RE: The Catcher in the Rye help with homework Chapter 25
Chapter 25
- How is Holden’s physical condition deteriorating in this chapter?
- How is Holden’s mental condition deteriorating in this chapter?
- What indication is there that Holden may be starting to question his own generalizations?
- Why does Holden want to be a deaf mute?
- Relate the writing on the wall at Phoebe’s school to Holden’s wanting to be a “catcher in the rye.”
Why does Holden want to be a deaf mute?
“I thought what I’d do was, I’d pretend I was one of those deaf-mutes. That way I wouldn’t have to have any goddam stupid useless conversations with anybody. If anybody wanted to tell me something, they’d have to write it on a piece of paper and shove it over to me”. Being a deaf-mute will mean that Holden can’t listen to or talk with anybody, the ultimate isolation from society. This, in a way, symbolizes death in that no one has to care about him and he doesn’t have to care about anyone. The ironic thing is that he later (I believe, again, I may be off…) talks about having another deaf-mute woman so that they could be together. So, deep inside, perhaps Holden doesn’t want to be isolated from society.
