Othello 3.1-2

Even though both of these scenes are short, it is important to the story because it is the start of the downfall of Othello. It starts with Cassio playing a band as a celebration for Othello and Desdemona but is stopped when a clown insults the band's playing. Iago enters and exits after saying he will send his wife and make his conversation with Othello easier. Emilia also enters and reassures Cassio that Othello isn't mad at him and will reinstate his position when he can politically. Scene 2 is Othello leaving to check the fortification of Cyprus.

The clown has some importance in scene 1. The clown made many obscene jokes which are a form of comedic relief for the audience. With how serious and dramatic the previous scenes were, Shakespeare used the clown as a way to lighten up the mood. It also prepares the way for a lot of drama and action in later scenes. 

How is Iago going to use Emilia for his plans?
Emilia being a close servant to Othello has information about the couple. Iago could use Emilia to find out how suspicious Othello is of Cassio or to plant information to the couple directly.

http://shaksper.net/current-postings/31345-identity-of-the-clown-in-othello

This article is interesting in the fact that it looks at a deeper meaning behind the clown. It relates the clown to Iago in how he is causing chaos and disorder and how it also has a similar vulgar manner of speech.

Othello 2.3 L. 278-410

Cassio had just been fired from his job and he is quite distressed. He believes that he had lost his reputation and Othello now despises him. Iago is comforting him and saying that he shouldn't worry because Cassio was under alcohol and it wouldn't ruin his reputation. He continues to say that Othello probably doesn't hate him and there's a chance for him to have Othello trust him again. He advises Cassio to talk to Desdemona in hopes of having her be a spokesperson. Iago's goal is to have Othello suspect Desdemona is cheating on him so he is planning to have Cassio be a suspect. Cassio agrees and ironically leaves after calling Iago honest. Iago's has another small soliloquy where he ridicules Cassio for being naive and goes over his plan with the audience. Roderigo then enters and he is wanting to go back to Venice because he ran out of money. Iago convinces Roderigo that soon there will be a chance for him to win over Desdemona and he should stay.

There is the motif of devils and demons in this scene. Cassio says "Oh thou/invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be/known by, let us all thee devil" (300-303). He continues to call alcohol and drunkness the devil and devil works and he is implying that the devil had caused him to lose his temper and job. The devil also points to Iago as he is seen as an evil person who is twisted and able to manipulate people to his liking.

How crucial of a part will Roderigo be in the future?
Iago had already manipulated and used Roderigo to his liking and now he had run out of money. Iago might be able to find more ways of using Roderigo, but Iago is not likely to care about whether or not Roderigo is able to woo Desdemona as he is using Cassio. 


https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjhhKPdsu39-9ExyOrS1QNp29DVtKgaQxwA6u-ufW8vsFX3B6-YxaIrABka17eHyvFz11ZkoCZiXZg2TipeOhLpCLIP3msFPOIcwHC3FlMM95DjzkWTYljmSLwPpcGorrUjr6xaGt1XLBq9rjzKGISZvukjTf0DReQceVCmfmYdIiMSU8w3xvyKALF9nUvwOW0WdjuxlC5CUaVhjLhxi-U1wzd4xY3rPImg8iKjtV_unSilzyOI8Ezdr0NVeRrNRlBcRU7WKdZXi37RVieRUTYFHDBl04QohRhBw3D4KZZ9lg=

Iago's actions during these lines are like a friend who is pretending to be helpful and supportive, only to backstab you later.

Othello 2.3 L. 41-278

The scene jumps right into Iago's plan with Iago attempting to get Cassio drunk. Cassio has a low alcohol tolerance so he is done after one drink, but with all the festivities going on Cassio eventually gets caught up in the atmosphere and becomes drunk. There is the reintroduction Montano in this scene and he acts as one of the sober gentlemen. So Cassio becomes drunk and he leaves to do his guard duty but Iago manipulates Montano. He plants the idea that Cassio is a drunkard who is always drinking. Montano is skeptical until Cassio comes in chasing Roderigo while shouting obscenities. Montano attempts to break them apart but eventually is caught up in the fight as well. While this is happening, Iago has Roderigo go ring the city bell to wake everyone, including Othello. Eventually Othello comes and is able break up the fight. He has Iago tell him the story of what happened and Iago obviously point the finger to Cassio. Othello loses his temper and fires Cassio, exactly as Iago planned.

Some of Cassio's characteristics are quite unique compared to the other characters. For example, Cassio is able to stay calm even when Iago was blaming him. Usually, someone would try to defend themselves when they are being accused for something, but Cassio takes the blame and knows that he deserves what he was going to get. Cassio is also quite naive. He takes information that he gets at face value and never questions it. Iago was throwing him under the bus and he still believed that Iago genuinely cared for him. 

