Paul Bubash

Jr. Theology / Faith

Aug 22, 2007

 

The Faith of Caulfield

 

            The faith of Holden Caulfield is a complicated one. He seems to have faith or a set of beliefs he holds and tries to live by, but he seems to contradict his own beliefs in a way that isn’t entirely faithful. Through out the entire book of Catcher in the Rye, Caulfield holds a firm belief not to participate in what is considered the contemporary life of adulthood. The problem is that he cannot seem to contradict himself by his own actions. He drinks, he smokes, and even once ordered a hooker. All of these things are part of the corrupt adult world that Holden is trying to avoid but yet he still participates in. He says that he hates the movies and yet he still goes to a show. He says he doesn’t like Sally Hayes and yet he still asks her out, goes to the theatre with her and even makes out with. Eventually he even says that he loves her. He tries his best to shun out the adult world, but he still seeks advice from those corrupted by it. He seeks advice from Carl Luce, an old college advisor who lost his virginity at age 14 and has a misguided view on sex. He seeks the same from Mr. Antolini who is a drunk and cannot seem to stay in the same room as his wife. Holden is a man of faith because he believes that he doesn’t have to become corrupted by adult world around him. He sees the evils of adulthood and tries to avoid them. The problem is that he falls in many matter of faith when the time counts.

            The look on Holden’s faith can easily be transferred to lives of many we see around us. Every time we sin, we go against some idea of our religious faith. Also, we don’t seem to sin just a few times, we sin often and regularly. We can be seen to have a faith similar to that of Holden Caulfield. Our faith in God and the beliefs of the Catholic Church is something that many of hold dearly. They serve as a way to try to live our lives just the same as Caulfield’s faith. But we all keep screwing up by fighting with our brothers, by lying, by cheating, by stealing that many may say we lack faith, and that there is no set of beliefs that help us live the way we do. But we like Holden do have faith. We are faithful people that are just prone to mistakes because they are easier, more attractive, or just thoughtless, careless choices.