How Two People Being So Different Share Similar Dreams
J.D. Salingers The Catcher in the Rye and Yxta Maya Murrays Locas talk about two teenagers, Holden and Cecilia, who share different backgrounds and live in different areas. For example Holden, a young teenage boy born from a wealthy family, goes to a prestigious high school, while Cecilia, a teenage girl whose family has limited money, lives her life by being part of her brothers gang. However, Holden and Cecilia are also both similar; they both want the same dreams.
One similarity is that Holden and Cecilia are not content with the lifestyles they are living. For example, Cecilia first believes that being closer to her brother and being part of the gang is the life she wants but finds out that it has made her life worse. Then she decides that she wants to escape from it. Since Im his baby sister that means I must have that blood in me too, somewhere in me like a wild horse.But thats not me. I fight it. I try real hard all the time (3). Cecilia talks about how being the sister of a gang leader makes people assume that it is in her blood and that she must take part in it. This starts her journey for searching what she really wants in her life. Itsremember the good timesnow I know that the things my brother was doing were bad.The church taught me that was wrong.showed me how gangbanging aint nothing but the devils mess (54). She realizes that being part of the gang is not the life she wants and learns right from wrong. She learned now from Church that what the gang does is evil. It made me throw-up sick again thinking how I took that mamas purse while her Nia was crying, and I felt killer mad too(89). Cecilia regrets doing some of the tasks that she was made to do; once these tasks, in actuality crimes, have been committed, she feels guilt and remorse. I tried so hard to make them love me, Manny because he was my prince, and Beto for a baby, but they take it from you anyways (122). Cecilia also realized how trying to please people is not worth the effort. All the hard work she has done in the past is now affecting her life.
Like Cecilia, Holden was tired of his everyday life. For example, Holden did not like attending school and hated anyone who pretends and lies. He wants to get away and find a different life. Even though he is not sure of what he really wants. I left schools and places.I was lucky.I thought of something that helped make me know I was getting the hell out (4). Holden feels that he is lucky to leave his everyday life. This quote also shows his attitude about everyday life and how he longs to escape from it. How.Well stay in these cabin campstill the dough runs out, I could get a job somewhere and we could live somewherewe could get married.we could have a terrific time!...(132). Holden expresses his idea of what he really wants with Sally and wants to arrange a future with her. He is nave about the process of getting to the place he wants to go. He believes that all of his plans can easily be done. All of a sudden, I decided what Id really do, Id get the hell out of Penceyright that same night and all. I mean not wait till Wednesday or anything. I just didnt want to hang around any more. It made me too sad and lonesome(51). Holden talks about how badly he wants to leave and the negative feelings he is subject to at Pencey. Holden places the school as being a phony, since parents would ask their kids what they had for dinner Saturday, and then they would praise the school.
Another similarity is that they both want to escape from societys expectations. Cecilia decides to escape from what is societys expectation of her. a womans first thing is to make babies and love them better than herself.A womans first thing is to sit on the park bench with the other ladies and look at her baby and smile. Thats what I was all set up to do (225). Her opinion of what society expects from the women part of the gang and her life. She talks also about how her life is set up for her and what she should do in the future. So I tried and tried and there I was, a mamacita. But it didnt work out like I planned. After all that carrying on, in the end I was poorer than a dead man(122). She speaks about trying and trying to move on and find something new that would help bring her life more happiness. She then believes that by falling in love with one of rival gangs sheep would prove how much she is against those expectations of her. I saw her right before Manny got thrown down.with a cotton dress, swirl skirt down to her knees and white high-heel shoes, bronze in her skin like dark sand color. Hermocita(174). She decides to find the mysterious girl and finds out that she is from Chicos gang, their rival. This doesnt stop her so she decides to search for her. The Lobos tell us we have to hate allC-4 people, but I dont care about all that. Chucha and me got to be good friends(183). She believes that her feelings for Chucha are real and strong. I told myself that I knew her than anybody and that she loved me in her way. That she had to, because I loved her so hard back (192). She also shows her feelings of not following those expectations by rejecting Mannys demand to sell drugs to the little children for the gang. But dont make me do that bad thing, OK? I aint cut for selling. I aint made for it(123). This shows her becoming much more resistant to doing what is asked of her.
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Like Cecilia, Holden also goes against societys expectations. Holden decides to finally leave all the things he hates and move to another place that is entirely different. We always had the same meal on Saturday nights at Pencey. It was supposed to be a big deal, because they gave you steakreason they did that was because a lot of guys parents came up to school on Sunday(35). Holden describes how even his school tries to be phony so they can be well liked. This goes back to the concept how he cannot stand phonies. What I really felt like, though, was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out the window (104). His reaction to what is expected of him extends to thoughts of suicide. This leads him to make decisions of what he should do as a result to those expectations. I decided Id never go home again and Id never go away to another school again Id start hitchhiking my way out West Id get a job (198). He finally decides to plan his future and what he should do. In addition to when he was on his date with Sally and how he has an idea of what he wants but not a clear view of how to get it.
Finally as a result of those similar dreams, they are unable to achieve the goals they are trying to reach. While Holden leaves his home and tries to achieve what he wants ends up only to fail, Cecilia finally leaves the gang life and accepts God into her life but she is still not happy. I dont got nothing to do with this... I got my baby now (89). She believes that since she has someone to take care of that she needs to get away from the gang life. She sees her baby as a way out of the gang. Seems like God looked down and saw how I didnt deserve her. So I couldnt keep her (125). Cecilia thinks that since she cannot escape from the gang life that God decided to take her baby away to save it from danger. Sometimes I think I got what was coming to me fair and square. But I dont got all the answers (125). She considers that bad things that have been happening to her are because she deserves it, but she doesnt know why. Even though she does not have all the answers, she still accepts the punishments. I dont get stir crazy no more. I dont crouch down in the dark to watch the street in the cool air after bad midnightYou can see how Im all fixed up and righteous not with this Bible in my hand. I dont band and I dont sex. I dont do nothing but sit here and pray and clean (225). Cecilia talks about her decision of leaving the gang life but knows that even though she left, it would still affect her life.
Both Holden and Cecilia never have the chance to accomplish their goals. Holden gets the opportunity to leave but never makes it to where he wants to be; instead he gets put into a facility. I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff.if theyre runningthey dont look where theyre going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them.Id just be the catcher in the rye(173). Holden has this innocent idea that he want to try and save anyone from figuratively falling from a cliff. This view of his changes and he realizes that he cannot save everybody. For one thing, I didnt give much of a damn any more if they caught me. I really didnt I almost wished they did, in a way (180). He explains how he now doesnt care if he gets caught by his parents. He shows signs of giving up. how I got sick and all, and what school Im supposed to go toafter I get out of here, but I dont feel like itThat stuff doesnt interest me too much right now especially this one psychoanalyst guy they have here(213). Holden gives a clue that he is being held in a facility of some kind. This shows how he does not get the chance to achieve his dream. He is being held and kept away from ever achieving it.
Holden and Cecilia, both raised in different locations and lifestyles, want similar dreams. Cecilia is a teenage girl who is trapped in the gang life with little options while trying to make a better life for herself. Holden, a young rich teenager, is tired of doing the same things over again every day; he wants to experience a new lifestyle. This demonstrates that these two teenagers with different lives both want to achieve their dreams. In the end, neither actually achieves what they wanted.
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