Why doesn't anyone suspect Iago for starting the fight? Especially with the things he said to Montano.
I think it is mostly due to Iago's reputation. Iago is well known for being an honest person, as ironic as that is. Because of his reputation, Iago is trusted and Montano doesn't doubt him. Iago also isn't doubted because he isn't shown to have any relationship to Roderigo, the culprit. 


https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/ab/B106-Othello/files/2012/11/02_03.jpg

This image of Iago comforting Cassio shows Iago and Cassio's personality. Iago is looking at Cassio with a condesending attitude but Cassio is very sad about him being fired.

Othello 2.2-3 L. 1-39

Scene 2 is a very short scene with a concise paragraph with the dialogue of the Herald about Othello. The Herald describes how great Othello is for and congratulates him for marriage. He ends off with a blessing for Cyprus and Othello. In the next scene, Othello and Desdemona seems a rushed to leave and they do leave after Othello says goodnight to Cassio. Iago enters the scene and initiates his plan with first trying to get Cassio drunk. He leads the topic to Desdemona in order to see how Cassio sees her. While Iago is being rude and lewd in his manner of talking, Cassio is noble and polite in the way he responds. Iago later finds out that Cassio is weak to drinking and won't drink with him. 

The contrast between Iago and Cassio is very evident in scene 3. Iago is being very rude and looking at Desdemona in a lustful way but Cassio retains his manners and is simply agreeing with Iago for courtesy. It shows the contrasting characteristics of Iago and Cassio very evidently.

How are Iago's plans going to change now that he can't get Cassio drunk?
I think Iago will likely continue to manipulate Roderigo to do his bidding. Iago, being as manipulative as he is, probably has many plans to ruin Othello and 1 error is not likely to hinder him.


http://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.timetoast.com/public/uploads/photos/4852279/Othello_95_Iago_Cassio_drink.JPG?1475235185
This is a photo of Iago offering Cassio a drink. Cassio looks just as Shakespeare described him, handsome and nobel.

1. Damned as thou art, thou hast enchanted her!
   For I'll refer me to all things of sense,
   If she in chains of magic were not bound,
   Whether a maid so tender, fair, and happy,
   So opposite to marriage that she shunned
   The wealthy curlèd darlings of our nation,
   Would ever have, to incur a general mock,
   Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom
   Of such a thing as thou—to fear, not to delight!
   Judge me the world, if 'tis not gross in sense
   That thou hast practiced on her with foul charms,
   Abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals
   That weaken motion. (1.2.82-94)

1. Speaker: Brabantio

Context: Brabantio is accusing Othello of using magic and drugs in order to charm Desdemona into loving him.

Meaning: Brabantio is saying that there is no way Desdemona, as a noble woman would ever fall in love with a black man such as Othello. Othello has used some sort of witchcraft to impaired Desdemona's reason and used that to woo her

Dramatic purpose:

Racism: Brabantio is being racist and assuming that because Othello is a Moor, he would do something like this.

1. She bade me, if I had a friend that loved her,

I should but teach him how to tell my story,

And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake:

She loved me for the dangers I had passed,

And I loved her, that she did pity them.

This only is the witchcraft I have used.    (I, iii, 163-169)

3. Speaker: Othello

Context: Othello is explaining to the council how he wooed Desdemona after being accused of using magic by Brabantio.

Meaning: Desdemona has willingly fallen in love with Othello because of his stories. Othello has also fallen in love with Desdemona because she willingly listened to his story ands pried him for it.

Dramatic purpose:

Relationship: the quote shows that the love between Desdemona and Othello is pure and real.

Theme: the theme of love is shown between Othello and Desdemona

Othello 2.1 L.234-334

The last half of this scene is all about Iago and Roderigo, much like the end of Act 1 Scene 3. Iago convinces Roderigo that Cassio and Desdemona are in love with each other. Roderigo is very skeptical at first but as he listens to Iago talk about Cassio's courtesies and characteristics, he becomes convinced. Iago points out how Cassio had kissed Desdemona's hand and also how perfect Cassio is compared to the Moor. Iago portrays Desdemona as someone who would fall in love on a whim and therefore choose the next best partner once she is bored of Othello. Iago also tells Roderigo about his plan to take Cassio's seat as the lieutenant. He wants Roderigo to taunt Cassio into hitting him so that Iago can report Cassio to Othello. By doing this, Iago is able to free up the spot of lieutenant and earn favor with Othello at the same time. The scene ends with Iago going to get the luggage of Othello and Roderigo preparing his part of the plan.

Some of the metaphors in Iago's soliloquy are really powerful. For example, he says "the thought whereof / Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my innards" (318-319). He expresses his jealousy and anger at the suspicion that Othello had slept with his wife. Shakespeare expresses the feeling of jealousy as having something gnaw on the innards and it is a very accurate and descriptive way of expressing jealousy.

