Mike Watt
Theology
Holden Caulfield Essay
It is my belief that Holden Caulfield is not a man of faith because he gives up in life, and acts disrespectful of others at times. Holden has been depressed and affected tremendously by the death of his younger brother Allie. He also feels guilt for a time he did not let Allie come along with him with his friend. This likely affects his attitude toward himself and life. Holden is mentally not well and that is why he has to be at an institution because he has depression issues.
Holden does not want his parents to know that he was kicked out of school so he does not tell them. He then gets tired of staying there so he runs away. Holden causes his own problems. Holden is depressed and fails at school because he does not try at it. He says he does not even know why he will not try but his flunking school is one of the causes of his unhappiness.
Holden gets himself drunk and is thus disrespecting himself. Holden would rather try to run away to the woods somewhere as he plans to do after leaving Mr. Antolini’s then face up to his parents’ anger at him for flunking out of school again.
Holden at one time thinks of ending life completely. He considers committing suicide showing his absolute lack of faith in God. Holden totally does something he says is against his moral standards when he pays to have a prostitute come into his room to sleep with him.
Holden also admits to not believing in God. This is revealed when he said that all the children of the family including him are atheist despite their parents’ religion. Therefore he could not possibly be a man of faith since he does not even believe in God.
Holden also has a negative attitude toward everyone and everything. He hates school and calls the motto of the school phony. Holden is also judgmental of lots of people and things. He thinks of Mr. Spencer as a hypocrite, and Holden also labels most people he sees on the street as phony. A true man of faith would reserve judgment of others.
Sometimes
Holden acts very disrespectfully to others. He calls Sally Hayes a mean name.
He also thinks negatively of her. He goes out with her even though he does not
like Sally. He yawns while Mr. Antolini talks to him and he overreacts to his
encounter with Antolini in the night. Holden lies to a student’s mother while
on the train after he left school. Holden also talks disrespectfully to one of
the 30 year olds he dances with at the hotel. Holden also feels negatively
towards his brother. He feels that his brother has prostituted himself by
becoming a director for
Lastly,
at the end of the book, Holden does not show any sign that he will try to apply
himself when he gets out of the institution. He expresses depression and says
that he does not know whether he will apply himself in school. He is showing no
more signs of hope at the end than he did at the beginning. Holden does not
seem to have learned from his mistakes and has not tried to correct them. Thus
it is my belief that Holden Caulfield has no faith and has totally given up on
trying to succeed in life.