Journal # 3 - Hostage

Considering I have yet to be held hostage (and have high hopes of never being held hostage), I do not have a good idea of what it is like. I can only imagine from watching countless episodes of CSI and Law and Order what kind of traumatic ordeal it would be like. Seeing innocent people being held against their own will is absolutely appalling in my opinion. I know for sure I would be scared out of my mind. I would also feel anxious because I would have no clue what would happen to me. Questions would be racing through my head whether I would be saved or not. I think I would cope with the situation by attempting to stay calm, although I feel as if those efforts would go unsuccessful. For some reason the only thing popping in my head right now regarding an attempt to stay calm would be to count as far as I could. It sounds silly but hopefully it would keep my mind off of things. I would also have to cope with my new surroundings where ever that may be. Here my CSI skills come into place. I would try to become as familiar with the environment as much I could, in case police needed my help in solving the crime. It seems really easy to talk about what I would do in a situation like being held hostage, but I think my though-out ideas only look good in black and white. I highly doubt I would stay as calm as I would like to be. I do not want to ever go through something as agonizing as being held hostage. It is something that would never leave me mentally. I cannot stop picturing in my head Rowlandson's story. The poor mother was held hostage by the Native Americans and had to go through very unfortunate circumstances. I do not want to ever experience something like that in my lifetime.

Mary Rowlandson and Anne Bradstreet

After reading works from both Mary Rowlandson and Anne Bradstreet, I was highly impressed with the amount of wit and creativity each piece of literature expressed. Rowlandson talks of her experiences as being a hostage of the Native Americans. Bradstreet puts into a simple, yet captivating poem a burning house full of burning things that ultimately all belonged to God. Although each author uses a variety of sentence techniques and writing styles, each has similar writing qualities reflecting that of Puritan writing, that based on God and the Bible.

When Mr. Langley began to discuss his presentation of the Puritans in class, the first thing that came to my mind was, "Okay, how can I relate this Puritan stuff to the things I will be reading from my textbook for homework?" At first I was a little hesitant because I had yet to actually read my assignment. After listening to Rowlandson's story and hearing Bradstreet's poem, I immediately was able to pick out the Puritan style of writing.

Puritan writing was very simple and plain for its time (PowerPoint Presentation). A lot the literature of the time period was based on God and Biblical teachings (PowerPoint Presentation). In Rowlandson's story, she mentions God time and time again. "...but God was with me in a wonderful manner, carrying me along, and bearing up my spirit, that it did not quite fail (Rowlandson 83)." In this quote, the main character is basically giving all of the glory to God, despite her unfortunate situation with the Native Americans. It highly demonstrates Puritan writing qualities in that it is highly centered on God and the works He does in outer and inner life.

As I previously mentioned, Puritan writing was drastically focused on God. Everything involved in the Puritans every day lives had a hint of the Holy Spirit in it. In Anne Bradshaw's poem, the main character says, "And that when I could no longer look, I blest His name that gave and took, that laid my goods now in the dust. Yea, so it was, and so 'twas just. It was His own, it was not mine, far be it that I should repine (Bradstreet, 91)." Even though this individuals house and belongings were burning down, she still praised God and said that all of her things belonged to Him because she knew she had a house in Heaven. He was only taking back what rightfully belonged to Him in the beginning. Puritan writing, if I have not already stated, is very Godly.

Overall, each piece of literature had its own unique style of Puritan writing, but was very similar in a way. In Rowlandson's case, she spoke of the main character's rough time with the Native American's and all of the sufferings she had to endure. Despite her situation, she gave all of the glory to God and did not focus on the bad things in life, but rather the good. In Bradstreet's poem, like Rowlandson's story, the main character suffers through something tragic, in her case, her home burns down. This does not keep her from praising the Lord, and even states that God is only taking back with belongs to Him. I find it interesting how Puritan writing was so simple but represented something bigger, like God. I was very intrigued by each piece of work and learned a lot regarding Puritan writing.

*I would like to cite Mr. Langley's very well prepared presentation of Puritan writing.

Bradstreet, Anne. "Upon the Burning of Our House." Glencoe Literature. Ed. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Co, 2009. 91. Print.


Rowlandson, Mary. "The Narrative of the Captivity and the Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson." Glencoe Literature. Ed Jeffrey D. Wilhelm. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Co, 2009. 82. Print.

Journal # 2 - Animals and Hospitality

There once was a squirrel who went by the name of George. One day, he decided to invite his friends over to his house for a nice lunch. On his list of guests was Rachel the Owl, Emma the Turtle, and Kristina the Beaver. All three animals received George's invitation and were completely excited to come over to the squirrel's house.

Finally the day had come. George made sure all of the final touches were perfect in his house. He set out the tea cups and had a basket of cookies on the table for his guests to munch on. In the kitchen, George had last week's science project sitting on the table. His project consisted of hydrochloric acid, flour, and red food coloring. George figured his guests would stay out of the kitchen, seeing as how all of the delicious food and beautiful decorations were all set up in the living room.

DING-DONG! The first guest had finally arrived. "Hey, how are you!" George said to Rachel the Owl. "I am doing just fine, thanks," Rachel replied. George told Rachel to make herself at home while he waited for the other guests to arrive. Now, Rachel was quite the prowler. She loved to see what was behind closed doors. DING-DONG! The doorbell rang again, and Rachel noticed that George was busy welcoming his other friends. She decided to roam the house to see what interesting things she could find.

Rachel made her way to the kitchen. In surprise, she saw all of George's science materials sitting on the table. She decided she wanted to see what would happen if she added the food coloring to the hydrochloric acid. Soon, Rachel found herself in a mess. The chemical was bubbling over onto the floor and some even splashed on her skin. She could not believe how much it burned! She ran out of the kitchen and told George what had happened.

George was very upset that Rachel had wondered into his kitchen without asking. "Rachel, the kind thing to have done in this situation would have been to ask me if it was okay to go look in the kitchen," George said. Emma and Kristina told Rachel that it was nice to use good manners. Rachel learned her lesson and was glad that George, Emma, and Kristina taught her the right thing to do. She knew from then on that she would ask permission to wonder into places that were not in plain sight.

Journal # 1 - Native American Animal Story

In a time where life was simple and cats did not have eyes, much was pondered about society regarding where animals came from and how they evolved. Harry the cat was lost in life. He was blind. Life to the poor kitty was dark and weary, and he longed to see the thousands of colors before him. One day Harry the Cat wondered upon an Aztec Native American camp site, although at the time he did not know it (because he was blind, remember?). When he arrived at the camp, all of the natives were excited to see such a beautiful and magnificent cat. How could it be that such a precious creature would find itself in such a small and out-of-the-way campsite. The group's leader, Mohogany, introduced himself to the cat. He told him how he was honored to be in his presence, but little did the cat know who exactly he was talking to. After becoming aware of his new surroundings, Harry began to smell, feel, and embrace the new area around him. He stumbled upon the Native American's medicine man. He told the elder about his blindness, and asked if there was anything he could do to cure Harry's flaw. The medicine man, who went by the name of Jose, told the cat there was in fact an old remedy he could try to possibly allow Harry to see again. Harry was told that the medicine man say a magical spell on him that would in fact allows him to see. "Magic, magic in the air, give this cat sight if I so dare!" The words from the medicine man flowed so eloquently. In a matter of seconds, Harry was able to see! After thanking the elder before him, Harry embarked on a journey through the land, curing all cats of their blindness. Before long, every cat in the world knew of the special remedy that cured them. Through time, the cat species evolved. All were born with the ability to see, thanks to Harry the Cat and the magical medicine man.