Why does Iago have seemingly conflicting views about Othello's character?
Even though Iago had praised Othello for his noble character and good husbandry, all in all, he still hates him over a suspicion of him sleeping with his wife. The feeling of jealousy is likely not caused by Iago's love for his wife, but more due to his overall racist mindset combined with his possessiveness of women.



https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/23/64/04/23640436e7c5859b833cd29c38108715.jpg

The photo represents the quote of "the thought whereof / Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my innards" (318-319). It does a good job of showing how jealousy could be like a poison.

Who will Iago influence?	How will he influence them?	What result is he hoping for?
Cassio	Make him angry and report his actions to Othello	He is hoping to have him died and take his job as the lieutenant.
Roderigo	He will use his love for Desdemona against him, he will make Roderigo his slave	To enrage Cassio and if Cassio hits him, use it as an excuse to fire Cassio
Othello	Her will ultimately try to sleep with his wife but also to make him jealous and lost his reason.	Othello to be taken over in jealousy and grief by way of his wife Desdemona.

Othello 1.3 L.342-447

As a continuation of the previous post, the entire audience had left leaving Roderigo and Iago to have the time to talk. Immediately, Roderigo expresses his sadness by saying to Iago that he is going to go and drown himself. Iago comforts him by saying things like Desdemona is a guinea hen to dissuade him from suicide. Iago uses many imagery devices such as relating bodies to gardens and wills, gardeners. He manipulates Roderigo using his heightened emotions and empty promises of being able to woo Desdemona. Iago convinces Roderigo to follow the couple to Cyprus as a chance to get closer to Desdemona but at the same time, Iago is using Roderigo as his purse after telling him to sell all his belongings for money. To be even more convincing, Iago describes his hatred for Othello in order to reassure Roderigo about his plans. At the end of the play, Iago has a monolog in which he belittles Roderigo and explains that his motive for ruining Othello is because of a rumor where Othello had sex with his wife.

In these lines, I found the imagery very intuitive and useful for explaining the setting and mood of the scene. Iago describes the body as a garden and our will as the gardener. He explains how our wills will determine if the garden is cluttered with a variety of herbs or with one type of herbs. He's relating the analogy to a person's sex life. He is describing how Roderigo could be more aggressive and should be actively going for Desdemona. Another form of imagery he uses is to describe the changing desires of Moors. He describes how his desire for Desdemona right now is like a locust and it will change to a coloquintidas in a short amount of time.

Why does Iago end with the phrase, "Hell and night / Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light" (446-447)?
Aside from dramatic effect, I think that Shakespeare made Iago say these lines in order to portray him as a dark and villainous character who has the rest of the play in his hands. Iago means in these lines that he has a plan laid out to catch Othello and ruin him and the idea is so cruel it could be something that originates from Hell and night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fItEfJhf0oc
This video shows an actor playing the role of Iago when he says his soliloquy. The actor himself portrays Iago very well but the part that fascinated me is when he used chess pieces to represent himself, Othello and Desdemona. He portrays himself as a knight in between Othello and Desdemona who are the King and Queen respectively. It is interesting how he sees himself as a knight even though knights are righteous and just but Iago is anything but.

Quotes	Context	Themes	Explanation
“What sayst thou, noble heart? (344)	Iago is about to comfort Roderigo with his heart-break for Desdemona	There is a theme of dishonesty where Iago doesn’t truly believe that Roderigo is noble	Iago is manipulating Roderigo to do his bidding and one of the ways he does this is flatter Rodrigo even though it is not truthful
“Our bodies are our gardens, to which our will are gardeners” (370-372)	Iago is describing the body and will as a garden and gardener to help Roderigo understand his desires.	There is a motif of plants in these lines.	Iago could be thinking of himself as a gardener who is managing a garden of plants.
“a supersubtle Venetian be not too hard for my wits and all the tribe of hell, thou shalt enjoy her” (399-400)	Iago is giving Roderigo hope that if he follows Iago’s instructions, he will be able to get Desdemona.	The motif of hell is illuminated in these lines	Hell is later mentioned in Iago’s soliloquy and hell could be a motif to represent the evil that is present in Iago’s mind
“That thinks men honest that but seem to be so,and will tenderly be led by th’ nose as asses are” (443-445)	This is in Iago’s soliloquy where he is ridiculing Othello for being a trusting man	There is a theme of lies and honesty.	Othello nature is opposite of Iago’s. While Othello is honest and noble, Iago is witty and cunning and it is displayed in the soliloquy.

