Macbeth vs Holden

Shakespeare wrote the play Macbeth using Macbeth as a protagonist in this old English play. Holden Caulfield is also the main character in “the catcher in the rye” written by J.D Salinger. This essay will elaborate on the similarities of the characters and the difference in their individual societies. What external forces are used? Are they honest, do they lie? What kind of influence are women? I will illustrate the strategies used between the characters and different qualities they obtain. Holden is a self-cautious boy, always judgmental of those around him. Females are of much confusion to him. Often he is unsure of how to properly treat them and seems to think too far into things, such as over using the word “phony” to describe something superficial and every stereotypical person. (Quote: Holden: “Grand. There’s a word I really hate. It’s phony. I could puke every time I hear it”.) This dismissive manner may be caused by the traumatic death of his brother Allie or the suicide of his classmate.

Many obscene gestures, lies and profanity are used by Holden in his narrative style. The entire book he is obsessed with the act of losing his virginity, surrounding his thoughts entirely around women. Macbeth prohibits much of these qualities; the words of women seem to mesmerize him putting him into a trance. His desire for his wife’s love and compassion drives his ambition up the wall, craving power and desire into his own hands. The witches had guessed his greed and ambitious quality, exploring his lethal flaw Throughout both stories paranoia becomes a large theme between the two. Terrified someone will discover Macbeths act of murder and find him guilty his mind begins to wonder. He wonders about murder, he wonders how his wife can pursue him to this; he is curious how her cheeks stay rose with beauty as his fill with fear and un-reliable courage. (Quote: Macbeth: “Can such things be, And overcome us like a summer’s cloud, Without our special wonder? You make mestrange(135)

Even to the disposition that I owe,
When now I think you can behold such sights,
And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks
When mine is blanch’d with fear.” Act III Scene IV)

He begins to see hallucinations, the vision of the children; the dagger and other ghost annihilate him. Holden shows severe signs of loneliness, insecurity, depression, and often looks too alcohol for help. He proceeds to judge others around him in attempt to push them away. This narcissistic persona alienates him from society, just as Macbeth’s efforts to maintain this newly gained power result in murder and isolate him from his old friends and family. These unmoral decisions make Macbeth crazed and savage, gaining control of Scotland is no longer reality for him and he realizes this. He is also aware his remembrance will be for wrong doings rather than positive enforcement. (Quote: Macbeth: “Accursèd be that tongue that tells me so, For it hath cowed my better part of man!

And be these juggling fiends no more believed,
That palter with us in a double sense,
That keep the word of promise to our ear,
And break it to our hope. I’ll not fight with thee.” Act VI Scene VIII)
Although Macbeth began as a noble man he soon begins to lie and control others around him, but he can’t seem to control everything. Shakespeare introduces Macbeth with the royal words of the captain described him as a prime and appraised him for being a mighty warrior. King Duncan proceeds to exclaim what a worthy man Macbeth is to Scotland. (Quote: Duncan: “O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!” Act I Scene II.) (Quote: Duncan: “What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won.”) As his character develops, his goals and thoughts do as well. Among impressing his wife, his main concern is becoming king of Scotland. Lying is definitive quality of Holden he tells lies to many people in attempt to bring attention to himself, like the situation on the bus to New York. He told Mrs. Marrow his classmate’s mother, he was leaving school to get a brain surgery. (Quote: Holden: “It isn’t very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain.”) Holden a pathological liar (Quote: Holden: “Then I started reading this time table I had in my pocket. Just to stop lying.

Once I get started, I can go on for hours if I feel like it. No kidding. Hours.”), rebellion kicking from school to school is in reality searching for his place in the world contrasting with Macbeth who is searching for his thrown, but is it at the castle? Love also becomes an important aspect, each thrive for passion and affection from others and have someone they confide in. Holden places deep care into his younger sister Phoebe because they connect on many levels, both as childlike mind and in interest. He also longs for closure towards his deceased brother Allie. Holden worries about his parents thoughts, he respects them. He is concerned about his mother’s reaction to getting kicked out of yet another school. The only two people he feels he has truly connected with are his sister and Allie, often in times of need they are the first he contacts.

Throughout his cycle of depression he talks aloud to Allie. (Quote: Holden: “I felt so depressed, you can’t even imagine. What I did, I started talking, sort of out loud to Allie. I do that sometimes when I get very depressed.”) He shows he cares about Phoebe by constantly wanting to call and chat with her; he often talks about her. On the contrary he contradicts himself by finding an excuse to not call, or to not visit. By isolating himself he also goes against himself because he hates feeling alone and longs for the feelings of passion. The thoughts of Macbeth are usually rational and he shows thoughts of being morally educated. He knows the difference in government, political, and religious reason and why such laws are created. (Quote: Duncan: No more that thane of Cawdor shall deceive

Our bosom interest: go pronounce his present death,
And with his former title greet Macbeth.”)
It is already known by the reader in the first act that Macbeth is capable of murder, enabling his abilities further. With his familiarity with death, murder for Macbeth should be no qualm, in this case for self-gain. Lady Macbeth uses Macbeth to her advantage in this opportunity to be queen. She uses emotional harassment against him in efforts to cloud his mind and persuade his actions. Although his love for her appears to be strong, he has been tricked by love, passion, and greed. Many factors lead to the outcome of these characters, each author constructed certain conflicts each would face. Holden’s issues were more inside, and in-depth with society. His misunderstanding of his place in the world demonstrates his depression and narcissistic personality; though Holden is ideal in certain ways, like his need for sincerity and honesty. Childhood experiences contour the adolescent teenager. Children growing up require guidance, and positive environment. Self-esteem and academic achievements were never his strong suit. Most teenagers feel connected with their environment best when they grew up in a caring home with respectable parents.

He takes the private schools he attends and loving family for granted. Also for whatever reason he feels, he yells “Sleep tight, ya morons!” as he was leaving Pencey prep. He views the kids, most teachers and headmasters at his private school as phony and superficial. This is his major error if he is in attempt to find his place. Macbeth is an ideal tragic hero of Shakespearian times. 3 major points of the play that affect his judgment are his wife, the prophecy, and his own ambition. Although Macbeth’s wife and ambition have been previously discussed, Shakespeare foreshadows Macbeth’s liability to fail by using the witches.

They incorporate the theme of “fair is foul” this foreshadows the possibility that Macbeth could encounter some negative precautions, specifically murder and deception. Meaning something foul for one, such as the death of the king, is a fair gift for Macbeth. Or so it seems fair because his conscience is temporally clouded with desire. Overall, each character is depth in thought with ideas and themes; each rich in quality and continuously developing. Things they have in common are influences, external forces, and ambition among others. The Catcher in the Rye focused precisely on man vs society, man vs self, and sometimes man vs man. Macbeth revolved around man vs man, man vs self, and man vs nature (nature as in supernatural).