The Catcher in the Rye - My Final Blog/Thoughts

In this final blog, I would like to talk about the struggle Holden has with accepting adulthood into his life. I think this is a very important theme/struggle in the novel because it is something that I can relate to, along with other students my age. It seems we all are dealt life's card at some point growing up. The Catcher in the Rye is such an exquisite novel because its theme can still be applied in today's society, despite the fact the book was written over fifty years ago. I am not exactly sure if Salinger's novel has been made into a movie or not, but if it has yet to hit the big screen, I know I would thoroughly enjoy watching it.

Like I said before, the fact that Holden has such a hard time grasping reality is not something new in my life. Now that I am getting to be older and forced to manage tasks on my own, I feel the same attitude Holden has in the novel. He feels as if everyone around him is a bunch of phonies. I feel like that at times too, especially now that I am in high school and I see all of my friends changing, some good, others bad. I read a lot of reviews of The Catcher in the Rye regarding it to be a very terrible book. First of all, I am pretty sure the critics reviewing it are like fifty. Why would they want to read about a sixteen year old's struggle with life? They have already dealt with that, so of course reading this book would not be applicable to their own lives. Anyway, stuff like that really irritates me (I sound like Holden. Hmm, maybe another reason why I was so intrigued with the book). Back to the point. I personally felt a connection to Holden Caulfield because I am experiencing similar struggles in my own walk of life. I am glad I sat down and actually read the book, instead of Sparknoting it like a lot of my fellow classmates probably have. If you are reading this and decided to do that, I highly suggest taking the time to read the novel. It is better than what short summary Sparknotes has to offer you.

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown and, 1991. Print.

The Catcher in the Rye - Post Ending

I was pretty satisfied with the way The Catcher in the Rye ended. Holden goes kind of goes insane after he spends the night with Mr. Antolini. He writes a letter to Phoebe telling her to meet him at the museum so he can return the Christmas money he borrowed from her (Salinger 200). After Phoebe refuses to let Holden leave, they pretty much walk on opposite sides of the street until they meet up with one another and Holden tells Phoebe to take a ride on the carousel (Salinger 212). In the final chapter, Holden refuses to tell readers what happened after that, which I think is an awesome technique Salinger uses. He does give us some insight about attending another school in the fall, which he may or may not be successful with. In this blog, I want to throw out some ideas as to what I think will happen to Holden after the novel ends.

First off, I think he changes his whole mindset on life. His little episode of an almost mental breakdown probably hit him hard, so hopefully he learned from that. I also believe he decides to forget about attending school and stay with his family in New York, possibly attending a school in the city and getting a job. Holden’s relationship with Phoebe will more than likely grow stronger, seeing as how he had such a imminent bond with her in previous chapters. To back track a little ways, I think Holden’s parents completely destroy his life when they find out he was kicked out of Pencey Prep. More than likely they would yell at him about how he needs to apply himself more and how all the money they spent sending him to a nice school has washed down the drain. Furthermore, Holden’s life will be full of even more adventures like throughout the novel itself. I think the fact that I was completely satisfied with the ending of the book plays a vital role in the successful life I give Holden in predicting what happens to him after the initial ending. I think it would be cool to read a follow up about Holden Caulfield, but that is just me.

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown and, 1991. Print.

The Catcher in the Rye - My Hero, Holden Caulfield

Holden Caulfield, also my choice of hero in The Catcher in the Rye, is a very standoffish character. He is about sixteen years old and attends (before he was kicked out for failing grades) Pencey Prep. Holden is known throughout the novel to be a very depressed character that has a hard time grasping reality and growing up. I think his biggest goal in the novel is to hold on to his innocence for as long as he can. He has a hard time doing this when he is seen drinking at bars and meeting up with a prostitute toward the end of the novel.

Holden’s favorite word to use in the novel is “phony”. The rebellious teenager is constantly labeling people as phonies because he feels society is nothing but a bunch of fake hypocrites. In a way, I agree with Holden, in the fact that there are actually a lot of phonies out there. Although I do think he had somewhat of a problem seeing that ultimately anyone he talked to or looked as was a phony in his book. I feel sorry for the little guy because he actually begins to portray some of the traits he says that phonies possess. Steinbeck says it all with his quote regarding Holden. “The boy himself is at once too simple and too complex for us to make any final comment about him or his story. Perhaps the safest thing we can say about Holden is that he was born in the world not just strongly attracted to beauty but, almost, hopelessly impaled on it,” (Original cover of book).

In my opinion, Holden is a very influential character, probably one of the most influential out of all novels I have read. I find him to be a very sarcastic, straightforward individual. It is easy to relate to him because I myself am that way. I like to tell it as it is, and I will admit I too am a little scared of growing up. But aren’t we all? I think Salinger does a magnificent job portraying Caulfield as a character most of us can relate to. He allows readers into the world of a teenage boy struggling to accept adulthood into his life. We all go through that struggle at some point in our lives, so it is nice to know we are not alone (even if the only other person going through the same thing is a fictional sixteen year old boy from New York City).

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown and, 1991. Print.

The Catcher in the Rye - Phoebe

One of my favorite characters in The Catcher in the Rye is Phoebe Caulfield. Not only is she one of my favorite people, but also a favorite of Holden’s too. He absolutely adores her and talks highly of her. She is a very intelligent young girl that seems to be more mature for her age than most ten year olds. In a way, Phoebe’s character is like some kind of blissful therapy for Holden. Readers are always reading about how depressed Holden is, but when he talks about Phoebe, he speaks of nothing but positive things. She realizes that Holden is having a hard time grasping reality, but unlike other “phonies” in his life, she does not stray away from her brother.

I think Phoebe’s character is a symbol in Holden’s life for innocence and childhood. He wants to shield her form the big bad monster known as life, but little does he know she is far beyond her years and perfectly capable of grasping reality. To me, it seems like Phoebe is actually more prepared for life than Holden is. She can see her brother struggle with getting kicked out school, dealing with phonies, and even losing his mind. Phoebe is always worried about Holden, telling him that “daddy’ll kill you” (Salinger 172). When Holden tells her that he is leaving and will not be back for awhile, Phoebe decides she is not going to leave her brother and packs her stuff to come along. “’Why can’t I? Please, Holden! I won’t do anything – I’ll just go with you, that’s all! I won’t even take my clothes with me if you don’t want me to – I’ll just take my, – “ (Salinger 206). This shows true love and dedication on Phoebe’s part. It says a lot about her. She wants the best for her brother and loves him very much, even to the point where she would leave her home and travel with Holden. Overall, she is a very mature ten-year old girl who plays a vital role in Holden finding his place in life.

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown and, 1991. Print.

The Catcher in the Rye - Tone

One of my favorite features of The Catcher in the Rye is the tone of the novel. It is very depressing, yet sarcastic at the same time. I am a very sarcastic person myself, so I am capable of relating to Holden in his struggles with society. Holden basically tells reader’s he has a messed up life full of phonies and bad grades. Nothing seems to go right for the young lad, and because he is the narrator, his attitudes and feelings are well expressed throughout the novel. In a way, Holden has somewhat of a bipolar mentality in my opinion. One minute he is talking about his life and how “phonies” are pretty much taking over the world, the next minute he is discussing how awesome his kid sister Phoebe is.