Othello 2.1 L.1-233

As a way to begin the new scene, Shakespeare also introduces the characters into a new setting. The crew of Othello, Desdemona, Iago, Roderigo, Emilia (Iago's wife), and Cassio arrive at Cyprus only to find that the Turkish fleet had been drowned and destroyed in the storm. The scene begins with some imagery used to describe how the Turkish were sunk such as "What ribs of oak, when mountains melt on them," (8). Cassio then enters the scene and he shows some concern for Othello's group as they are also sailing through the storm. He is somewhat reassured because he knows the quality of the boat and pilot. The first ones to arrive in Cyprus is Desdemona, Iago, Roderigo, and Emilia. The people of Cyprus are praising Desdemona for her beauty and as a gesture of courtesy, Cassio kisses the hand of Desdemona. Iago doesn't let this chance slip away as he keeps it in mind for when he manipulates Roderigo. Othello finally arrives and the couple embraces in happiness and joy. Othello and Desdemona leave for some errands and he tells Iago to get his luggage.

The setting of this scene is extremely important. Firstly, the newly-wed couple is spending their honeymoon on a battlefield. Shakespeare chose this setting because it foreshadows the chaotic events that will be happening later on in the play to the couple. The setting is also significant because there ended up not being a war to even fight because the Turkish fleet was destroyed in the storm. The Turkish fall represents how unexpected things could happen and that is also reflected in the play.

The role of the storm in this scene represents ensuing chaos. First, the storm destroys the Turkish fleet which symbolizes how things will not go as planned since the Senators had sent Othello to defend Cyprus. The storm's chaos also foreshadows the disaster that will happen later on in the play. The storm had almost sunk Othello's ship and it foreshadows how future events will also eventually ruin him.

http://www.britaininprint.net/shakespeare/othello/images/web_ready_images/othello_waterfront_small.jpg
This image shows how celebrated Othello is. In contrary to the discrimination that he faces in Venice, he is on the frontlines where everyone has heard of his achievements and bravery.

Othello 1.3 L.1-342

In the previous scene, Brabantio and Othello decide to take up the issue of Desdemona's marriage with the Duke and that is covered in these lines. But first off, the Duke and the Senate are currently debating about the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. They receive news that the Turkish turned around and are headed to Rhodes, but the First Senator predicts that it is a trick because Cyprus has more importance than Rhodes to the Turks. He is correct in predicting this and at this moment Barbantio barges in stops the meeting. He starts to describe that his daughter had been charmed, abused, and stolen from him. The Duke is supportive of him until he hears that the perpetrator is Othello. He calls for Othello to defend himself and he begins to describe how he wooed Desdemona with the stories of his battles and life. Desdemona makes an entrance for the first time and she supports Othello's story. Brabantio is devasted that his daughter fell in love with a moor and the Duke declares the issue over. They resume telling Othello to move to Cyprus immediately and defend against the Turks. Othello readily agrees but he has an issue with where Desdemona would live. Neither Othello, Desdemona or Brabantio agree for Desdemona to live in her father's house so Desdemona says she wants to go with Othello to Cyprus. Othello assigns Desdemona to Iago for an escort and they leave to secure their marriage.

I find Desdemona's character intriguing. She seems to love adventures as she is fascinated by Othello's stories and even voluntarily agrees to follow Othello to the battlefield. As for first impressions of Desdemona, she seems to be someone who can fall in love easily. She fell in love with Othello due to his stories, which seems a bit superficial. If she can fall in love with Othello so easily, she might fall in love with someone else too. There was some foreshadowing of that when Barbantio told Othello to watch her carefully as she tricked her father, she can trick him too.

What's going to happen when Iago is escorting Desdemona?
I think that Iago is going to somehow trick Desdemona or use Desdemona against Othello. Iago could also try to have Desdemona fall for Roderigo as Roderigo is in alliance with Iago. Roderigo himself loves Desdemona and wants to take her as his wife. This is shown by his attempts of favoritism with Brabantio when he announces that Desdemona eloped with Othello. 

Lines with Eyes motif:

• 24
• 76
• 116
• 276
• 287
• 333

Shakespeare is trying to create a negative connotation with eyes. Every mention of eyes in these lines have some sort of negative meaning: from lying and deceit, to fear, to being blind. Shakespeare wants us to draw the conclusion that we need to watch for negative things when eyes are involved. Eyes can also represent visions. Shakespeare could also be telling us that eyes will represent some sort of foreshadowing. Barbantio warning Othello is a good example of this. 

https://www.bard.org/study-guides/the-moral-geography-of-othelloThis article explains the differences in setting of Venice and Cyprus during the time of Shakespeare. It emphasizes how Cyprus is a perfect location for Desdemona to fall victim to Iago's tricks and manipulations. It talks about the massive change in lifestyle that is experienced when moving from an urban city like Venice to a military camp such as Cyprus. The writer is trying to explain how Shakespeare deliberately chose Cyprus as a setting for the plot of Othello. 

