for the old man, because obviously he has been through lots of struggles in his life. What does the book exactly say about his youthful life? I mean, it must have been pretty bad.
I also think that the author of this book must be really great to make such an interesting character! This is an AWESOME book for blogging Noah!!!