I think that the tone definitely drew me in as a reader. I am sick and tired of novels with happy endings and sappy love stories. I was able to relate to a lot of the things Holden was struggling with in his own life. Holden’s narration of his journeys at Pencey Prep and in New York City makes me feel like I am reading a personal journal of his. I know in most diaries, people do not hold back their feelings and tell it how it is. That is hard to come by in most novels because society seems to knock down authors who chose to use that kind of writing style (i.e. the thousand of critics bashing Salinger for The Catcher in the Rye because of Holden’s depressed mood). I believe Salinger was successful in keeping his novel down to earth and portraying the tone he did.

Basically, if a book fails to draw my attention in the first chapter, I refuse to enjoy it. The first chapter of a book needs to be a strong one. In chapter one of The Cather in the Rye, readers are introduced to Holden, who is sitting on top of a hill watching a football game (Salinger 3). He immediately begins to tell it how it is, introducing the novels depressing and sarcastic tone. This writing technique makes the novel (instead of breaking it like some people believe) hands down, no questions asked.

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown and, 1991. Print.

The Catcher in the Rye - Quote Analysis

“'Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody’s around – nobody big, I mean – except me. And I’m standing on the edge of some crazt cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff – I mean if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That’s all I’d do all day. I know it’s crazy, but that’s the only thing I’d really like to be. I know it’s crazy,’” (Salinger 173). This is pretty much my all time favorite quote in the whole entire novel. Holden spills his guts out in a symbolic way about how he feels of life, and what he wants to do. The poor kid is so caught up on growing up. He just wants to stay a kid, innocent and free from life’s grasp. He tells readers that he wants to “catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff”. What this means is Holden wants to keep innocent children like Phoebe from being pushed into a reality that will eat them alive, like it has him. I find it very interesting that Holden talks about being the “catcher in the rye”. In a way, he feels all hope is lost for him, but if he can spare a few lives, it would make things worth the trouble he endures.

When I first read these words from Mr. Caulfield, I stopped and reflected on everything Holden had gone through from page one up until that significant quote. He does not want any “phony” adults around in his life. To the children playing in the field of rye, he will be the “big” guy and protect them from the dangers of life. I think this quote is the most noteworthy in The Catcher in the Rye because Holden’s absolute true feelings are shown. I give high regard to Holden (and Salinger) for the symbolic quote that completed the novel.

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown and, 1991. Print.

The Catcher in the Rye - Ducks and Lagoons, Say What?

In most novels, some of the most important symbols are the simplest of things. The Catcher in the Rye is full of clever ideas and objects that represent something important to Holden. The ducks of the lagoon in Central Park symbolize the unknown in life and how we face chose to face that unknown. In the beginning of the novel, Holden mentions the ducks when he “shoots the bull” to old Mr. Spencer about his reasoning for not trying in school (Salinger 12). “The funny this is, though, I was sort of thinking of something else while I shot the bull. I love in New York, and I was thinking about the lagoon in Central Park, down near Central Park South. I was wondering if it would be frozen over when I got home, and if it was, where did the ducks go. I was wondering here the ducks went when the lagoon got all icy and frozen over. I wondered if some guy came in a truck and took them away to a zoo or something. Or if they just flew away,” (Salinger 13). This paragraph is definitely stock full of symbols. The way I look at it, the ducks symbolize people in society in their own lagoon. The ice in the lagoon symbolizes growing up and how it is a gradual change that happens over a period of time. The guy in the truck refers to people who aid us (or in this case, the ducks) in their journey through life, whereas the scenario where the ducks simply fly away symbolizes individuals who try to walk through life on their own.

I am always so fascinated at how something so seemingly simple can signify life itself on such a powerful level. Holden is always wondering where the ducks go when the ice freezes over. He himself recognizes the lagoon’s symbolism and puts himself in the ducks position. He wonders where he will go when his own “ice” freezes over. Will someone help him along the way? Or will he have to embark on adulthood alone. In the end, he is able to realize what is important in his life and I feel as if he knows exactly what to do by the time the novel comes to an end. Overall, a very creative literary mechanic on Salinger’s part.

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown and, 1991. Print.

The Catcher in the Rye - My Overall Opinion

My overall opinion of The Catcher in the Rye is that of high regard. I believe J.D. Salinger does a magnificent job of writing a novel that basically revolves around nothing. It is not every day that I find a book about some teenage boy and his adventures in New York that actually is able to interest me. To be honest, I would not change one thing about the novel. I loved the tone, the 1950’s dialect, and even was impressed with the ending. For me, Salinger gets five stars for The Catcher in the Rye because of its overall creativity and inspiring message.

I have heard a lot of criticism from friends and family regarding the book to be a literary failure. They say that the vulgarity and attitude of the novel is too much and ruins it. But in my opinion, I think that is what makes the book so intriguing. Maybe, just maybe, the book about a teenager and his struggle to accept growing up, is not intended for older generations to read, but hey, that is just a guess. I think Salinger anticipated for younger generations around Holden’s age, to read the book and learn something from the protagonist’s journey into adulthood. Anyway, back to the vulgarity and attitude. Toward the end of the novel, Holden finds a very offensive word written on the stairs at his old school (Salinger 201). The author does not hold back with the word either. He actually uses in multiple times, along with a few other “cuss words”. I have heard the words thousands of times, so they do not intimidate me when reading them. I think they add to the novel’s straightforward tone. I mean come on; does someone really write the proper way of saying a bad word (as contradictory as that sounds) on a wall their trying to destroy? No. Salinger definitely makes his novel more realistic by adding vulgarity, even though some people do not like it. I think they should get over it, just saying.

So anyway, back to the point. I absolutely love this novel. It is a very interesting and inspiring work of art. I actually want to read more books by Salinger because he left me very satisfied with The Catcher in the Rye. Overall, great book.

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown and, 1991. Print.

The Catcher in the Rye - Museum Symbolism

One major symbol I found to be very fascinating was the Museum of Natural History. For Holden, this is a place he can go where nothing has ever changed. The statues are still the same, the displays are still right where they were before, and the only thing different is himself (Salinger 121). Holden elaborates to readers in a very good sized paragraph about each display that would be standing the way it was no matter how long it took you to come back. I think this symbol signifies the overall theme of the novel, too. Holden is so afraid of growing up. He has such a difficult time grasping reality, but at times shows his adulthood through his drinking and sex talk. The Museum of Natural History represents childhood in the novel. Like the museum, Holden does not want to change. He wants to be just like the displays found throughout the building. He expresses his feelings of containing the past when he says, “Certain things they should stay the way they are. You ought to be able to stick them in one of those big glass cases and just leave them alone” (Salinger 122). I think Holden wants to put his childhood and the innocence of being a kid in one giant glass case. He does not go to the museum to see the displays necessarily, but rather to feel the comfort of knowing some things in his life have not, nor will they ever, change.

The Catcher in the Rye not only allows readers to relate to the struggles Holden goes through, but with the Museum symbol, readers can also feel the hopeful attitude Holden has when he visits there. I think we all have those wishful moments in our own lives. Some of us wish for more money or fame, others wish to hold on to the past as long as they can, like Holden. Salinger creatively portrays the Museum of Natural History as a major symbol in the novel with its child-like qualities.

