Dombroski1

KendraDombroski
Ms.Dubofsky
English11Honors,APeriod
13May2015
MoralsUnderPressure
LikeDNA,everyhumanbeingcontainsauniquemoralcompassthatcanonlybe
decipheredbyanalyzinghisorheractions.
When
facedwithgrievance,HoldenCaulfieldofJ.D
Salinger's
TheCatcherintheRye
andPrinceHamletofWilliamShakespeare's
Hamlet
both
struggleforclarity,andthroughthetestingoftheirmorals,revealthetruestrengthoftheir
integrity.Inyoungchildren,simplebehaviorsdenotealtruismoregocentricity.
Inanexperiment
testingaltruisticjudgementinkidsbasedontheirdecisionastowhetherornottotakeapieceof
candyorgiveitaway,KennethHRubinconcludesthat,Theideathatdecentrationunderlies
bothmoraldevelopmentandsociocentricthoughthasreceivedempiricalsupportfromstudiesin
whichspatialandroletakingskillshavebeenfoundtobesignificantlyrelatedtomoral
development(Rubin).Heobservesthat,althoughbehaviordoesnotformulateacompleteimage
ofonesethicalmakeup,hisorherabilitytocareforothersbecomesvitalwhenanalyzing
integrity.Thosewhoexhibitegocentricbehaviorshavebeenprovenmorallyweakerthanthose
whoseunselfishbehaviorsemphasizeshisorhermoralstrength.Similarly,Holdensaltruism
differentiateshimfromHamletsnarcissism.Whiletheyeachfaceanobstaclefarlesstrivial
thanRubinschildsdecisionastowhoshouldgetthelastcandy,theconfrontationwithgrief
teststheirmoralstrength,uncoveringthetruerectitudeofeachcharacter.AsHoldenandHamlet
navigatethegrievingprocess,thelevelofmoralitywithwhicheachmanageshispainhighlights

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HoldenscompassionasopposedtoHamletsegocentricity,
provingHoldensmoralsuperiority
toHamlet.
Hamletbeginshisgrievingprocesswithdepression,expressinghispainthroughvisible
deteriorationsindemeanorandbehavior.AfterthedeathofthelateKing,Hamletfeelsthatthe
citizensofDenmarkfailtoadequatelymournthelossoftheirleader,whichderivesfromthe
distractionoftheupcomingmarriagebetweenQueenGertrudeandnewKingClaudius.Hamlet,
however,strugglestocopewithhislossandexpresseshispaininanefforttohonorhisfatherin
atimewhenother
Danish
citizensfailtodoso.
Hamletemphasizeshisdepressionsmagnitude
whendiscussingthekingdomslackofdistressregardingthelateKingsdeath
:Norcustomary
suitsofsolemnblack,/Norwindysuspirationofforcedbreath,/No,northefruitfulriverinthe
eye,/Northedejectedhaviorofthevisage,/Togetherwithallforms,moods,shapesofgrief,/
Thatcandenotemetruly(ShakespeareI.ii.7883).Theuseofsolemn,dejected,andgrief
revealsHamlet'semotionalanguish

thestronglydepressingconnotationsillustratehispain
,
and
the
frequentrepetitionofdispiritingadjectives
likedejected
provideasenseofitsgreat
magnitude.
Therepetitionofnor
denotesHamletsfeelingsofexclusionfromtheremainderof
thekingdom
becausewhilehemournsthedeathofhisfather,othercitizensexhibitnosignsof
grief
.
Consequently,
Hamletfeelsthathehasnooutlet
to
adequatelyconveyhisfeelings,
separatinghimfromtherestofhiscommunity.Hamletexudesasomberdemeanormeantto
indicatehisdepressionfollowinghisfather'sdeathhowever,
he
speaksfromaselfcentered
perspectivethatrevealshisegocentricity.
Forexample,
thepronounmedirectsthefocusof
Hamletsspeechtohimselfasopposedtohisfather,thereforemaintainingthecenterofattention
despitethelatekingstragedy.Throughhis
excessiveintrospection
,Hamlethighlightshismoral

