Kevin McAuliffe August 29, 2008 Mr. Sciuto

One of the definitions for faith is a firm belief in something for which there is no proof, a belief in something that is not proven by facts or substantial evidence. To me, to have faith is more than just having beliefs and placing your trust in something, it is the feeling that you get when that “faith” has been fulfilled. Faith is a journey that I see never ending. I think it is an obstacle to strive for, yet being conscious that that strive, that effort, will never be completed. Its not that God doesn’t want us to give up, because there is no end, I see it as God wanting us to be put in a position to always get better when you can’t get better, to due more than what is able to be done.

The Holden Caulfield I see is a young man that is lost; lost emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically. Holden does not give himself that chance to place that faith into anything. He is too hypercritical, to notice the opportunities that were available to his use, to obtain that trust and belief in his life. I believe that Holden has too much faith in the past and cannot let go of what happened, and is too afraid about the future that he cannot find away to juggle both worlds. Holden not only trusts his little sister but he trusts his own self-guilt about the world and the “phonies” that inhabit it.

We know that Holden’s brother died at a young age, which affected Holden tremendously. We also know that Holden’s schoolmate committed suicide, which brought side effects that were not especially positive. I believe Holden cannot place faith in anything because he feels that that faith will cause death. Holden placed faith in his classmate and he died. He placed faith in God to protect his family, and looked what happened to Allie.

I believe that Holden is now a man of faith because he realized what is true and real. He was shadowed by tragedy so much, that it portrayed him as a man of negligence, and a person of no faith. Moreover, Holden changed that for the better.