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown and, 1991. Print.

The Catcher in the Rye - Question 8

There are no major events that The Catcher in the Rye focuses around like in that of The Grapes of Wrath. Although, the author does a very good job of demonstrating how different classes associate with one another regarding varies social issues and behaviors of the time period.

The relationship that Holden has with the “phonies” is a major connection between the novel and social issues of the time period. Back then, people did not blatantly disrespect someone who they thought was a “fake”. In society today, people (mostly younger generations like mine) feel the need to point out every person who they think falls under the category of fake. I cannot tell you how many Facebook posts I see from people talking about how they cannot stand so-and-so because they are really this mean and conceited individual on the inside, instead of the nice and caring person they portray themselves to be. It may seem unprofessional to blog about Facebook fights, but I think it gives a great perspective on how much society has changed since The Catcher in the Rye was written. If you had a problem with someone back then, you made that statement known to their face, instead of online like we do today. And even then people hardly ever disrespected a fellow human being the way we do today.

In one example, Holden finds himself in a bar with his date Sally when she sees someone she knows, and in Holden’s opinion, is a “jerk” (Salinger 127). He tells readers that the guy is a complete phony. “The worst part was, the jerk had one of those phony, Ivy League voices, one of those very tired, snobby voices,” (Salinger 128). Despite the fact he is quick to judge (and by quick to judge, he only makes his opinion known to readers), he does not disrespect the “jerk”, but waits for Sally and her friend to finish chatting. Holden kind of shows readers that “phonies” had the upper hand responsibility of being more popular over the non-phonies. I don’t know, maybe I am going a little too far with this analyzation, but I think the novel reflects society back then very well.

I think J.D. Salinger was greatly influenced by how much and how fast society was changing in his generation. I also believe he was influenced by his own life growing up. He may have been very similar to Holden’s character, and decided to write a novel of his first-hand experiences with growing up.

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown and, 1991. Print.

The Catcher in the Rye - Question 7

Author J.D. Salinger uses very interesting techniques to engage the audience and make the story effective. For one, he portrays Holden as a very rude, yet surprisingly caring individual. This effectively catches readers attention because they never know what Holden may say or even do next that leaves them in shock and utter disbelief. Salinger also uses a technique that I have never seen depicted in any novel or short story. He writes a story about nothing to represent something. I was always interested in reading about what adventure Holden would find himself in next up until the very end of the book.

Holden Caulfield tells it how it is in The Catcher in the Rye. In many situations, Holden expresses his exact feelings toward someone or something. “He was one of these very, very tall, round-shouldered guys – he was about six four – with lousy teeth. The whole time he roomed next to me, I never even once saw him brush his teeth. They always looked mossy and awful. And he damn near made you sick if you saw him in the dining room with his mouth full of mashed potatoes and peas or something. Besides that, he had a lot of pimples. Not just on his forehead or his chin, like most guys, but all over his whole face. And not only that, he had a terrible personality. He was also sort of a nasty guy. I wasn’t too crazy about him, to tell you the truth,” (Salinger 19). Yup, probably one of the longest rants from Holden in the whole novel. He did not just tell readers that he “wasn’t too crazy about him”, but he proceeded to describe almost every flaw Ackley possessed. This is the rude side of Holden that readers just cannot get enough of throughout the novel. I think we as audiences love the raw, uncut judgment because it makes up realize everyone does it. We as humans cannot avoid scrutinizing our fellow beings.

Holden makes up for his rude behavior by demonstrating his more caring side when he lies to his peer’s mother about how “sensitive” her son is (Salinger 55). Hearing the good news about her son, the mother is overwhelmed and joyful because of Holden’s good deed.

Another technique Salinger uses that caught my attention is his overall plot in The Catcher in the Rye. For my example and reference, I cite the whole entire novel (Salinger 1-214). So many people despise the book for that very reason, but at the same time, I know a very good majority of individuals give high regard to Salinger for this effective and unique technique (otherwise the novel would not be considered a classic and we probably would not spend our summer reading it, am I right?). Overall, I was definitely more intrigued by the novel because I never knew or could guess what Holden would do next.

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown and, 1991. Print.

The Catcher in the Rye - Question 6

In my opinion, what signifies a book as being a classic is its timeless message. The message should be something that can apply to any generation reading the novel, no matter how old the book is. The Catcher in the Rye was written over fifty years ago, but its message of learning to grow up will never fade away. Holden Caulfield catches the attention of readers right away because of his realistic qualities, such as a strong personality and teenage, rebellious attitude.

So many people can relate to this novel because it seems in our walk of life, we are always forced to deal with “phonies” like Holden. Holden learns to deal with these phonies by the end of the novel. His quick-to-judge approach of the people around him stands him out from other protagonists in various novels. I think the theme of the Honors English books this summer are all related to one another. In each novel, an unexpected ending surprises readers, in an unsatisfying, yet subtly fulfilling way. People still love to read this timeless novel because the values and overall message can be applied to their lives even in society today.

I have read many reviews of The Catcher in the Rye. Some say that the novel is about nothing and simply has no important message to it. I do believe people said the same thing about Seinfeld, and look how popular and rich those characters have become. Anyway, reading those reviews upset me. Steinbeck did not write this novel to show society that Holden Caulfield is a lazy kid capable of blowing a “wad” of money in New York City like it is candy. Yeah, that is what the novel outwardly appears to revolve around, but it is what readers can take form the novel after looking deeper in to it. I believe he wrote it, and intended for it to be read for a long time, because he wanted to show people that their not alone in life when it comes to the trials and tribulations of growing up and achieving adulthood. We learn that life is going to suck sometimes, (pardon my incorrect grammar, but I feel that Holden made a point with his, so I am stating mine) but in the end it is not about the places you go or the things you see in life that matter. It is learning from those experiences a lesson that will stick with you your whole life. Steinbeck, in my opinion, does a magnificent job of teaching this important lesson through his novel The Catcher in the Rye.

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown and, 1991. Print.

The Catcher in the Rye - Question 5

I do not believe The Catcher in the Rye was written solely for the fact to inform people of the history of New York City, although it did provide some information of the city (nothing too important though). The novel does however provide spectacular insight on the behavior and social issues of the time period and setting regarding drinking underage.

I think one of the reasons I so thoroughly enjoyed this novel is because of its setting. I have somewhat of a confession to make. I am completely obsessed with New York City. After visiting there in June of last year, I have become so enthralled with events that take place, or have taken place, there. Although readers do not learn a great deal of the historic city, famous places are often mentioned in the novel. He visits the Radio City Skating Rink (Salinger 128), Central Park (Salinger 156), and even the American Museum of Natural History (Salinger 203). The book did not give much historical insight to the places Holden visits, but their references help readers understand and picture the setting in their heads, especially for people who know, or have been to, New York City.

Holden Caulfield is intended to represent a typical teenager facing the challenges of growing up. His behavior in the novel greatly reflects the behavior of a number of teenagers from the time period of the novel (the time period is late 1940’s into the early 1950’s). Something I believe was very common for young men under the age of twenty one was drinking. Holden constantly tries to buy drinks downtown, despite the fact he knows he could get caught. In one instance, Holden goes to a club and gets completely intoxicated to the point he cannot see straight (Salinger 150). Back then, club owners were not as strict as they are today. Something like this would hardly ever occur in society today because the public is more informed about the dangers of drinking underage.