Othello 1.2

The scene starts off with Iago warning Othello about how Brabantio is going to come and try to divorce him and Desdemona. Othello rebukes him by saying that he isn't afraid of Brabantio because his love for Desdemona is strong and his merits/social status will out-weigh whatever he is accused of. Then Cassio and some officers come and tell Othello that he is needed by the senate and Duke. But all of a sudden Brabantio comes with Roderigo and calls Othello a thief. The encounter escalates until swords are drawn but the situation eventually calms down and both parties agree to bring up the matter to the Duke.

I find the politics very interesting in this scene. Brabantio is able to call a lot of officers and friends of his to pressure Othello. He says in the previous scene to call people from all the houses to gather weapons. It is interesting how much influence and power he has to be able to call people who are not necessarily close or related to him. Also, Brabantio says that he is able to bring up the matter directly to the Duke. The Duke is one of the most influential people in the city and Brabantio seems to have the authority to bring up a private matter to him. 

How is the Duke going to respond to Brabantio accusing Othello of charming Desdemona with magics and drugs?
I think the Duke will be skeptical of Othello charming Desdemona without her consent. I believe this because the Duke obviously knows about Othello's character and achievements. Even though Othello is black, the Duke is likely able to see past the stereotype and judge Othello fairly. 


http://study.com/cimages/multimages/16/doge_of_venice.jpg

The Duke is an absolute authority in Venice. His role so far has been small but his power and influence are shown in how he acts and makes decisions. He is able to judge and reconcile Brabantio and Othello and no one is able to dispute him. Even Brabantio had no choice but to accept his decision of letting Desdemona marry Othello.

Othello 1.1

In Othello Scene 1, Shakespeare introduces 3 characters, none of which is Othello. They are Iago, the flag holder for the army of Othello, Roderigo, a friend of Iago, and Brabantio a senator of Venice and father of a woman interested in Othello. The scene starts off with Iago complaining to Roderigo about Othello choosing Michael Cassio as his officer and second-in-command. Iago argues that Michael doesn't have any experience as a soldier but Iago has been a witness to Othello's acts at many different battlefields. Roderick questions his loyalty for Othello and Iago responds saying that he is following Othello for his own sake and not for love or duty to Othello. Right after, they arrive at Brabantio's house tell him that his daughter is with Othello. Roderigo then convinces Brabantio to check for his daughter who is not there. The scene ends with Iago returning to Othello and Brabantio leaving to look for his daughter with Roderigo.

Reading this scene for the first time, to be honest, was really confusing. Aside from the language, the characters were really unique. Iago seems to be a loyal follower of Othello but in reality, he is pretty jealous and narcissistic. Also, Brabantio is a senator but his actions after finding out that his daughter left, are anything but senator-like. The character development is very detailed and deliberate right from the start of the play

What evidence can you find in this scene of Iago’s manipulative nature; narcissistic personality; jealousy?
Iago's manipulative nature is shown in his actions with Brabantio's daughter. In order to get Othello in trouble, he goes to tell Brabantio that his daughter is sleeping with Othello. His narcissism and jealousy are shown when he complains about Michael Cassio being Othello's aid and he believes that he is much more capable. 

https://s-media-cache ak0.pinimg.com/236x/81/dd/3a/81dd3ab1891bb69f29fb87dcdeb60441.jpg This is a poster for a Shakespearean festival. The picture is of a ram "tupping" a white ewe, or sheep. Is a quote from this scene that Iago used to describe Othello having sex with the senator's daughter.

Hero's Quest Archetype in Catcher in the Rye

Much like other stories, Catcher in the Rye has an archetype. Archetypes are patterns in stories and mythology that does is not limited to one culture or area of the world. There are many different types of archetypes but the one I will be talking about is the hero's quest archetype with Holden as our hero. Before we get to the story we need to determine what type of hero Holden is. I believe Holden is an unbalanced hero. Unbalanced heroes generally have some kind of emotional or mental loss. An example of this could be Hamlet as he was a depressed character. Holden is an unbalanced hero because he is obviously depressed and the way he treats other people could be seen as problematic and abnormal. In the beginning of the novel, he describes that he is in a place where he is taking a break. This place is a hospital where he is being treated for his depression. There is also a need to consider the type of quest the hero is going on. In Catcher in the Rye, the most likely journey is the quest for identity. Holden wants to fit into society and uses the experience of leaving Pencey Prep as the starting point.

