“Oh, Romeo and Juliet! Lovely! Didn’t you just love it?”She certainly didn’t sound like a nun. “Yes. I did. I liked it a lot. There were a few things I didn`t like about it, but it was quite moving, on the whole.”“What didn`t you like abut it? Can you remember?”To tell you the truth, it was sort of embarrassing, in a way, to be talking about Romeo and Juliet with her. I mean that play gets pretty sexy in some parts, and she was a nun and all, but she asked me, so I discussed it with her for a while. “Well, I`m not too crazy about Romeo and Juliet,”I said. “I mean I like them, but – I don’t know. They get pretty annoying sometimes. I mean I felt much sorrier when old Mercutio got killed then when Romeo and Juliet did. The thing is, I never liked Romeo too much after Mercutio gets stabbed by that other man – Juliet’s cousin – what’s his name?”(The Catcher in The Rye, p. 111).”
Quote Analysis
In this quote from J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye," the main character, Holden Caulfield, is discussing his thoughts on William Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet" with a nun. Despite feeling embarrassed to talk about the play's more provocative aspects with a nun, he brings up his opinion that he found Mercutio's death more impactful than that of the titular characters. This highlights Holden's tendency to be critical and to find flaws in things that others may romanticize. This quote also showcases Holden's unique perspective and his character's often contradictory nature.
Modern Relevance
In this passage from J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye," the protagonist Holden Caulfield discusses his thoughts on the classic play Romeo and Juliet with a nun. This interaction highlights the timeless themes of love, loss, and the complexity of human relationships that still resonate with audiences today.
Holden's conflicted feelings towards the characters of Romeo and Juliet reflect the way many individuals view the play - finding aspects to love and aspects to critique. This conversation serves as a reminder of how literature continues to provoke discussion and reflection on universal experiences, no matter the time period.
Example of Usage:
“Oh, Romeo and Juliet! Lovely! Didn’t you just love it?”She certainly didn’t sound like a nun. “Yes. I did. I liked it a lot. There were a few things I didn`t like about it, but it was quite moving, on the whole.”
“What didn`t you like abut it? Can you remember?”
To tell you the truth, it was sort of embarrassing, in a way, to be talking about Romeo and Juliet with her. I mean that play gets pretty sexy in some parts, and she was a nun and all, but she asked me, so I discussed it with her for a while. “Well, I`m not too crazy about Romeo and Juliet,”I said. “I mean I like them, but – I don’t know. They get pretty annoying sometimes. I mean I felt much sorrier when old Mercutio got killed then when Romeo and Juliet did. The thing is, I never liked Romeo too much after Mercutio gets stabbed by that other man – Juliet’s cousin – what’s his name?”(The Catcher in The Rye, p. 111).” - J.D. Salinger".
Reflection Questions
In this passage from "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger, the protagonist Holden Caulfield discusses his feelings towards Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet" with a nun. This interaction raises interesting questions about different interpretations of literature and personal reactions to classic works. Reflect on the following questions:
- How do Holden's thoughts on "Romeo and Juliet" reflect his character and values?
- Why do you think Holden finds Romeo and Juliet annoying and prefers other characters, like Mercutio?
- In what ways does Holden's conversation with the nun challenge traditional expectations and stereotypes about literature and religious figures?
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“Romeo and Juliet, say they didn’t die but Juliet got pissed and took off. Everyone would know it was Romeo and Juliet, would always be Romeo and Juliet, even if later Romeo hooked up with Nancy. No one ever heard of Nancy, doesn’t even sound right, Romeo and Nancy. Everyone knows Romeo’s meant to be with Juliet. Even if Romeo loved Nancy, Nancy would always know she was never Juliet”
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“I was Juliet and Quinn was Romeo, and the lines weren't dead black-and-white words on a page but somehow alive, as natural and real as the argument we'd had about the spider and the fly. The rows of empty seats were gone, and we were in a candlelit ballrooom, wrapped in our own cocoon of words. But the playful banter of our words couldn't mask what we both knew--that after this, nothing would be the same .And then we got to the kissing part, which we'd only read through together and had never really rehearsed. But it didn't matter, because I was still Juliet and Quinn was still Romeo, his gray-green eyes fixed on mine. And when he bent to kiss me, it was Romeo's lips on Juliet's. Even so, Juliet was just as stunned as I would've been. When I said the last line, I was speaking for both of us. You kiss by the book.”