The novel’s symbolic and thematic significance revolves around Holden’s realization that life is full of “phonies” and to just get over it. He is able to overcome the conflict he has with growing up because of his experiences in the Big Apple.

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown and, 1991. Print.

The Catcher in the Rye - Question 4

Holden Caulfield is by far the hero in The Catcher in the Rye. He may not save the day in any physical shape or form, but he demonstrates qualities in which I believe not an everyday “hero” possess. For one, he may be straightforward at times, but he knows when to behave. His biggest attribute is the fact he overcomes the struggle in which he faces throughout the novel. By the end of the book, Holden proves himself to be a heroic character because of his straightforward, yet intuitive personality and his ability to overcome the conflict he finds himself in.

I believe one of the lessons Salinger puts into The Catcher in the Rye is one that older generations can learn from. Older people tend to stereotype young teenagers like Holden Caulfield. They find them to be disrespectful, immature, and lazy. Holden demonstrates all of these traits well, but then he proves himself to be a very respectful young man, which may surprise some readers. When Holden finds himself on the same train as a mother of a fellow peer of his at Pencey, he lies to her about her son. Now one who has not read the novel may take this statement and automatically judge Holden. Yes, he lies to her, but for a very charming and thoughtful reason. Holden tells the mother that her son is actually a very good, sensitive kid, when in actuality he finds her son to be a jerk (Salinger 55). Holden proves his ability to hold back his usual straightforward and sarcastic personality to make someone feel good.

The biggest feat in the whole entire novel comes at the end of the book when Holden comprehends that his life is not fit to be perfect (or anyone’s for that matter). He devises up a huge plan to move to the country and live in a cabin to escape the authenticity of life (Salinger 205). Holden tries so hard to hold on (possible reference to his name?) to his childhood and not let it go. He represents the abstract idea of reality because of the experiences he has in New York, which help him realize where he is at in life. In the end he decides to stay where he is with his family. Holden’s adventures in New York City help him overcome his struggle between the transitions of childhood into adulthood.

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown and, 1991. Print.

The Catcher in the Rye - Question 3

I will be honest, when I say “lol” to something, either in a text or an email, very rarely do I actually “laugh out loud”. With that said, I hope it states a lot when I say I did “lol” at The Catcher in the Rye. The main reason I was so highly entertained is because the novel addresses the universal theme of the struggle of growing up in a society that does not seem to understand you at all, which I myself can relate to. Author J.D. Salinger does a magnificent job of portraying Holden Caulfield as the novel’s lazy teenage male going through a change in his life that ultimately forces him to taste reality.

By the end of the novel, Holden’s personality and attitude change immensely. Salinger portrays the overall plot to be a walk in the life of a teenage boy, but the walk in which Holden goes through is actually his journey to adulthood. “The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody’d move. You could go there a hundred thousand times, and that Eskimo would still be just finished catching those two fish, the birds would still be on their way south, the deers would still be drinking out of that water hole, with their pretty antlers, and their pretty, skinny legs, and that squaw with the naked bosom would still be weaving the same blanket. Nobody’d be different. The only thing that would be different would be you,” (Salinger 121). This quote from Holden sums up his entire attitude toward life. He wishes he could hide from adulthood a little bit longer. Through this quote, Holden reveals to readers that he is not ready to grow up, but would rather be like the displays in the museum, never changing, never moving.

To hide his emotions regarding change and growing up, Holden often refers to people he does not agree with as “phonies”. He has somewhat of a nervous breakdown when he tries to compile an idea as to what he will do with his life once he leaves to go out on his own. Even when looking ahead to the future, Holden makes it clear that he will not put up with “phonies”. “I’d have this rule that nobody could do anything phony when they visited me. If anybody tried to do anything phony, they couldn’t stay,” (Salinger 205). Salinger reveals his understanding of the human nature to protect one’s self from the unknown (in this case, Holden’s future is the unknown) at all costs. The main character’s compulsiveness to avoid “phonies” further reveals his struggle to deal with growing up.

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown and, 1991. Print.

The Catcher in the Rye - Question 2

One major conflict in The Catcher in the Rye is the struggle Holden has to keep himself away from home until the right time so he does not have to face the wrath of his parents right away. Now, since that run-on sentence/conflict has been stated, I do believe it is time to dig deeper into the problem Holden faces.

The cause of the conflict itself is simple. Holden flunks four out of his five classes at Pencey Prep (Salinger 10) and in return is kicked out of the school. He ultimately imposes the conflict on himself. If Holden would try harder in his classes, he would have grades that showed for it. But because of his lazy behavior, he has to find a place something to do until he can return home. To suffice his boredom, Holden checks into a swanky New York City Hotel where his adventures in the Big Apple begin.

While staying in the hotel, Holden treats himself to a dance with three tourist girls (Salinger 70). The same night, he stumbles on an encounter with a prostitute, who in the end stabs him in the back (figuratively) and gets Holden beat up (not figuratively) (Salinger 103). Holden gains from his night on the town a personal realization of himself. He realizes that he is going to have to simply deal with “phonies” all of his life. Everyone is not going to be the way Holden wants them to be, and he learns to get over it. His experiences in New York City help him comprehend this important life lesson.

Along with losing an opportunity at a great scholarly future at Pencey Prep, Holden ends up losing almost all of his money while in New York. He figures that his “dough” is enough to keep him sufficed on his journey. “I don’t remember exactly how much I had, but I was pretty loaded. My grandmother’d just sent me a wad about a week before,” (Salinger 52). Much to his disbelief, Holden almost runs completely out of his money because he spends it on various things in the city. To keep himself entertained, Holden frequently offered to buy drinks for people. In one instance, he asks a taxi driver, who is a complete stranger, to stop in and have drinks with him (Salinger 82). In the end, Holden may be clever when it comes to deceiving his parents, but he was not clever enough to handle his money efficiently.

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown and, 1991. Print.

The Catcher in the Rye - Question 1

The Catcher in the Rye author J.D. Salinger does a magnificent job of keeping a book about nothing completely interesting and full of wit and humor (in my opinion anyway). He expresses his values and attitudes through Holden Caulfield, the novel’s main character. Holden stresses all throughout the novel how he cannot stand fake people. Although he may be a rebellious teenager who cares little about school or grades, Holden values and respects women and believes they should be treated with the utmost respect (why can’t more guys be like Holden?). It is clear that Salinger expresses his own values and attitudes, those being a disregard for phony individuals and respect for women, through The Catcher in the Rye’s protagonist.

Growing up, we all have to deal with petty drama. And sometimes we are forced to deal with those certain fake individuals we just cannot stand. Holden Caulfield, also the narrator of the novel, does not hold his feelings back when it comes to “phony” people. Caulfield is always labeling people as phony. “The worst part was the jerk had one of those phony, Ivy League voices, one of those very tired, snobby voices,” (Salinger 128). Here Salinger exemplifies how Holden finds the smart and fancy rich kids to be a bunch of fakes. "'It's full of phonies, and all you do is study so that you can learn enough to be smart enough to be able to buy a goddam Cadillac some day, and you have to keep making believe you give a damn if the football team loses, and all you do is talk about girls and liquor and sex all day, and everybody sticks together in these dirty little goddam cliques,'" (Salinger 131). This quote strongly reflects Holden’s (and Salinger’s) values and attitudes toward “phonies”. I honestly could not agree more with the latter quote.

