Catcher In The Rye: Holden's Breif Happiness

Abbreviated Happiness

After Holden Caulfield returns to his native New York and rents a room in

a sleezy hotel, he makes a date with Sally Hayes. Before this date, Holden

finds himself wanderin the streets of the naked city. He is feeling

depressed and finds himself on Broadway trying to purchase a record for his

sister. After making this purchase, Holden notices a poor family walking

in front of him. This unit is composed of a father, mother, and "little

kid." Holden notices the child who is walking in a straight line in the

street and humming a tune to himself. Holden approaches him to determine

the tune he is singing. This tune is "If a Body Catch a Body Coming

Through the Rye."

Holden finds it amusing that the child is strutting quite literally on

Broadway and is so care-free. He notices cars screeching and honking all

over the place, and yet the child proceeds. The child's happy disposition

seems encourage Holden's on vitality. It gripped Holden that the child was

singing with "a pretty little voice...just for the hell of it" and

brightened him up.

A deeper interpertation of this scene would dictate that the child

represents Holden's own personality and life. Holden is defenatley singing

his own tune just for the hell of it and like the child, seems to have no

regard for his own well-being. At this point, Holden may see a side in

himself that is care-free and this lightens his depression.