There are moments in life where we all just feel like running away from it all. If stress can't be lowered, can we at least outrun it? Maybe for at least a little while? Some people feel that this stepping away from our problems is essential. For example, some schools/businesses REQUIRE their researchers/employees to take a mandatory (not optional) leave for a break. Its proven to help us live longer, feel more relaxed, and come back to life/work with a fresh start after some well deserved rest and relaxation (R & R).
All of us have a different idea about what is necessary for a "relaxing escape". For some, hiking/mountain climbing/jet skiing or other challenging/extreme activities seem like the perfect way to relax. Others prefer some time exploring a new city/country they have never visited before. Others yet, find both these options too exhausting, and maybe even more stressful than just going to work and instead prefer a retreat to a quiet, secluded place or a "stay-cation" a week at home with nowhere to be and nothing to do.
What's your idea of the perfect retreat to recharge yourself against the stresses of everyday life?
Holden's choice in chapter 7 is listed amongst the choices above. He's decided he's going to spend a few days wandering New York City in hopes that this R & R will help him feel nice and refreshed and give him a good start for when he returns home on Wednesday or Thursday. Based on what we know about Holden, how do you think it will go?
For homework, choose one of the following quotes below that you feel best describes what Holden's mentality (thinking process) will be throughout his trip, or whether or not he will achieve the R & R he is looking for on this adventure. Post your quote, interpretation of the quote, and your thoughts about how it describes how Holden's adventure will go in the comments section below.
When we are
unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it
elsewhere.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613 - 1680)
To sit in the
shade on a fine day, and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment.
Jane Austen (1775 - 1817)
Stress is an
ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. Nothing is that
important.
Natalie Goldberg
Opportunity is
missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
Thomas A. Edison (1847 - 1931)
To be an adult
is to be alone.
Jean Rostand (1894 - 1977), Thoughts
of a biologist (1939)
The worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with
yourself.
Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)
That's the
secret to life... replace one worry with another....
Charles M. Schulz (1922 - 2000), Charlie
Brown
Keep up the great work, ladies and gentlemen! Have a great weekend (or happy Monday depending on when you are reading this :-P)
The worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with yourself, by Mark Twain.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to thinking constantly about fighting with Stradlater and concerning about his parents seriously, Holden looks like very sensitive and introverted. In this sense, he will not be able to adabt to outer space and trip will not be helpful to him. Maybe, the trip can give him loneliness because he will be alone without his parents and friends.
To sit in the shade on a fine day, and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment. by Jane Austen (1775 - 1817)
ReplyDeleteHolden had a fight with Stradlater before he went for a trip. He was so stressed and had no direction. He will probably fail to achieve R&R and feel more depressed. That's because his present mental state is kind of messed up. He will probably drink beer and go unconcious. To make matters worse, he can drug himself and die. So, as the quote says, just staying where you are and relaxing at home is the best.
To sit in the shade on a fine day, and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment. Jane Austen (1775 - 1817)
ReplyDeleteThis quote means if you have been in some trouble or harsh situation, take a rest and get refreshment, so that you could clean your mind. I think Holden needs R&R. Since he had a fight with Stradlater, Holden needs to fresh his head and needs to arrange his complicating feelings. That's the reason why Holden has to go to take a trip.
“To be an adult is to be alone.”
ReplyDeleteBy Jean Rostand (1894 - 1977), Thoughts of a biologist (1939)
I think this quote describes the Holden’s thought very well when the time he left the school and starts his journey. Holden had a fistfight with Stradlater and he was so stressed out and not comfortable with Stradlater so he plans to get out of school much earlier. I think that he goes out of school earlier because he wants to debated with himself about the problem and to refresh his minds. In his adventure, he might not achieve the R&R. BUT he’s going on a trip by himself, it means he had to go through a lot of trouble by himself so this might be a chance for him to be more mature and grown up.
Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. Nothing is that important. Natalie Goldberg.
ReplyDeleteI think this quote is appropriate to Holden's state. Because of stress, Holden forgot important of friends and just got out from school housing. So I think Holden will feel regret and sorry to friends. And this trip will give a lesson about what is important to Holden.
When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere. Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613 - 1680)
ReplyDeleteI think the trip is useless. He wants vacation. So he leaves Pancey and will go th New York. There must be another events. And he also must lie to other people. Then, his mind will become more devastated. The thoughts of Jane and Stradlater will continue to come to mind. It makes him more exhausted and sad
Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. Nothing is that important. -Natalie Goldberg
ReplyDeleteThis quote means stess make us confused and uncomfortable. Like this, Holden got stress and he seems ignorant without caring about other things. At that time, the good ways to relax Holden are to have time alone and R&R that can get rid of stress and arrange his mind. I think that is going to trip alone. It can be good for Holden.
To be an adult is to be alone.
ReplyDeleteJean Rostand (1894 - 1977), Thoughts of a biologist (1939)
I guess this quote try to tell us that as we grow up alone, we can get the advantage from what we experience. So that in this book, the behaviour that holden pack his package looks like getting ready for prepare new experiences, ready for being an adult.
The worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with yourself.
ReplyDeleteMark Twain (1835 - 1910)
Holden is being lonely, and he needs some R&R. He will find a person to share his sadness. He cannot stand his sorrow only by himself. He had Ackley when he was in Pency prep, but he ran out of there. So, he is going to find some person in New York.
To be an adult is to be alone.
ReplyDeleteJean Rostand (1894 - 1977), Thoughts of a biologist (1939)
Holden wants to have a trip to New York without friends or parents.
some days ago Holden was fought with Stradlater. Holden got stressed about it thats why he wants to go New York. Maybe he will solve the promblem with Stradlater and other things like study or about his parents.
Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. Nothing is that important.-Natalie Goldberg
ReplyDeleteIt means that if you are angry or upset, you will be a monkey.
Because Holden left Pency school without thinking. So I think he will experience somewhat regretful. For example he will miss his firends or left something important.
The worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with yourself.
ReplyDeleteMark Twain (1835 - 1910)
Holden felt too lonely because he didn't have any friends to talk about his mind. So he wanted some friends who can share with his thinking. That made his mind uncomfortable. As time gone, he felt much lonely. That's why he shouted in corridor.
When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves,it is useless to seek it elsewhere. I think this quote have connection with Holden's mind. Hodlen is planning to stay in Newyork. However going to Newyork might be not a good choice for Holden. He thought New york is place that he can reduce stress. But if Holden has unstable feeling and mine it might be same. Only the places are changing. If Holden wants to reduce stress than he has to change himself.
ReplyDeleteTo sit in the shade on a fine day, and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment.
ReplyDeleteJane Austen (1775 - 1817)
Holden seems very like this quote. I think Holden have no idea about expelled from school.However he didn't look like any concern or nervous in subway.He just chat with Anest's mother.
As this point of view, he may just enjoy his situation because he can't avoid it.Also there is an proverb.
Enjoy it if it's unavoidable.
"To be an adult is to be alone."
ReplyDeleteIt represents Holden's mentality very well. Holden always likes to be alone. I think it is concerned with Holden's future,too. Holden will be alone because he is now going through transition to adult. Furthermore, it can also express theme of this whole story I think. I expect that Holden will be an adult soon.
"The worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with yourself."
ReplyDeleteI chose this quote because it gave me the image of Holden wandering the town from here to there. Every situation, up to now, that Holden has confronted is not good, for example, kicked out of Pencey, losing fight with Stradlater, failing four subjects, and so on. There is one common cause of those results that it is derived from Holden's impulsive and careless behaviors. It will come up with the adventure, full of chaotic thoughts, which would end up fail.
As a fan of Holden, I want to support him so he could overcome hardship afterwards. However, on the other side, it feels poor to watch him hover his puberty.
"To sit in the shade on a fine day,and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment" by Jane Austin.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, that is the quote for Holden now. Holden would have R & R because he had a lot of happenings such as getting expulsion, hearing some of annoying quotes from friends, and fighting with his roommate. He would be relaxed and calmed if he stays at hotel to have some time for himself.
When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteFrancois de La Rochefoucauld (1613 - 1680)
The reason why I chose this quote is I don’t believe that Holden could find something good that could make him feel better. To explain more, if he don’t change or find the problem why he is having a trouble such as kicked out of school, he can’t find any R&R in the trip. Due to his attitude that we seen on the former chapters he’ll be busy for lying and making fake answers. Unless he changes his bad habit which is in and out of season. I think he has obsessional emotion in his mind. Typical clue is, as I mentioned, lying. To conclude, I think he can’t get any R&R since he find tranquility within himself. He must let his lying instinct go.
'Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. Nothing is that important' by Natalie Goldberg.
ReplyDeleteHolden is not happy with his situation for now. He fought up with Stradlater and Ackley doesn't understands him. The situations Holden now has aren't good, everything makes Holden to wander around. Because he is so stressed, he can't see other things. The most important thing to Holden for now is the stress he has. He can't see the other factors for now, and he wouldn't see until his stress all goes gone.
When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteFrancois de La Rochefoucauld (1613 - 1680)
I chose this quote because Holden tried to be more consoled himself by talking to Ackley. however, Ackley did not really treated Holden with any care. Therefore, Holden decided to leave the Pencey, which is running away from harsh reality. Inside his mind, on the other hand, he was worrying about a letter that his parents will receive. The letter will be about kicking out of the school, but it did not arrive yet. Even though he takes trip to New York, he will not be free from the incident that he is in.
To be an adult is to be alone.
ReplyDeleteJean Rostand (1894 - 1977), Thoughts of a biologist (1939)
I choose this quote because it describes Holden's situation well. Holden is going a trip to New York alone and by a trip alone makes him more mature. Also, he will get R&R through this trip and throw away all his worries and stresses.
"When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere."
ReplyDeleteHolden has so many compliants,failed 4 subjects, was expelled from Pencey and hit by Stradlater.Finally, he decided to get out the dorm.In my opinion, He might feel comfortable at that moment when he leaved, but, I think it was only a stopgap. He has to think about the future.Running away from serious problems that he had is not a wise choice.
Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. Nothing is that important.
ReplyDeleteNatalie Goldberg
In the book, Holden has a lot of stress as it appears to be. For example, he had a fight and all of his friends do not understand him. Also he keeps thinking about other small things that annoys him and even because of this, he cannot go to sleep. I think that this trip will be a good way for Holden to reduce stress and start thinking about more big problems not so tiny details problems he has.
To be an adult is to be alone.
ReplyDeleteJean Rostand (1894 - 1977), Thoughts of a biologist (1939)
People are needed to be alone in order to be matured themselves. Solitude let them consider about their lives. Through it, they are qualified to be called as an adult. Same as Holden. With his own journey, he might felt loneliness and that led him to be mature.
To be an adult is to be alone
ReplyDeleteHolden looks like he is getting alone. First he had many troubles. he got out of the school, he lied to many people. He even faught with stradltler. Through this, He will learn lots of thing when he gets adult. He somehow feel alone but this might be a chance for him to be mature and become true adult
To be an adult is to be alone.
ReplyDeleteJean Rostand (1894 - 1977), Thoughts of a biologist (1939)
I think this quote is the best quote that describes Holden. Holden usually wants to be alone, left to NewYork after fighting with Stradlater, and he gave up the school. I think these kinds of loneliness he is feeling Holden's process of being an adult. He will learn many things from this trip and be much more close to an adult.