Sunday, August 2, 2015

How is Holden received by Harris Ackley in "The Catcher in the Rye" ?

In Chapter 7, of Catcher in the Rye, Holden
goes into Ackley's room. Holden has just had a fight with Stradlater over the essay that Holden
wrote for him. Stradlater tore up the essay; Holden was very upset about this given the essay was
about his deceased brother's baseball mitt. Stradlater began hitting Holden and eventually pinned
him to the ground only promising to let Holden up if he kept his mouth shut (Holden had
repeatedly called him a moron). After the fight, Holden decides to go into Ackley's room because
he had certainly heard the fight and was awake. Holden also wanted to see what Ackley was doing
given that Ackley had very bad "personal habits".


Holden is not
received very well by Ackley, initially. Ackley was awake when Holden entered the room after the
fight with Stradlater. The fight had woken him up. Holden refuses to tell Ackley what the fight
was about and then asks him if he can sleep in Ely's (Ackley's roommate) bed. Ackley refuses to
say it is okay for Holden to sleep in Ely bed, given the bed is not his to give. After repeated
inquires about the fight, Holden tells Ackley that the fight was about him and that Holden was
"defending his ...honor". Holden tells Ackely that he is kidding and lies down in Ely's bed.
After Ackley falls asleep, Holden decides to leave.


All in all,
Ackley seems to be concerned about why Holden is in his room. Regardless, Ackley does not truly
seem to care if Holden stays or leaves. He, in fact, seems to careless about Holden. Therefore,
he receives Holden with indifference.

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