Exploring The Catcher in the Rye
: album
: From the Art Museum to the Zoo
Holden grew up with a very exclusive world of shops and neighbors
near him on the east side of Fifth Avenue.
Yet, on the west side of Fifth, was the park
and its animals and museums, which
he has many fond memories of: walks and roller skating, the zoo, the
lagoon, and the museums.
It seems to me that, aside from a brief mention of school
(p. 199-201), everything Holden
mentions about life as a child in New York City is
in the park.
As a teenager,
he has been going to clubs and stuff but he doesn't like the idea of entering
the world of adults. Elevators, busses, business suits, work (p. 130, 133, 172) are all
on the east side, away from the park. In his madman days, he repeatedly
returns to the park (p. 118-122, 153-6, 208-213). Even when he's not
in the park, his thoughts keep returning to the
ducks in the park.
It occurred to me that the location of his family's apartment
highlights the transition he is faced with. It is a stark
transition. Childhood to the west of Fifth Avenue, adulthood to the east.
Both places are cold, both have cigar butts and such on the sidewalk,
but other than that, it is a world of difference.
Consider also how his life had prepared him only
for that stark contrast. He could, feasibly enough, go to school and learn
about animals and be, say, a park ranger. Or he could become a teacher
or nurse. He cares about kids. But if he pursued these careers,
he couldn't go someplace swanky for lunches. He
would be something of a fish out of water. It is sobering to think of how
we're all influenced by our experiences and can be (ironically) unprepared
for what our aptitudes would really flower in. Our
lives evolve, generally. All Holden can imagine is
to become a guy in the woods by a wild, spur of the moment scheme:
running off in a borrowed car.
He senses no serious hope of actually working toward such a career.
To me it now seems entirely possible that Holden goes on to become a
something of a bitter and phony lawyer. Ugh!
(see also aerial view
of east Central Park)