Stage 1 Departure: The starting point of this quest is obviously when he leaves Pencey and takes the train to New York where he slowly matures and grows. Even though he was reluctant to leave Pencey because he had a few friends, he was forced to because he failed.
Stage 2 Initiation: His initiation could be the conversation he had with Ernest Morrow's mother. For most of the conversation, he was lying about how good of a student and person Ernest was. It is an instant jump from the less mature preparatory world that he knows to a "phony" world where flattery and deception are natural.
Stage 3 The road of trials: Although there are no supernatural trials or strength tests that Holden has to go through, most of the story is the "road of trials" that Holden goes through. From the prostitute in his room to the 3 women he meets in the hotel bar, even his date with Sally Hayes, all of this helped Holden grow and mature to become the person he is at the end of the story. Despite getting more and more depressed with the world after each experience, they ultimately prepare him for maturity and the end of his journey.
Stage 4 The innermost cave: The innermost cave can be the climax of the story. In the case of Catcher in the Rye, the innermost cave is when Phoebe asks if she can go with Holden when he leaves town. They get into an argument and it eventually leads to Holden taking Phoebe to the zoo where Phoebe rides the carousel. Holden changes after the carousel ride. He realizes that his whole view on life and growing up is wrong. This is displayed through the symbolism of the carousel and rings. Holden realizes that "The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the gold ring, you have to let them do it, and not say anything. If they fall off, they fall off, but it's bad if you say anything to them." (211) Holden changes mentally.

Stage 5 Reinstating back to society: In the last chapter of the book, Holden says, “I don’t know what I think about it. I’m sorry I told so many people about it. About all I know is, I sort of miss everybody I told about…. Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.” (214) After being changed by the experiences he’s had in his journey, he is ready to accept society and now realizes how immature he’s been. Holden even thinks he is going to start applying himself in school starting next September, a complete opposite to how he was at the beginning of the book. He also begins to regret all the things he said and did to people because he is now missing them. Overall, Holden is changed and matured due to the journey and quest he has had over the entirety of the book.

The entire journey as a whole covered a lot of content which can be reflected upon. The journey included many symbols and themes which contribute to the depth of the hero's quest archetype. The theme of isolation that Holden experiences further develops the quest for identity. Holden likely realizes his defense mechanism of pushing away people who try to help him and in his quest, this wall slowly breaks down until it is completely destroyed. The theme shows progress from the beginning to the end of the book. There is also the symbol of the red hunting hat that Holden bought in New York. He was very dependent on this hat for his comfort and security but in the end, he didn't feel like he needed it anymore. Holden was wearing the hat when the sudden rain pour happened at the zoo, "My hunting hat gave me quite a lot of protection, in a way, but I got soaked anyway." (213) The rain symbolizes his new mindset and even though the hunting hat blocked some of the rain for him, he is slowly changing his mindset and improving his personality.

How have the many experiences he’s had changed him specifically?

Holden’s many experiences during the book are all unique and change him in many ways. One example is the incident with the prostitute. When he calls the prostitute up to his room immaturely and impulsively, she gets upset which leads to him being beaten up by the elevator boy. This experience teaches Holden to be more mature with his decisions and to think them through properly.

Even though a hero is supposed to have comrades that they can trust, does Holden have any?

Holden’s so-called comrades are not normal for a hero. Normally, these people would be close to the hero and reflect some of the hero’s characteristics or contrast them which allows the hero to trust them. Holden’s comrades are often abused by Holden, but more than likely, abuses him, such as Stradlater who treated Holden as a lesser person. Despite all this, Holden still hangs out with them due to his nature of being someone who likes to please others. Therefore, Holden might not have comrades that would trust him or rely on him, but Holden does trust them as he feels that he has no other options.

This video if very good at illustrating the hero's journey archetype. It explains how the archetype was created and also why it is so effective at telling a story. Though Holden's journey may not include fighting monsters or getting a treasure, many of the stages in the hero's quest archetype can be symbolic to the experiences Holden has gone through.

Motifs in Catcher in the Rye

Before I even start to talk about the numerous motifs in Catcher in the Rye, what are motifs in the first place? They are a term that is constantly used in the literary world but often misunderstood. Motifs are, simply put, something that in repeated in the story, and holds some form of symbolism. They can be abstract or literal and can be anything that the reader will recognize. Motifs are especially important in literature because they are the author's way of imparting a symbol and theme to the reader. Motifs are also a creative way for readers to understand the story on a deeper level without the author having to literally state it in the story. Not only can we understand the story better with the use of motifs, in some cases, the characters themselves use motifs which we can interpret as part of their character. This allows us to understand the deeper part of the character that the author wants to display. Overall we study motifs because they are a unique and creative way to reach a deeper understanding of what the author is trying to tell us.

In Catcher in the Rye, motifs of loneliness are quite common. One of these examples is the date with Sally Hayes. On that date, he was having a good time with her and they went to Radio City Hall. While they were there, Holden gets the crazy idea of running away with Sally to some remote place where they can live away from society. Sally rejects and this leads to a fight where the conclusion is Holden being alone and lonely yet again. The motifs of loneliness display the themes of isolation. The example of Holden being rejected by Sally and feeling lonely is because of his isolation to prevent from being hurt. He says, "You give me a royal pain in the ass if you want to know the truth." (Salinger 133) He rebukes her because she had rejected him and instead of feeling the pain of rejection again, he instead decides to isolate himself from her by lying to himself that she is not someone he likes. That way he won't get hurt when he gets rejected on his crazy idea of running away.

