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The Catcher in the Rye, Part 2

2008-08-26 · John · watch on YouTube · Books & writing · explainer learning

John sets aside the usual symbols of The Catcher in the Rye to argue that symbolism and metaphor exist to overcome limited empathy: the narrating Holden, unlike the Holden the story happens to, finally gets us to listen.

What is said

00:00:00 — Spoiler joke; the second-half topics John had planned (innocence vs experience, the red hunting cap, the ducks, the museum, the carousel)

  • ★ John had planned to discuss innocence versus experience and the red hunting cap, the colour of Holden's dead brother's hair, as Holden's security blanket. — 00:00:00

00:00:49 — Purpose of symbolism: Peter Berger, limited empathy, the two Holdens, the miracle of text

  • ★★★ After rereading the book, John instead wants to discuss the real purpose of symbolism, metaphor and the other tricks authors use to make readers believe in stories more deeply. (hedged) — 00:00:49 · close reading
  • ★★ John cites sociologist Peter Berger: the difference between dogs and people is that dogs know how to be dogs. — 00:00:49
  • ★★★ John argues people are not born knowing what to do about empathy: self-consciousness shows we can never fully feel someone else's pain, nor they ours. (hedged) — 00:00:49
  • ★★ John says limited empathy is a good thing, because our brains are too small and primitive to function if we felt everyone's feelings at once. — 00:01:18
  • ★★ John poses the question of how we can empathize with each other enough to take care of each other. — 00:01:18
  • ★★★ John says the novel has two Holdens: the one the story happens to and the one telling it. — 00:01:47
  • ★★ John says the Holden the story happens to fails to get anyone to listen; even the adult who seems to listen ends up patting his head, which is creepy and sad. — 00:01:47
  • ★★ John says that if that were the only Holden, he would see little hope in the novel: a lonely, scared kid no one listens to. — 00:02:16
  • ★★★ John argues it is no one's fault: empathy is inherently limited, and everyone in the book, Holden included, is self-involved because that is the nature of being a person. — 00:02:16
  • ★★★ John finds hope in the narrating Holden, who a year later writes about who he was in a way that makes readers care, listen and empathize. — 00:02:45 · perspective-taking
  • ★★★ John calls this the miracle of text and of non-literal communication: the hunting hat, the movies and the carousel are Holden's way into us. (hedged) — 00:02:45 · close reading

00:03:15 — Conclusion that English-class stuff is Holden's way into us; sign-off; Willy gives the next scavenger-hunt clue

  • ★★★ John answers people who say English-class analysis ruins books: it is Holden's way into us and our way out of ourselves. — 00:03:15 · close reading
  • ★★ John has Willy tell Nerdfighters that the next scavenger-hunt clue is taped to a sign in Daniel Biss's front yard. (playful) — 00:03:15 · Willy, Nerdfighteria, Daniel Biss

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