[감상평] J.D. Salinger’s 『A Catcher in the Rye』

[나쁜녀석]

I received an English-language novel from a friend as a gift. A friend who knows that I admired J.D. Salinger’s “A Catcher in the Rye” for along time bought two copies from a book store. When he found the two copies, he was thoughtful enough to get one for a friend as well as one for himself. That friend handed me the book in a very friendly note on the cover in English that I thought I should complain about:

Everything comes to him who waits.

He laughs best who laughs last.

When I saw that he wrote “He” in reference to me, I thought that it should be changed to “she” and “him” to “her”. Since my friend was very well-meaning in giving me a gift, I could not tell him because I couldn’t bear seeing him embarrassed. “He” should be referred to as “She”,“They” or “We”. The one who last laughs should be “We”.

The character in the novel, Caulfield was rebellious who was defiant and resentful of his surroundings. He realized that there were differences between the present world and the world that one hoped for. At a prestigious prep school, he had friends, a girlfriend, and a teacher from New York City in the dormitory as well as teacher who respected and believed in him as student for whom he had lust for. He was also pressured by his parents to excel academically and graduate. Caulfield’s world was based on the idea that in order to be happy in life, one must achieve status to get the necessities in a capitalist society in which he greatly resented but tried to suppress his feelings for.

Caulfield’s attitude was also hardened by the loss of the one person for whom he loved very much: his younger brother. He continued carrying the pain throughout his life. His rebellious behavior started soon after his brother’s death.

Understanding the gains and pains of human nature is important to recovery. Is there someone in this world who understands me? Could be the friend who gave the novel? Perhaps there is someone out there who may not know how successful his life is. Isn’t it a fact that the world would have compassion when a person loves.

Like catching a cold, I feel Caulfield’s dejection. The cold may not kill people, but some people will be infected by this kind of virus to some degree. However, this outbreak of pain can cause the development of a relationship among people. When a person receives pain, the truth will bear fruit, in which becomes a whole strange animal.

When I'm also an adult, I find “growing pains” on a number of occasions. I find more trials and letdowns as well as some things spurring in my life. My friend cloaked his expectations in the book.

                                                                                                                                                             - bad boy

[나쁜녀석]

If I made misstatement in English and allowed for egotism, please expect forgiveness.

[다누아빠]

[나쁜녀석]

[새벽비]

뭔가를 글을 쓰고 싶어도 많이 부족해서리 안되는군요..영어로만 써야 되는 글인듯..

[이쁜마녀]

아~드뎌 나쁜녀석님이 사고를 치셨군요. 정모 때 영어 에세이를 올린다더니~~ㅋ 친절하게 번역까지 해주시면 안되나요??^^

[감탄과 칭찬]

We all have to go through the rite of passage such as birth, adolescence,adulthood,marriage,and death. The hero Caulfield, who managed to face the world, is maybe none other than us. Anyway, I think life is worth living.

[나쁜녀석]

Your presence is a present to the world. Enjoy your life, thanks.^_^

[다누아빠]

Everything comes to him who waits. He laughs best who laughs last. => 친구분이 나쁜녀석님에 대해 언급한게 아니라 격언을 인용하신것 같슴다...고로 굳이 she, her, they, 그리고 we로 바꿀 필요는 없을것 같군요 나쁜녀석님의 가지고 계신 능력의 끝은 어딘지 궁금하군요.. 님의 열정과 에너지.. 존경합니다.

[나쁜녀석]

I know......but I wana change......because......(Maybe you can guess it ^-^)

[린다허]

You are so great, wonderful^^ I am very suprised at your English skills. 다누아빠님의 말에 동감합니다. 여기서 'he'란 나쁜녀석님이 아니라 예전 영문법에서 사람을 대표해서 쓰는 부정대명사로 He였으나 최근 평등을 주장하는 페미니스트들에 의해 사람을 대표하는 부정대명사로 "He or She" 고쳐서 많이 씁니다. 아무튼 책사모 회원들의 다양한 능력들에 감탄합니다.

[나쁜녀석]

I know the proverb, too. However, my friend is in a needy position to have the ability to embrace me, like Caulfield. On the contrary, “The friend” wrote something with different results which aren’t terrible. I and you (The friend). The 2nd person more than the 3rd one. The 2nd and 1st persons meet. So, “WE” is to become us because my friend likes me as well. That is the reason why I wanted to change the subject “WE”.