There are also motifs of relationships/intimacy/sexual. Holden often encounters different relationships and people who he could become close with, such as Sunny. Sunny is a prostitute that Holden called up to his room in the hotel. He does this impulsively and when she arrives, instead of having sex, he just wants to talk to her. Holden is always seen talking about and imagining sex, however, even after a prostitute comes up to his room, he is too depressed to have sex. The author uses the motif of relationships/intimacy/sexual to once again light up the theme of isolation but also the theme of growing up. The act of Holden rejecting having sex with Sunny is him trying to protect himself from being hurt. He said in a conversation with Luce, "I can never get really sexy with a girl I don't like a lot." (148) He's afraid of having sex with Sunny and then coming to like her which would lead him to be hurt once again. It also lights up the theme of growing up because sex can be seen as a step into adulthood. He is afraid of growing up because it is confusing and Holden prefers things to be simple and unchanging. This is also reflected by his desire to become the catcher in the rye. He wants to save children who fall into adulthood and preserve their innocence.

Lying and deception could be called one of Holden's strong points. He is so good at lying that he himself would not be able to see through them. He lies to deceive both other people and himself for both good and bad reasons. He lies to other people in order to fit in or get people to like him and he lies to himself to protect his self-esteem and his sense of self. For example, he says, "I was sort of crying. I don't know why. I put my red hunting hat on and turned the peak around to the back, the way I liked it, and then I yelled at the top of my goddam voice, 'Sleep tight, ya morons!'" (52) Salinger uses the motif of lying and deception to show the theme of isolation and phoniness. Holden lies to himself to make it seem like he isn't getting hurt when people leave him or reject him. He even goes to such lengths of lying to himself about what people's characters are so that he wouldn't feel bad when he does rude things to them. Lying and deception are another way of describing phoniness. Holden says that everyone in the adult world is a phony when ironically he is the biggest phony in the story. He changes his personality to fit others and acts in certain ways to make people accept him and like him, like when he did Stradlater's composition in hopes of having Stradlater like him.

This photo represents Holden's aversion from growing up. The photo shows a caterpillar growing and changing into a butterfly and eventually flying away. This is something that Holden wish he could stop for kids. He believes that if children were able to fly away, they would become part of the phony adult society and lose the innocence that they had when they were kids.

Catcher in the Rye 8-11

These chapters start off right after Holden left Pencey Prep. Holden decides to go to New York and live in a hotel before he heads home. On the train, Holden meets an old lady who is the mother of Ernest Morrow, a classmate of Holden. Ernest Morrow is described as the "biggest bastard that ever went to Pencey" by Holden. Though Holden just lies and describes Ernest as a great guy and extremely adaptable. Holden continued lying for a while and even went as far as saying Ernest was going to be elected president of the class president. The conversation continued until they got to New York and the first thing Holden did was to enter a phone booth to call someone but he couldn't think of anyone to call so he left to take a taxi. He tells the taxi driver to drive to his home address absent-mindedly but eventually he manages to get to Edmont Hotel. After seeing a bunch of perverts on the other side of the hotel, he calls up a girl that is a mutual friend of his, Faith Cavendish. He was calling her with impure intentions but he was rejected. He then starts a monolog about how nice and sweet his sister Phoebe is. He talks about how smart and kind she was and how she "kills" everyone who knew her. With Phoebe as a contrast, Holden meets 3 ladies at the hotel bar. He wants to have a conversation with them and dance, however, they seemed to ignorant and stuck up for Holden to hold a conversation with. In the last chapter, Holden leaves the bar and starts to reminisce about Jane Gallagher. He thinks about when he met her and all the fun times he's had with her. He even thought about the times where he got intimately close with her. But all the reminiscing made him even more depressed so he decides to go to Ernie's, a nightclub.

I can relate to Holden's reminiscing incident. Holden remembers the good times that he had with Jane to help himself feel better, on the contrary, he feels even worse because he knows those times will never come back and he is unable to contact her anymore. I too have had pleasant experiences that after remember, brings grief and remorse to me. If there was an experience that was extremely pleasant then I would feel some level of remorse and grief if I would no longer be able to experience this. An example of this would be spending time with old friends who are no longer in the area and I have no way to contact. 

When Holden was lying about Ernest on the train, I believe he was talking about his own ideal self. He says, "He's one of the most popular boys at Pencey. Did you know that?" (56) His description of Ernest is the complete opposite of himself and shows his desire to be popular and accepted by his classmates. Another interesting lie he tells is that he has a tumor in his brain and needs to get it removed. Holden might realize that there is something wrong with him otherwise he wouldn't come up with such an obscure lie. Another symbolism that occurs in the story is when he asks the taxi driver, "You know those ducks in that lagoon right near Central Park South? That little lake? By any chance, do you happen to know where they go, the ducks, when it gets all frozen over?" (60) The ducks are a symbol for Holdens hope. He keeps wondering where they went and even tries to ask others to tell him where they went, but not only does no one tell him, they rebuke him by saying he is dumb for asking such a question. Finally, the 3 girls represent how Holden thinks of everyone in his head. He thinks that no one would pay attention to him and they would always be looking for some hotshot to talk to instead of him. It could be said that Holden has developed an intense inferiority complex that further develops his depression.

