Samantha Blake January 8, 2002
Attitudes on life
One's attitude defines how one deals with life's demands. In the novel The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger and the poem "Myself" by Edgar Guest, the main characters have similar experiences, but their differing attitudes determine their futures.
In the poem "Myself," it is clear that one's attitudes influence how one can deal with their life. The narrator wishes to be more at peace with himself. He wants to be able to be happy with who he is. "I have to live with myself, and so/ I want to be fit for myself to know." In order for him to live with himself, he has to let go of the things he has done in the past. "I don't want to keep on a closet shelf/ A lot of secrets about myself." He wants not only respect for himself, but respect from others. "I want to go out with my head erect,/ I want to deserve all men's respect." Although he realizes others may not end up respecting him, he still feels that "I want to be self-respecting and conscience free."
In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield is a stubborn character who knows that his life is not on the right track, but he refuses to make any changes in his life. He often criticizes everyone and everything, and tries to find fault in most things. He doesn't think that there is something wrong with him, but others see him as a negative person. After Holden responds to his sister Phoebe's question on if there is anyone that he does like with "I like Allie," she says "Allie's dead-You always say that! If somebody's dead and everything, and in Heaven, then it isn't really,"meaning that it doesn't count. (page 171). Holden was confronted with the fact that he has trouble finding things or people that he likes, but doesn't want to fix his problem. He disregards what others say, even though they are trying to help him. Phoebe confronts Holden about the fact that he doesn't like people, and he responds with "Yes I do. Yes I do. Sure I do. Don't say that. Why the hell do you say that?"(Page 169) Holden has never been confronted like that and doesn't want to believe it; his response reflects his denial. Then, after being in denial, he thinks up excuses to stall. He says "One thing? One thing I like?" I said, "Okay." The trouble was, I couldn't concentrate too hot. Sometimes it's hard to concentrate."(Page 169) Basically, he doesn't want to deal with the chance that he has problems.
In both "Myself" and The Catcher in the Rye, the main characters have problems that distract them from living a happy life. In "Myself" the character explains that there are things that he has done in the past he wants to deal with so they aren't a burden on his life. He wants to be strong and respected, live his life without his past bringing him down. On the other hand Holden has problems, but doesn't want to face or deal with them. When confronted with his issues, he finds a way to ignore them. Both characters have had their share of problems or things they have done in the past; however, one wants to move on and enjoy life, where as the other refuses to accept that he has a problem and doesn't seem to care about changing it.
The characters in The Catcher in the Rye and "Myself" are examples of people with problems dealt with in different ways. Ones attitude determines how one can deal with life's demands.