Alex Whalen
Junior Theology
8/28/08

The Faith of Holden Caulfield
Holden Caulfield does not have faith in many people but he tries to keep to certain individuals above the rest. These characters are Mr. Antolini and his sister, Phoebe. Holden keeps these two people in a special place in his heart so when things go wrong he can think about them and be happy.

Mr. Antolini helps a boy who jumped out a window and died when no one else would go near the body or even touch it. Mr. Antolini invited Holden to his apartment whenever he wanted, so Holden thinks that Mr. Antolini can help him when he is falling. Holden hopes that Mr. Antolini can reverse the fall of his child like self while he is going through it. When Holden arrives at the Antolini apartment, Mr. Antolini challenges him to stop being so negative all the time. Holden has faith that all of his answer will be answered, but Mr. Antolini suggests that Holden should not concentrate on helping children so much as helping his own person. Holden’s whole life is turned upside down by the person whom he has some of the strongest faith. Mr. Antolini makes Holden stop wearing his heart on his sleeve and makes Holden realize that bad things happen to good people. Mr. Antolini does not give all the answers that Holden wants so he leaves the apartment to go to his own home to question his last choice in a person to have faith in.

Mr. Antolini gave knowledge but the person shows concern is Holden’s sister Phoebe. Phoebe is the only true person who has Holden’s complete faith. Throughout the book, Holden recounts things Phoebe has done and his life seems to get better. Phoebe makes life worth living for Holden. Holden’s memory of all the things that Phoebe has done for him and herself makes her the perfect person to have absolute trust. Through all the problems in Holden’s life, he and Phoebe have a relationship that all siblings should have. They both have complete faith that the other will help them out when they are having issues. When Holden needs money Phoebe willingly gives him the eleven dollars she has stored up. This is one of the biggest reasons in the book that makes it possible for Holden to keep faith going, that reason is the selfless love that Phoebe has in her. Holden needs Phoebe in his life or he would never make it through life if she did not exist. Holden puts trust in Phoebe because she knows what to say when she is his reason for living life to its fullest.

This essay was an interesting one to write it took a lot of reflection for me. I needed to find my own definition of faith. Possibly the most difficult part though was that there is not much in life that Holden Caulfield has belief or trust in. He has such a cynic life that he cannot look past the bad to the good. He does grow in faith throughout the novel whether he realizes it or not.



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