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weaknessbecauseheexhibitsselfishnessduringatimeofdespair.
Heseeksattentioninan
attempttogainsupportfromotherslosinghisconnectionwithhisfamilywhenheloseshis
fatherandwatcheshismothermarrythemanthatHamletbelievestobehisfathersmurderer.
Hamlets
selfcentered
focusduringatimeofmourningemphasizeshisdisregardforthewelfare
ofothersandhisultimate
selfprioritization
.
UnlikeHamletsharmlessapproachtogrief,Holdenbeginshiscopingprocesswiththe
stageofanger,expressingextraordinarylevelsoffrustrationoverthedeathofhisbrother.
HoldenpossessedauniqueconnectionwithAlliethatallowedhimtotrulyfindjoy,whichhe
strugglestoattainthroughothermediums.However,thelossofthisbondinterruptedsuch
feelingsandbroughtHoldenimmensepain.
Afterhearingofthesudden,prematuredeathofhis
belovedbrotherHoldenrecallshisrage:"Isleptinthegaragethenighthedied,andIbrokeall
thegoddamwindowswithmyfist,justforthehellofit.ItwasverystupidIhavetoadmit,butI
hardlydidn'tevenknowIwasdoingit,andyoudidn'tknowAllie(Salinger44).Holdensuse
ofprofanity,asseeningoddamwindowsandforthehellofitconnotestrengthofemotion
behindonesspeech,inthiscaseemphasizingHoldenspainandillustratingthemagnitudeofhis
loveforAllie.Additionally,Holdensuseofafistsymbolizestheemotionsthatheattemptsto
manage,butstrugglestoattaincontrolover.Hefeelsalossofcontroluponthesuddenlossofhis
belovedbrother,andseeksameansofmanagingthedeath,whichhefindsbyusinghishandsto
directlybreakthegaragewindows.HisfistsprovideHoldenwithatoolthatallowshimto
controlhisownphysicalpainanddirectlyimpactthegarage,whichhepursuesduetotheanger
hefeelsregardinghisinabilitytoreverseAlliesillness.UnlikeHamlet,whodwellsinhis
depression,HoldeninitiallyreactstoAlliesdeathwithexpressionsofanger.However,his

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reflectiononhisactionsrevealmoralintegrity.Holdenrecognizestheflawsinhisactionsand
feelsregret,asseeninthephraseitwasverystupid.Heexplainsthathewasmotivatedbyhis
loveforAllie,usingthephraseyoudidntknowAllietojustifyhisviolentbehaviortoexpress
hiscompassionandultimatelyemphasizehisintegrity.Additionally,therecognitionofhisown
regretillustratesthestrengthofhisconscienceandabilitytodistinguishimmoralactions.
Holdensexpressionsofangerexemplifyhismoralrectitudebecausehismotivationforsuch
actionsderivefromhisimmenseloveforAllie.
Afterovercominggriefsinitialshock,Hamletponderswhichdirectiontotakeinorderto
seekclosureforhisfathersmurder,revealinghistendencytowardviolent,egocentricactionsas
agriefmanagementtactic.Hestrugglestomanagehisfleetingthoughtsinsuchatimeof
distress,frequentlyshiftingbetweenconflictingthoughtsofrevengeandofsuicide.Hamlet
encounterstheagonizingmomentinwhichheponderstheextremityofthepainheexperiences,
andwhichactionwouldmosteffectivelyachieveclosureforthedeathofhislatefather.Ina
momentofsolitude,Hamletcontemplateslifesmiseries,questioningthepathwithwhichto
advanceinhisrevenge:Tobe,ornottobe:thatisthequestion:/Whethertisnoblerinthemind
tosuffer/Theslingsandarrowsofoutrageousfortune,/Ortotakearmsagainstaseaoftroubles
(ShakespeareIII.i.5659)andlater,Thusconsciencedoesmakecowardsofusall
(ShakespeareIII.i.83).Thecontradictoryphrasestobeandnottobeconnoteconfusionand
uncertainty,thereforehighlightingHamletsstruggleindecidingwhethertosurrendertohisown
painortotakeactionbyavenginghisfathersdeath.Hamletdecideshispathafterevaluation,
whichwouldmakehimappearstronger.Thetermnoblerreferenceshisdesiretomaintainhis
royal,powerfulimage,andcontrastswiththephrasemakeacoward,inwhichHamletusesthe