Holden strongly believes that women should be treated with respect. He depicts these feelings when Stradlater returns home from a date with Jane Gallagher, a girl whom Holden likes. After he asks Stradlater if he “gave her the time”, Stradlater replies with a sarcastic remark. Holden takes it as a yes, and he gets up and attempts to punch him, but misses (Salinger 45). Even though Holden turns to violence to put Stradlater in his place, he exemplifies that he values respects girls and that a person cannot go and have “the time” whenever they please. Toward the end of the novel Holden also comes close to having sex with a prostitute, but in the end does not do it because he does not feel it is right (Salinger 97). His actions throughout the novel, though sometimes violent and immature, reveal his admiration for women.

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown and, 1991. Print.

The Grapes of Wrath - Slight Venting Session

In this blog, I feel like venting about the overall “timeless” message. So many times before, I have read novels similar to The Grapes of Wrath. Yes, I will say that the ending of the book was completely and utterly a shock to me. I was not expecting Rose of Sharon do to exactly what she did. But I just think that us as students are told to read so many classic novels that revolve around the same thing (and then forced to analyze them), that they lose their importance as “classics”. I think John Steinbeck did a magnificent job with the book, do not get me wrong. I just feel like summer reading has been so repetitive in past years. Maybe it is time we read more contemporary books. Anyway, I am basically saying that I enjoyed the novel, but it is not on my list of all-time favorites.

To be honest, I want to say I learned a huge lesson from The Grapes of Wrath, but it is nothing that has not been drilled in my head from day one of English class. I can tell you from my expertise in answering questions such as “What did you learn from reading this novel?” or “What is the moral of the story the author tried to portray through the main character?” that there is really one basic answer to what I have “learned” (or in this case, been taught once again). Do not take family and/or material things for granted. I know for sure Steinbeck did not just write this five-hundred plus page novel about the Joads journey west because he had nothing better to do with his time. He wrote it to make a statement to the millions of readers who pick up his book. I am sad to say I did not feel as accomplished and fulfilled when finishing the novel, but I think the most important thing is that I was able to identify the message Steinbeck was trying to reveal through The Grapes of Wrath.

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print.

The Grapes of Wrath - Jim Casy

The Joad family has a lot of inspirational characters in their adventure making it out West. From Ma Joad, a benevolent individual full of leadership and pride, to the little turtle dedicated to make it across the highway, even it means getting knocked down a few times. Each person (or turtle) plays a vital role in The Grapes of Wrath, but someone who I believe was extra special to the Joads sanity was Reverend Casy. He seems to be a besieged kind of character who is simply trying to find his place in the big ole’ world of corruption and poverty.

A rather large inspiration for the Joads, Casy is a man of great wisdom. The Joads consistently ask Jim Casy to say a blessing at a meal or funeral, and even to preach positive and uplifting words to keep the family going. I find the Reverend to be a very peculiar man only because he is very awkward at times. We learn of his wrong doing regarding “layin’ up with a girl” (Steinbeck 22). He tells the Joads that he does not see the harm in it if the girl is full of grace. I guess I sort of picture a creepy old man playing the part of Jim Casy. It is interesting how Steinbeck portrays the preacher and his immoral ways of life. A lot of people find religious figures to be very hypocritical, and I think Steinbeck tried to portray Casy as a human full of mistakes and bad decisions like all of us.

I think that Jim stands for a symbol of Jesus Christ. There are so many reasons as to why this could be true. For example, many people looked up to the Reverend for his acts of kindness and ability to speak so influentially, much like Jesus. This may be something very farfetched, but I also noticed that Jim Casy has the same initials as Jesus Christ. Coincidence? I think not. Steinbeck knew full well of the symbolism he was portraying through Casy. I think that this humble representation of Jesus adds to the novel’s 1930’s “olden days” feel. The biggest example that points to Casy’s Christ-like character is his death. Both men died of a worthy cause by people who were out to basically get them. Jesus died for the suffering of His people, and Casy died for the suffering of the migrant workers.

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print.

The Grapes of Wrath - Turtle Symbolism

Classic books like The Grapes of Wrath are famous for their unique approach on literary devices, especially symbolism. In the novel, there are many symbols that represent something in the bigger picture, and one example of that is the turtle that is introduced in the beginning of the novel. It climbs up the grass and onto the highway. As it is making its way across the road, a man in a truck attempts to hit the turtle (Steinbeck 15). Although he does not succeed in fully running the turtle over, he does nick the edge of the turtle’s shell, flipping it back over on its back. After much struggle, the turtle picks itself back up and continues on its way. The turtle symbolizes the Joad family. In a way, the turtle’s struggle on the highway is foreshadowing the struggle the Joads will have on their journey to California.

The turtle, a small and helpless animal caught in a bad situation, keeps its head up and does not give up when knocked over time and time again. Something bigger and more powerful tries to bring the turtle down. Similar to the turtle, the Joads are a helpless and innocent family caught in the grasp of corrupt business and land owners. They are forced to subdue their anger because ultimately they can do nothing about it. The truck that attempts to hit the turtle is a roadblock in the small animal’s life. It is up to the creature whether it will continue on in its journey, or give up and head back. The Joads have to make a parallel decision in their lives. Will they let the big businesses bring them down and let them win? Or will they continue on like the turtle and keep their heads up high when faced with trials and tribulations? In the end, they do continue to fight and are not oppressed (despite the times they feel they can no longer go) by the obstacles in their way.

I think Steinbeck deserves much credit for using such a creative symbol such as the turtle. It made me think that no matter how small you seem in your walk with life, your pride and courage is so much bigger in the end.

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print.

The Grapes of Wrath - Tom Joad

When I first began to read The Grapes of Wrath I thought that I was going to be taken on a journey with Tom Joad and his life outside of a jail cell. I was really expecting Tom to get himself in to some more trouble after leaving jail, find a girl whom he falls madly in love with, she turns him into a respectful young man, and in the end they live happily ever after. Boy was I wrong. I was quite surprised to see the maturity level of Tom actually increase and become stronger as the novel progressed. Despite the fact that in my opinion Ma Joad was the main protagonist and hero of the novel, Tom plays a significant role in adding to the unique plot of The Grapes of Wrath.

Readers are first introduced to Tom Joad in the very beginning of the novel. He has just been released from prison for murdering a man and catches a ride with a truck driver, whom Tom is extremely rude to, back to his home. “’Homicide,’ he said quickly. ‘That’s a big word – means I killed a guy. Seven years. I’m sprung in four for keepin’ my nose clean,’” (Steinbeck 18-19). Tom’s attitude in the beginning of the novel is somewhat dry. Despite the fact he is free to go where he wants after being released from prison, he still proceeds to be a jerk to the people he comes in contact with, especially the truck driver. A man that is willing to help Tom out, a complete stranger to Tom himself is treated with disrespect from Mr. Joad. Readers learn that Tom takes his newfound freedom for granted and has a bit of a cocky attitude.

Tom’s whole mindset changes as the Joads embark on their journey out West. He becomes a responsible and caring young man. This transformation is more than likely caused by Tom’s realization that family is everything and he must do all possible to help his kin out. In chapter 16, Tom helps out with his brother Al in fixing the car they use to get to California. He works hard to get it fixed with his family on his mind the whole time. When the Joads begin to doubt going to California after hearing a “ragged man” tell them of the unfortunate situation in California, Tom reassures the family it will be alright (Steinbeck 262). I have a profound respect for Tom because he shows how he really is a mature young man, despite what wrong he has done in his life.

