Museum of Natural History: Holden’s World

"The best thing, though, in that museum was that whatever always remained right where it was."-- Holden. In the story Catcher in the Rye, author J.D Salinger provides many factors that demonstrate how strong the significance of the Museum of Natural History is. The Museum of Nature holds nostalgic worth to Holden. That place is where Holden invested his childhood and held numerous memories. The significance of the Museum of Nature can be discovered in numerous aspects of the story, which is why it occurs to be the most important and greatest sign in the book.

The description of the Museum of Natural History that Holden offers, can signify the mindset of Holden. Holden explains the museum as: "The finest thing, however, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. No one 'd move ... Nobody 'd be various. The only thing that would be various would be you." Inferring to the quote shows that Holden does not like change.

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Individuals that alter are "phonies" to Holden. "Phonies" are fakes or individuals that do not remain the exact same. Holden has numerous memories of the museum due to the fact that the numerous times he had to go there for fieldtrips. In Chapter 16 and 17, Holden goes off about the Eskimos and Indians.

The display screens are frozen to Holden, they are always there and always remain the very same. He might judge the display screens, however they might not evaluate him back. Another method, which the symbolism is shown through the Museum of Nature is the contrast of the Museum and the Real Life.

To Holden the Museum of Natural History is the world he want to live in, however in reality there in no such world. The world he desires is much like the museum. The museum never changes, always remains The very same, and is something that can not judge him. This also looks like the world of the "Catcher in the Rye." The world of the "Catcher in the Rye" is a place of innocence and no modification. The unfortunate thing about this exists is no world like that. In reality, the world, individuals, and things change. Changing is a part of human life and is something that constantly takes place. Holden does not like truth because things change and do not remain the very same.

Holden does not like “phonies” or people with truculent attitudes. The Museum of the Natural History and the Real World show the world that Holden wants to live and the world he currently lives in But later on, reality and change become things that Holden soon has to realize. The last aspect that shows the symbolism of the Museum of Natural History is when Holden tells his sister Phoebe to meet him at the museum. This even can be identified special in many ways. The whole point of the meeting was for Holden to give back the money to his sister Phoebe. Going back, Phoebe had gave him the money because he asked for it. Holden had cried because his sister came through for him and always seemed to be there when he needed someone. Holden tells to Phoebe meet him at the museum to return the money. He chooses the museum as a meeting place because how important that place is to him. This place never changes until Holden takes a look at the wall in the Mummy Exhibit.

It had cuss words that offended him and made him angry. Because of the cuss word written on the wall, Holden faints. He faints because the one place he thought was “phony free” changed. This becomes the pinnacle of when Holden starts to realize things change. To sum up, the story Catcher in the Rye by J.D Sallinger shows many reasons on why the Museum of Natural History is the most important symbol in the novel. The Museum of Natural History shows much important because the meaning and impact it has on Holden. The three aspects that symbolism is shown through the Museum of Natural History are: the description of the museum, the significance of the museum as a meeting place, and the comparison of the museum and the real world.