How did Holden develop such a strong inferiority complex?
Holden's inferiority complex is likely due to his family and classmates that he surrounds himself with. Even though he thinks everyone is a phony, he believes that he is worse than everyone. For example, he thinks of Stradlater as a super successful playboy while he is still a virgin and his brother being a successful writer when he can't even pass school.

Why does Holden like his sister, Phoebe, so much?
Holden like Phoebe so much because she represents the opposite of the world he's used to. She is innocent, sharp and adores him but everyone else in the world is a phony, ignorant and hates him according to Holden.

This song is a good representation of Holden's personality. In the song, the lyrics "Take me back to when I believe." represents Holden's desire to turn back time and fix the mistakes that he made in hopes of fixing his depression and being different from what he is today. Also, the lyrics, "If I could live a thousand times / If I could make a thousand tries / Maybe then I'd get it right" represents his loss of hope in making things better for himself.

Catcher in the Rye 6-7

Chapter 6 and 7 could be considered a final farewell to Pencey Prep for Holden. It starts off with Stradlater coming back from his date with Jane. At this point, Holden is extremely perturbed and can't seem to calm down. He is anxious that Stradlater would've done something to Jane who he has had a close relationship with. The situation started to escalate after Holden ripped apart Stradlater's composition which then led to Stradlater explaining what happened during the date. Holden is barely able to stay calm at this point when he asks, "If you didn't go to New York, where'd ya go with her?" (Salinger 42). Stradlater's cheeky response of, "That's a professional secret, buddy" (43), is what knocks Holden over the edge. After a dramatic sequence of punches, Stradlater and Holden eventually calm down and this leaves Holden feeling alone again. Holden decides to go to Ackley's dorm to calm down and forget about everything. Even after a long conversation with Ackley, Holden is still unable to forget and decides that he wants to leave Pencey Prep immediately and go to New York. His decision could be seen as giving up on trying to create a deeper friendship with Stradlater and Ackley.

Holden losing his temper and striking Stradlater is something that most people would be able to relate to, including me. The built up suspense and irritation are something that I have felt on numerous occasions. I have never had an outburst like Holden before, however, I can sympathize with the envy and bitterness that Holden felt at that moment. Holden felt like his whole world was crashing down and the only way to vent this feeling was to punch Stradlater. His anger was so strong that he couldn't even remember what actually happened, "This next part I don't remember so hot. All I know is I got up from the bed like I was going down to the can or something, and then I tried to sock him," (43) I can also relate to Holden's actions and feelings after releasing his anger. He immediately felt remorse and loneliness which is very common. When I was in his situation, I felt like the worst person in the world and also the only person. He went to Ackley for support but instead it only made him feel worse because Ackley couldn't read between the lines and help Holden.

There is a lot of symbolism in these chapters. They are the red hat, winter, ducks and Allie's baseball mitt. The red hat symbolizes something that gives Holden comfort. Many times in the story, he mentions that he likes to turn the peak of the hat to the back "just the way I like it." The setting being set in a cold winter is also symbolism. Holden is isolated in his school but the winter and cold only further isolate him from the rest of the world. The winter is also a symbol of his cold and depressed heart. The ducks represent him losing hope for himself and his situation. The ducks would always fly away when the lakes froze over and we never know where they went or if they will come back. Holden is wondering where his hope went or if he should still have hope for something better. Allie's baseball mitt represents the remorse he felt at the time when Allie died and also corresponds to the remorse he feels while he is writing the composition for Stradlater.

Why does he feel regret leaving Pencey Prep even though he isn't accepted?
Holden has felt regret every time he has left a school and they have all been for the same reason. He feels like he could've been a part of the school if he had tried harder or made fewer mistakes. For example, when he had lost the fencing team's equipment, he had felt really bad and made him feel humiliated.

How has Holden changed during these 2 chapters?
Holden has become a lot more mature and independent. Before, Holden would often joke around with Stradlater and Ackley but know he seems to have lost hope of becoming good friends with them and decided to give up. Him leaving Pencey Prep early is a representation of this.

I predict that in the next few chapters there will be an incident that will affect Holden greatly. I predict this because Holden said that the reason he was in a hospital was because of an incident that happened after the left school near Christmas.

This picture represents Holden's isolation and lack of hope. The person in the photo has left many things behind and also has no hope of reaching anywhere, much like Holden. It also incorporates the theme of winter and cold that is present in the novel.