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print.

The Grapes of Wrath - Ma Joad

Reading Grapes of Wrath made me feel as if I probably should respect my mom more… Ma Joad is basically everything and then some in the Joad family. They say that during a crisis, people’s courage and valor begin to show. Ma is faced with a very substantial crisis in which her whole family is forced to move to California to find work and a place to live. She is a very determined and loving motherly figure, but at the same time, takes fatherly the place of Pa Joad because their journey is too much for him to handle. No matter what situation arises, Ma Joad is always there to stand as the backbone for the family, even when times of sorrow and anguish arise. “For a moment Ma looked down at the dead old man. And then in pity she tore a strip from her own apron and tied up his jaw. She straightened his limbs, folded his hands over his chest. She held his eyelids down and laid a silver piece on each one. She buttoned his shirt and washed his face,” (Steinbeck 192). I honestly think this is one of those most brave and noble acts in the entire book (besides Rose of Sharon breastfeeding some complete stranger, that one may take the gold). Grampa’s death greatly affects all of the Joad family, but Ma is able to regain her composure and tend to the dead man. Even in times of suffering Ma keeps the family unit together.

I kind of see Ma Joad as being the typical motherly figure of the 1930’s. She is hard working and her whole life revolves around her family. Despite society’s typical mindset of males being the head of the family, I believe (not that I am bias or anything) that women, like Ma Joad, were one of the reasons more families stayed together back then. In my opinion, I believe Steinbeck portrays Ma Joad as the leader of the Joad clan to demonstrate the importance women had in society too.

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print.

The Grapes of Wrath - Chapter 30 Analysis

In my last blog, I talked about why I thought the novel was just okay. One of the reasons I actually enjoyed The Grapes of Wrath is because of the fascinating ending. Like I said before, it was an extremely weird ending, but I think it left readers with an image they will never forget. Just to clear up with happened in the end, Rose of Sharon and her family head to a barn on top of a hill to avoid being drowned by the heavy rain water. In the barn, they find a weak father and his son. The son tells Ma Joad that his father is dying and needs help. Rose of Sharon asks everyone to leave the barn as she does the unthinkable. Because she had just lost her baby, Rose of Sharon was able to breastfeed the man hopefully back to good health, although we will never know if her grave efforts were in vain. And then, the novel ends. Just like that. Steinbeck ends the novel in this manner so that readers can finish in their own minds what happens to the old man, Rose of Sharon, and the other Joads.

The act of human compassion that Rose of Sharon exemplifies is beyond any other I have read about in a classic novel. Most books have their own big endings where the hero of the novel does something important and leaves readers content. It is your typical happy ending. But with Steinbeck’s The Grape of Wrath, he does not follow the typical ending like in typical novels. He is far from typical. Rose of Sharon was never the “hero” in my eyes, until she acted upon such a brave and noble cause. In a way, Steinbeck shows readers that it does not matter who you are, everyone is capable of being their own story’s hero.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the ending of The Grapes of Wrath. It was supposed to be weird for a reason, and I hope other audiences do not take the ending the wrong way. I was very satisfied with the way Steinbeck wrote chapter thirty.

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print.

The Grapes of Wrath - My Honest Opinion

In this blog, I am going to be brutally honest about how I felt concerning The Grapes of Wrath. I am holding nothing back, and saying how I truly feel, even if I am completely wrong in literary terms. My opinions may seem to contradict myself, but I believe this blog should be dedicated to my sincere feelings. I thought the book was simply . . . okay. I feel somewhat bad because I know the author intended readers to take a lot more out of the book than I did, but to be honest, I just felt like it was a novel that had its ups and down, but fell nothing short of being just alright.

I think by now in my English career, I have trained my brain to write about how much I enjoy a book I am forced to read, regardless of how much I like or dislike the novel itself. I can seriously come up with so many reasons why a book is in my list “of favorite novels ever”. Although I could write about how captivating and heart touching The Grapes of Wrath was (which I did not feel it was that great anyway), I will not. One of the reasons I found the book to be just okay is because to be honest, I do not enjoy reading Southern dialect for five-hundred plus pages. Steinbeck may have intended the novel to have a more notable impact with the dialogue, but for me, it did nothing. It only made the long novel harder to read and more time consuming. With this said, I am sure other readers were able to take more out of the dialect than I did, which I am glad for that.

Now that I have stated something I dislike about the novel, I think I should give credit to Steinbeck for something I believe he did truly remarkable. The ending of the story honestly caught me by surprise. I did not feel that way throughout the novel, and that is another reason why I was not a fan of it. I felt I could guess what would happen next after each chapter. Seven times out of ten I would say I was right in predicting the future of the novel. Anyway, I loved the ending because it was seriously charismatic. Weird, yes, but also very compelling (sorry for the sentence fragment, I told you I was going to be truly fixated on my opinion). I think high regard should go to Steinbeck because he made such an awkward and weird ending also a gripping and strong one, which is very hard to do successfully.

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print.

The Grapes of Wrath - Question 8

Grapes of Wrath accurately reflects events in history to such a degree that I felt I learned an extensive amount of information regarding the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl of the 1930’s. Steinbeck is able to portray a fictitious family (although the family did symbolize real families back then) living during a time of hardship through real events that took place on the same soil I call home. “’I’ve done my damndest to rip a reader’s nerves to rags. I don’t want him satisfied. . . I tried to write this book the way lives are being lived, not the way books are written,” (Steinbeck xiii). And that is exactly what he did. Steinbeck put the time and effort into writing his most popular novel ever, Grapes of Wrath.

The author makes it clear through his writing that he believes there is a responsibility between men (including women) to be kind and generous to one another. One startling, yet dramatic example of this is at the very end of the novel when Rose of Sharon, who just lost her baby, breastfeeds a hungry and dying man back to life. “For a minute Rose of Sharon sat still in the whispering barn. Then she hoisted her tired body up and drew the comfort about her. She moved to the corner and stood looking down at the wasted face, into the wide, frightened eyes,” (Steinbeck 618-619). This heroic act of kindness demonstrates on such a prestigious level the generosity men have for their fellow brother (in this case, the generosity women have for their fellow brother). It takes a mature person to read this scene and not laugh, but instead reflect on the novel’s significant impact on one’s self regarding kindness.

Another noteworthy affiliation Steinbeck exemplifies through Grapes of Wrath is a rather unfortunate one; that being the relationship the rich have with the poor. The wealthy landowners kick the migrant workers out of their homes as if they are nothing more than mere ants being kicked from their dirt mound. They treat them like a puppet on a string by controlling their wages (Steinbeck 384).

I believe author John Steinbeck was highly influenced by society. He was born in 1902 and “grew up in a fertile agriculture valley about twenty-five miles from the Pacific Coast,” (Steinbeck preface). By living in a time period the book revolved around, it is only likely (I only presume anyway) that he lived through the Great Depression himself and therefore was able to relate to his characters, producing one of the most influential books in history.

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print.

The Grapes of Wrath - Question 7

When I first picked up the novel Grapes of Wrath and started reading it, the first thing I thought was, “Whoa... I am definitely going to have fun with this dialogue for the next 619 pages.” Little did I know that southern, 1930’s dialect, along with descriptive detail, would be one of the reasons why I was able to grasp such a vivid understanding of the life of the Joads.