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negativeconnotationofcowardtocriticizethetimid.Hisegotisticalnatureprevailswhenhe
expresseshisconcernforhisownreputationwhenchoosinghowtohandleatopicassensitiveas
hisfathersdeath.InareviewbyGeoffreyBullough,MissProssertakestheTobeornottobe
soliloquyasthepointatwhichHamletdeterminestodisregardreligionandmoralityandtodare
damnationbygoingagainstthemoralconsciencethatmakescowardsofusall(Bullough).
ProsserinterpretsHamletsdecisionasaconsciouschoicetoneglectrectitudeandinstead
supportirreverence.ShededucesthatHamletmakesthischoiceintentionally,decidingthat
moralsultimatelybringweaknessandthusmayberejectediftheypreventhimfromstrivingfor
victoryoverClaudius.Inanefforttoavengehisfathersdeath,Hamletschoicetoresortto
violenttacticsillustratehisapathyfortheeffectofhisactionsonothers,regardlessofhow
negative,andconsequentialdepravity.
WhileHamletexhibitsconcernforonlyhisownsuccessinachievingrevenge,Holden
exhibitsconcernforyoungpeoplebyaspiringtopreservetheirinnocence.Uponreturninghome,
Holdenseeksouthisyoungersister,Phoebe,tofinallydiscusshisadventuresofgettingexpelled
andtravelingthroughoutNewYorkCityalone.Inthistime,hefrequentlyponderslifeandthe
possibilitiesofhisfuture.Whenaskedwhatheplanstodowithhisseeminglyaspirationlesslife,
Holdenexplainsthathehasdecidedtobecomeasaviorforchildren:
"WhatIhavetodo,Ihave
tocatcheverybodyiftheystarttogooverthecliffImeanifthey'rerunningandtheydon'tlook
overwherethey'regoingIhavetocomeoutfromsomewhereandcatchthem.That'sallI'ddoall
day.I'djustbethecatcherintheryeandall.Iknowitscrazy,butthatstheonlythingIdreally
liketobe.Iknowitscrazy(Salinger191).Hisselectionoftherepeatedphrasehaveto
highlightsHoldensdeterminationtobecomethecatcherintherye.Heclaimsthatsall[he

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would]doallday,illustratinghiswholehearteddevotiontowardthisgoal.Therepetitionofthe
phraseIknowitscrazyalsorevealsthat,despiteHoldensknowledgeofitsunrealisticnature,
hestillstrivestoachievehisdreaminthepursuitofhelpingchildren,exudingselflessnessby
sacrificinghisownhardworkandpotentialfrustrationfortheadvantageofthoseyoungpeople.
Additionally,theuseofadashemphasizeshispassionbecauseheveersoffintofurther
explanation,ensuringthatheproperlydescribesthefullextensionofhisthoughtstoPhoebe.
AccordingtoLingdiChen,hisdreamofbecomingacatcherintheryeshowsthatHoldenhas
affectionforchildhood.Hewishestosavethesechildrenfromdangersothattheymayfrolicin
thefieldswecaninterpretthisasHoldenswishtosavethechildrenfromthephonyadult
world.Holdenwantstocatchchildrenbeforetheyfalloutofinnocenceintoknowledgeofthe
adultworld(Chen).ChenexplainsthatHoldendreamsnotonlyofthechancetobecomethe
catcherintherye,buttosavetheinnocencethatsomanyyoungpeopleofhisgenerationlose.
Insteadofdoingsooutofthepursuitofmoralfulfillmentortherewardsthathelpingthosein
needwillbringing,Holdensprimarymotivationderivesfromhisgoalofsuppressingmaturityin
otherchildrenbecauseheisunabletodosoforAllie.Hefeelstheneedtoserveasthesaviorfor
childhoodinnocenceasaresultofAlliesprematuredeath,andthususeshisloveforAllieto
galvanizethismission.

Dedicatinghislifetotheprotectionoftheinnocenceinothersexhibits
extraordinaryselflessness,exemplifyingHoldenscompassionatenatureandrevealinghisstrong
senseofmorals.
Afterdecidingtorejectmorality,Hamletseeksrevengethroughthemeansofviolence,
expressingablatantdisregardforsanctity.HamletviewsClaudiusasataintedsoul.Knowingthe
secretregardinghismurderingthelateKing,Hamletsrageinhibitshisabilitytoforgiveandhe

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insteadresentsClaudius.WhenHamletencountersClaudiusduringprayer,heexpresseshis
discontent,cursinghisname:

Atgameaswearing,oraboutsomeact/Thathasnorelishof
salvationint/Thentriphim,thathisheelsmaykickatheaven,/Andthathissoulmaybeas
damnedandblack/Ashell,wheretoitgoes.(ShakespeareIII.iii.8995).
Hamletsselectionof
religiousterms,morespecificallysalvation,heavenandhell,serveasadirectoppositionto
morality.HeusesblasphemyinanefforttoplotClaudiussmurderandnearlykillsClaudius
whileheprays,illustratingHamletsdisregardforrighteousness.Throughsuchmalicious
behavior,Hamletexposestheimpiousmannerinwhichhechoosestomanagehisgrie
f.Inan
efforttomournhisfathersdeath,heturnstoviolentmethodsofrevenge,choosingtousehis
strongfeelingsforevilinsteadoffortheimprovementofothers,asHoldendoeswhenhestrives
topreservetheinnocenceofchildrencombatingeminentmaturity.
Additionally,Hamletfinds
satisfactionthroughhisownsuccess,evenifitcausesotherstosufferhefantasizesabout
watchingClaudiusdie,usingthephrasesoulbedamnedandblackashell,wheretoitgoesto
describetheviolentdownfallthatheimagines.Inthisway,herevealshissatanicthought
process,asheprioritizeshisownfulfillmentbutexhibitsapatheticbehaviorthatbecomesviolent
anddirectlyopposeschrist.Hamletsegocentricnatureandtheconsciousdisdainforintegrity
seeninhisbloodymethodofchoiceforseekingrevengehighlighthisirreverence.
UnlikeHamlet,whogainssatisfactionregardlessoftheviolentmeans,Holdens
empatheticnaturecauseshimtofindjoybypreservingPhoebesinnocence
.Phoebeprovidesa
senseofsafetyforHolden,andallowshimtoexperienceinnocenceagain.Throughhisyounger
sister,Holdenstrivestopreservethissenseofinnocencethathefightstogainbackinhimself.
WhenwatchingPhoeberideonthecarousel,heexperiencesarevivalofherinnocence,andfeels

