Connections to Catcher in the Rye
J.D. Salinger’s short story, For Esme-With Love and Squalor is significantly similar to his novel, Catcher in the Rye. Many elements of the two renowned literary works, such as the characters and the plot, show a great deal of alikeness.
The dark, dreadful past of Sergeant X is an accurate mirror of Holden Caulfield's background. It precisely reflects the trauma and grief that overwhelmed Holden throughout his life. In For Esme-With Love and Squalor, Sergeant X, the protagonist, had fallen into a deep depression after his experiences fighting in World War II. Lost in the dreary side of life, X angrily cuts off his relationships with the rest of the world, in order to prevent having to feel any more loss if history is to repeat itself. He has even severed his bond with Corporal Z, which is unexpected, considering he was his companion during the war. Despite that, Z desperately tries to pull him out of his despair by urging him to take his girlfriend's advice, who majors in psychology. He remarked earnestly, "'She says nobody gets a nervous breakdown just from the war and all. She says you probably were unstable like, your whole goddamn life'" (Salinger 109). This clearly shows the mental destruction that took Sergeant X as he was serving in the Army. His nervous breakdown was evidently an emotional explosion following the climax of his life-long psychological instability. Knowing this, Corporal Z reaches out a caring hand to X and insists that he seeks help to cure him of this mental disease. Instead of heeding his words, Sergeant X reacts hostilely and pushes away what seems like his last hope of living a cheerful life. Similarly, Holden Caulfield, in Catcher in the Rye, undergoes agonizing emotional pain following the death of his younger brother Allie. Since then, he suffers mentally for a long period of time, which resulted in his life beginning to deteriorate. When Holden interacts with people, he maintains very superficial relationships with most of them. Even though he is merely a few feet apart from people as he communicates with them, he is extremely distant, as if a thick wall separates them. This is due to the fact that Holden had an extremely close relationship with Allie. After his death, Holden became reluctant to develop any new relationships with anybody, in fear of losing them.
The dark, dreadful past of Sergeant X is an accurate mirror of Holden Caulfield's background. It precisely reflects the trauma and grief that overwhelmed Holden throughout his life. In For Esme-With Love and Squalor, Sergeant X, the protagonist, had fallen into a deep depression after his experiences fighting in World War II. Lost in the dreary side of life, X angrily cuts off his relationships with the rest of the world, in order to prevent having to feel any more loss if history is to repeat itself. He has even severed his bond with Corporal Z, which is unexpected, considering he was his companion during the war. Despite that, Z desperately tries to pull him out of his despair by urging him to take his girlfriend's advice, who majors in psychology. He remarked earnestly, "'She says nobody gets a nervous breakdown just from the war and all. She says you probably were unstable like, your whole goddamn life'" (Salinger 109). This clearly shows the mental destruction that took Sergeant X as he was serving in the Army. His nervous breakdown was evidently an emotional explosion following the climax of his life-long psychological instability. Knowing this, Corporal Z reaches out a caring hand to X and insists that he seeks help to cure him of this mental disease. Instead of heeding his words, Sergeant X reacts hostilely and pushes away what seems like his last hope of living a cheerful life. Similarly, Holden Caulfield, in Catcher in the Rye, undergoes agonizing emotional pain following the death of his younger brother Allie. Since then, he suffers mentally for a long period of time, which resulted in his life beginning to deteriorate. When Holden interacts with people, he maintains very superficial relationships with most of them. Even though he is merely a few feet apart from people as he communicates with them, he is extremely distant, as if a thick wall separates them. This is due to the fact that Holden had an extremely close relationship with Allie. After his death, Holden became reluctant to develop any new relationships with anybody, in fear of losing them.
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Furthermore, the Army greatly resembles Pencey Preparatory School in Catcher in the Rye. Sergeant X feels very trapped and restricted in the Army. There is such a great deal of conformity and discipline, he feels as if he lost his individuality and his traits of human nature. X states, "And as I look back, it seems to me that we were fairly unique, the sixty of us, in that there wasn't one good mixer in the bunch. We were all essentially letter-writing types, and when we spoke to each other out of the line of duty, it was usually to ask somebody if he had any ink he wasn't using," as he describes the coldhearted life in the Army (Salinger 88). This shows that Sergeant X believes that life in the Army is solely run on discipline and following orders, leaving no room for caring and compassion. The soldiers never befriend each other and only interact with others for their own convenience. X strongly disliked this superficial kind of group and chooses not to conform with them. This is precisely how Holden feels towards Pencey Preparatory School. It's advertisement poster claims, "Since 1888 we have been molding boys into splendid, clear-thinking young men." Holden argues, "They don't do any damn more molding at Pencey than they do at any other school. And I didn't know anybody there that was splendid and clear-thinking and all. Maybe two guys. If that many. And they probably came to Pencey that way" (Salinger 2). Pencey portrays itself as a school with high educational standards, creating successful, high-achieving students. Holden believes in reality, that the building is no more than a cage to restrict people’s freedom to express themselves. Pencey is very corrupt and superficial, much like the Army, the way it pretends to a create a better future of its students, when it really does more destruction.
Another connection is the relationship between X and Esme and Holden's relationship with women. Although, Sergeant X leads a life of solitude and detaches himself from most people, he reaches out and bonds with those like Esme. X cares for her because he feels that she is pure and innocent, not tainted by the horrors of war. When he first laid eyes on her in the choir, he described, "Her voice was distinctly separate from the other children's voices, and not just because she was seated nearest me. It had the best upper register, the sweetest-sounding, the surest, and it automatically led the way" (Salinger 90). Sergeant X saw the beauty and youth in Esme when he encountered her,which is reason why he wanted to interact with her. By doing that, he would feel like a child, oblivious to the evil and corruption of the adult world. In the same way, Holden Caulfield has very shallow relationships with many individuals, particularly men. At the same time, he is much closer to women in the novel. This is due to the fact that he thought they were pure and vulnerable. As a result, he had a great deal of sympathy for them, and put forward his heart and effort to shield them from any dangers that might potentially harm them physically or emotionally. If a girl did not want to have intercourse with him, Holden would listen to her and restrain himself. He also cares a great deal about his friend, Jane. When he comforts her, he resists making it seem sexual, so that she does not feel uncomfortable or pressured. Overall, Holden is very friendly towards women, rather than romantic, which is exactly like X's bond with Esme.
Another connection is the relationship between X and Esme and Holden's relationship with women. Although, Sergeant X leads a life of solitude and detaches himself from most people, he reaches out and bonds with those like Esme. X cares for her because he feels that she is pure and innocent, not tainted by the horrors of war. When he first laid eyes on her in the choir, he described, "Her voice was distinctly separate from the other children's voices, and not just because she was seated nearest me. It had the best upper register, the sweetest-sounding, the surest, and it automatically led the way" (Salinger 90). Sergeant X saw the beauty and youth in Esme when he encountered her,which is reason why he wanted to interact with her. By doing that, he would feel like a child, oblivious to the evil and corruption of the adult world. In the same way, Holden Caulfield has very shallow relationships with many individuals, particularly men. At the same time, he is much closer to women in the novel. This is due to the fact that he thought they were pure and vulnerable. As a result, he had a great deal of sympathy for them, and put forward his heart and effort to shield them from any dangers that might potentially harm them physically or emotionally. If a girl did not want to have intercourse with him, Holden would listen to her and restrain himself. He also cares a great deal about his friend, Jane. When he comforts her, he resists making it seem sexual, so that she does not feel uncomfortable or pressured. Overall, Holden is very friendly towards women, rather than romantic, which is exactly like X's bond with Esme.