Classics Oral Tradition Essays (601 words) - Holden Caulfield

Classics Oral Tradition Annonymous Holden Caulfield is teen angst bull-crap with a pickax. He's sarcastic, nasty, and completely unlikeable. He also doesn't give a crap. He is every teenager caught between the crapy little games of high school (you're supposed to kill yourself if the football team loses or something) and the fear of adulthood (going to get an office job and make a lot of money like the rest of the phonies). The greatness in Holden Caulfield is that what he has to say is better than a million Celestine Prophecies or anything said by Jonathan Livingston Seagull (save for the squawks after you shoot him) or Jesus (save for the apocryphal hey Peter I can see your house from here). Holden Caulfield says that life sucks, everyone is a phony, and you'll be inevitably disappointed by everyone that you hold in awe. If you think that this sounds awful, ask yourself one question. When was the last time you found any joy in watching Barney or the Care Bears? It isn't just what he says but the way he says it. He goes through life making dead-on observations that completely shoot the kneecaps out from under the terminally self-righteous. When a successful mortician tells the school to follow his example and pray when things go bad, it is Holden Caulfield who points out that the guy is praying for more people to die. He's depressed by nuns and annoyed by shallow girlfriends, while in love with his platonic friend. Even more interesting is the fact that Caulfield's general pissed off attitude and his hormones are inextricably linked. He practically wants to kill his roommate, Stradlatter, because Stradlatter might have screwed a girl he desires. He guiltily admits to making out with phonies, and in a major confession he confesses to being a virgin. He gets the crap beat out of him by a disgruntled pimp after deciding that he doesn't want a to have sex with a prostitute for the silliest of reasons.(he just found it disconcerting to see her take her clothes off without fanfare.)The fact that his little brother has just died and that he's being kicked out of yet another school takes second place to the whole sex question. In other words, Holden Caulfield is a guy; stereotype away. What is also interesting is how closely Caulfield captures the attitude and culture of adolescence. There is the caste system in which Caulfield hates and wishes to be his roommate Stradlatter. Meanwhile zit-encrusted Ackley, whom he maybe should feel sympathy for, is an annoying guy that Holden can't wait to get out of his room. He's sympathetic to the principle's daughter, saying that it's not her fault what kind of a bastard her old man is, and without missing a beat remarks on the fact that she pads her bra. Cruelty and frustration are mixed, but the comedy level allows you to laugh at your own painful memories. Granted, like many of his fans, Holden Caulfield turns out to be nuts or at least residing in an insane asylum. (Sorry, if you think that those stupid surprise endings are the best reason to read Salinger.) Yet, in Caulfield's insanity, there is a transcendent theme. By being the pissed off, nasty, cynical insane bastard; Holden Caulfield suggests that it is ok to be a crap. Your criticisms of the world are not invalid and nothing you say or think is so bad that you need to repress it. Ironically, this is not only something that is essential to survival (especially if you are a teenager and desperately trying to maintain your lily-white self image) but is also the key to ultimately becoming a decent caring human being. Keep your prophets, preachers and shamans. I'll take Holden Caulfield over them any day.

Free Essays on Ritz Carlton

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. originates with the 1983 purchase of The Ritz-Carlton, Boston by William B. Johnson, and the purchase of rights to The Ritz-Carlton name. The standards of service, dining and facilities of this Boston landmark serve as a benchmark for all Ritz-Carlton hotels and resorts worldwide. In 1927, Edward N. Wyner, a local Boston real estate developer, was asked to build a world-class hotel. Wyner agreed because he knew The Ritz-Carlton name would secure immediate success. He received permission from The Ritz-Carlton Investing Company and the Paris Ritz for use of the name and set out to create luxury in the heart of Boston. Edward Wyner died in 1961. However, the Ritz legacy endured with Charles Ritz, son of Cesar Ritz, who was an active board member of The Ritz-Carlton until his death in 1977. In 1983, Blakely sold the hotel and the rights to The Ritz-Carlton name to William B. Johnson, who established The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. The company has grown a collection of the finest hotels around the world since. Several of these hotels are historic landmarks, following a commitment of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company to preserving architecturally important buildings. One of these examples is The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel & Spa. As a famous Pasadena landmark for nearly 100 years, the Huntington Hotel went through many owners and stages to get where they are today. The hotel was finished with its final rebuilding and renovating stages and reopened as The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel in March 1991. Originally the hotel was constructed in 1906 and opened in February 1907 as the Hotel Wentworth. Financial problems and a disappointing first season forced the Hotel Wentworth to go out of business. Railroad tycoon and art collector Henry Huntington purchased the Hotel Wentworth in 1911, renaming it the Huntington Hotel. Huntington hired prominent Los Angeles architect Myron Hunt to redesign... Free Essays on Ritz Carlton Free Essays on Ritz Carlton The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. originates with the 1983 purchase of The Ritz-Carlton, Boston by William B. Johnson, and the purchase of rights to The Ritz-Carlton name. The standards of service, dining and facilities of this Boston landmark serve as a benchmark for all Ritz-Carlton hotels and resorts worldwide. In 1927, Edward N. Wyner, a local Boston real estate developer, was asked to build a world-class hotel. Wyner agreed because he knew The Ritz-Carlton name would secure immediate success. He received permission from The Ritz-Carlton Investing Company and the Paris Ritz for use of the name and set out to create luxury in the heart of Boston. Edward Wyner died in 1961. However, the Ritz legacy endured with Charles Ritz, son of Cesar Ritz, who was an active board member of The Ritz-Carlton until his death in 1977. In 1983, Blakely sold the hotel and the rights to The Ritz-Carlton name to William B. Johnson, who established The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. The company has grown a collection of the finest hotels around the world since. Several of these hotels are historic landmarks, following a commitment of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company to preserving architecturally important buildings. One of these examples is The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel & Spa. As a famous Pasadena landmark for nearly 100 years, the Huntington Hotel went through many owners and stages to get where they are today. The hotel was finished with its final rebuilding and renovating stages and reopened as The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel in March 1991. Originally the hotel was constructed in 1906 and opened in February 1907 as the Hotel Wentworth. Financial problems and a disappointing first season forced the Hotel Wentworth to go out of business. Railroad tycoon and art collector Henry Huntington purchased the Hotel Wentworth in 1911, renaming it the Huntington Hotel. Huntington hired prominent Los Angeles architect Myron Hunt to redesign...