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extremeburstsofemotionsfromit:
Iwasdamnnearbawling,Ifeltsodamnhappy,ifyouwant
toknowthetruth.Idontknowwhy.Itwasjustthatshelookedsodamnnice,thewayshekept
goingaroundandaround,inherbluecoatandall.GodIwishyoucouldvebeenthere(Salinger
234)
.AsalsoseeninhisexpressionofangeroverAlliesdeath,Holdensrepeateduseof
profanityexposesthepowerofhisemotions.Hefeelsanoverwhelmingsenseofjoyupon
viewingthepreservationofPhoebesinnocence,asalsoseeninthephrasesdamnnearbawling
andfeltsodamnhappy.Inbothphrases,Holdenusesprofanityinconjunctionwith
expressionsdescribingthefeelingsheencounters.Asseeninthestrengthofhisjubilant
emotionswhilewatchingPhoebe,Holdenreactsasthoughhewereridingthecarouselhimself.
HelivesthroughPhoebesjoyandaccuratelyunderstandsandsharesherfeelings,illustratinghis
compassion.Additionally,thedirectionofhisfocustowardhelpingPhoebe,asopposedto
seekinghisownemotionalenrichment,highlightshisempathy.Hefinishesbydirectinghisjoy
towardtheaudience,sayingIwishyoucouldvebeenthere.Inthisway,hisoutreachbecomes
allinclusive,emphasizingHoldenssenseofaltruism.
Thepowerfulemotionstheoverwhelm
Holdenuponwatchingthepreservationofinnocenceillustratehisempathetic,altruisticnature
andhighlightthestrengthofhisintegrity.
Astheynavigatethegrievingprocess,HoldenandHamletbothuncovertheirmorality
throughthelevelofaltruismoftheirbehaviors,highlightingHoldenscompassion,which
contrastswithHamletsegocentricity,highlightingHoldensmoralintegrityandHamletsmoral
corruption.Hamletinitiallyreactstohisfathersdeathbyseekingsupport,expressinghispainby
directingtheattentionhereceivesfromhismourningtowardhimselfinsteadofhonoringhis
father.Incontrast,HoldensimmediatereactiontoAlliesdeathleadshimtoviolentoutbursts

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thatallowhimtogainsomesenseofcontrolduringanirreversibletimeofdistressand
adequatelyhonorhisbrotherregardlessofthephysicalpainthatheinflictsuponhimself.Once
hecomprehendstheinitialshocksofgrief,Hamletrevertstowardviolentactionsthatultimately
benefitonlyhimselfbygainingthesatisfactionofachievingbloodyrevenge.Holden,however,
progressesthroughhisgrievingprocessinamorealtruisticdirection.Afterlashingoutduring
thenightofAlliesdeath,Holdenrealizesthatheaspirestopreservetheinnocencethatleukemia
stolefromAllieandtohelpotherchildrentosuppresstheirmaturity.Ashisplansforrevenge
culminate,Hamletsmoralcorruptionbecomesapparentthroughhissatanicthoughtsandblatant
oppositionforreligiouspracticeswhenhealmoststabsClaudiuswhileheprays.UnlikeHamlet,
whogainssatisfactionregardlessoftheviolentactionshemusttakeintheprocess,Holdenfeels
extensivejoyuponwatchingthemanifestationofPhoebesinnocencewhilesheridesthe
carousel,revealinghisempatheticnature.Whilebothcharactersencountertheobstacleofdeath,
thebehaviorstheyperforminanefforttocopewiththeirgriefaccentuatethenuancestotheir
moralmakeup,provingHamletsegocentricityandHoldensselflessness.

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Chen,Lingdi."AnAnalysisofAdolescentProblemsinTheCatcherintheRye."Web.2May
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Salinger,J.D.TheCatcherintheRye.NewYorkCity:Little,Brown,1951.Print.
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