Steinbeck’s use of such vivid detail describing the setting of the novel intrigues me to such an extent, I feel as if I could paint a picture of “the red country and part of the gray country of Okalhoma” (Steinbeck 1) in my head. His technique of depicting the setting of the novel using exemplifying adjectives gives readers the feeling that they are there with the Joads, soaking up the summer sun and feeling the soft breeze hit their faces. “In the Weedpatch camp, on an evening when the long, barred clouds hung over the set sun and inflamed their edges, the Joad family lingered after their supper,” (Steinbeck 478). Steinbeck’s vibrant description of the setting also gives readers a sense of the mood. The “barred clouds” slowly engulf the sun so that it no longer shines. Ma Joad states that something needs to be done because their situation heading west is only getting worse. Because of the illustrious detail put into Grapes of Wrath, readers can connect efficiently with the setting and the characters, along with the mood of the chapter.

To add to the descriptive detail in the novel, Steinbeck allows readers to almost hear the southern accents of the characters in their head because of the language used. "You don't look for no sense when lightnin' kills a cow, or it comes up a flood. That's jus' the way things is. But when a bunch of men take an' lock you up four years, it ought to have some meaning,” (Steinbeck 74). The dialect Tom displays in this quote demonstrates the time period very well. Reading the conversations each character has with one another allows the reader feel as if they are with the Joads on their journey, merely sitting on the sidelines just observing the tête-à-tête.

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2002. Print.

The Grapes of Wrath - Question 6

Like The Old Man and the Sea, Grapes of Wrath is still read in society today because of its timeless message of overcoming any obstacle put in your way. Both novels reveal a similar meaning. Like the old man, the Joads do not end up obtaining what they set out to for on their journey, but they gain something even more substantial, family means everything. Readers can take from this novel that life will not always be easy, and there will not always be a happy ending, but cherish your loved ones because sometimes they may be all you have.

The message that Steinbeck gives readers is timeless because of its importance in society, no matter the time period or setting. I think as a generation, we are so used to reading books or watching movies with happy endings, we fail to realize that reality is not so kind. In Grapes of Wrath, readers are taken on a journey that one family (and in the bigger picture, thousands of families) is forced to endure because of the tough economic times of the era. By the end of the well-detailed novel, I wanted nothing more than to read about the Joads successfully making it to California, making jobs that paid well, and enjoying the lives they so deserved. Instead, I was left with an ending not so happy. I think this message hits readers more than it would if things would have worked out for the Joads. Because I was expecting a different ending, I reflected more on the characters and the message they portrayed throughout the novel.

Grapes of Wrath is packed full of opportunities to learn a variety of things, ranging from personal realization tools, to historical events like the Great Depression. For me, I learned a little bit of both. The most important lesson we learn from the novel is to never give up when the going gets rough. The Joads were put through hell and back, from beloved Granma and Grampa Joad perishing on the journey (Steinbeck 311, 187), to the rains flooding the earth (Steinbeck 311), they kept their heads up even when doubt seemed to linger in the air. Another important lesson we can learn from the novel is how life was during the Great Depression. Steinbeck vividly describes the scene of the Dust Bowl for readers all throughout the novel.

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print.

The Grapes of Wrath - Question 5

Grapes of Wrath focuses on an era widely known in American history. The Great Depression. The novel exhibits a migrant family’s struggle to survive during times of poverty, hardship, and hunger. The Joads represent the thousands of families of the time who had to make do with what little money they had to live on and the challenges the economy threw at them.

People in today’s society think we have it bad economically now. Compared to what the families of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl endured in their lives, it is like we live in a paradise. Each year it seems I learn a thing or two about the 1930’s. Never before was I able to grasp the extent to which people were literally dying and struggling to live during that time period. The Joads, like countless other migrant families, were forced to move west in order to find work. Steinbeck demonstrates through various characters the adversity millions are forced to tolerate because of the hard economic times.

Social statues meant a lot to people (mostly the upper class) during the Great Depression, and unfortunately, innocent people were forced to pay the price (literally) for being poor. Readers are able to understand the social issues countless families had to live with through the Joads. They are treated unfairly because they have no money. Because they are desperate and in need of a car to buy, the Joads are forced to pay the high, unfair prices from corrupt salesmen no matter what. “Owners with rolled-up sleeves. Salesmen, neat, deadly, small intent eyes watching for weakness,” (Steinbeck 83). Here Steinbeck demonstrates how the rich, upper class used car lot owner takes advantage of the poor Joads.

Born and raised America, I am always proud to say that I live in a country today where freedom rings and the pursuit of happiness is at its finest. Unfortunately, I cannot say many people had that same mindset back in the 1930’s. The behavior of the time period was despicable on some people’s part, and for families like the Joads, their actions were brave and patient. Once again the rich, upper class citizens (not all of them, mind you) take advantage of the rough times. They behave as if all the money in the world is going out of style by cheating the poor. To them, it is not about the pursuit of happiness nor the freedom enjoyed by the hard working citizens of the country. The Joads on the other hand, handle the hard times with strength and perseverance. Ma Joad keeps the families spirits lifted so that they can make it to California to start a life worth living again.

Grapes of Wrath symbolizes something more than just a book. It symbolizes the destitution America faced when times were hard and the going was rough. This is significant for readers because it allows them to grasp an understanding of what families had to go through. I have always been told stories by my mom about when she was a little girl and she had to walk a mile in the snow everyday (even in the summertime apparently) to catch the bus for school. Those kinds of bedtime stories never really made me appreciate what I have, but after reading this inspiring novel, I am definitely left with a sense of admiration for past generations and the hardship they endured.

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print.

The Grapes of Wrath - Question 4

In many novels, the hero of the book is usually the main character. Therefore many people assume that Tom Joad is automatically the hero of Grapes of Wrath. Do not get me wrong, his character is very heroic in many ways. But I believe there is another main character that portrays her heroic traits in a humble and imperative way. Ma Joad successfully fits the role as being one of the heroes in Grapes of Wrath because of her loving attitude and positive motivation to keep the family together.

In every family, there is that one family member who holds the unit together. Without them, the household would fall apart and would lack the nurturing atmosphere it needs. Ma Joad plays a vital role in keeping her family strong and united throughout the novel. She is portrayed as a determined woman who knows what is best to do to obtain sanity in the Joad household (and on their journey West). Ma leaves no doubt in reader’s minds that her character possesses a number of traits (bravery and strength) needed to be considered a hero. “They waited for her to come back across the darkening yard, for Ma was powerful in the group,” (Steinbeck 134). Here Steinbeck reveals to readers how Ma Joad is regarded highly as being brave and strong in her family. Pa Joad looks up to her and relies on her to act as a backbone for the family. Ma accomplishes bringing her family together in times of grave poverty and hardship.

Ma Joad represents the abstract idea of selflessness. Throughout the novel, Ma is always sacrificing her own well-being for the safety of her family. In one example of her selflessness, Ma Joad tells Tom that she does not believe the California dream is as great as everyone makes it out to be. She looks past her own feelings and agrees to go on the journey with her family (Steinbeck 156). Hardly ever does Ma Joad talk about her own hopes and dreams, but talks about only her family as a whole and what is best for all of them.

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print.