RE: The Catcher in the Rye help with homework Chapter 12
Chapter 12
- Again, what does the duck question (asked of Horowitz, the cab driver) show about Holden’s character?
- “People always clap for the wrong things,” according to Holden. Cite three examples of this.
- Find two examples of ironies Holden is aware of in this chapter.
- Why do people have to say stuff like “glad to’ve met you” in order to stay alive? What does Holden mean?
“People always clap for the wrong things,” according to Holden. Cite three examples of this.
In chapter 12, Holden mentions that, “People always clap for the wrong things” (87). I think that what he means by this is that people will clap for something no matter how good or bad the thing is. What Holden notices (instead of the fact that it is common courtesy to applaud after something is over) is that it is phony to clap for something that you do not actually think was good. That when, people clap, it is generally based off of stereotypes and preconceived notions about a performer. For example, say Mozart was playing a song. Everyone would hoot and holler until their lungs were dry at the end, no matter if it was terrible or it measures up to Mozart. But say a street hobo plays a song that is just as good. Nobody would get excited about it. Why? Preconceived notions that a homeless man wouldn’t be able to play an instrument or perform something very well. This is one diseases society has: its refusal to believe something that seems to be out of the box.