My Place: Union Square

The place that I went to and that I feel most like Holden is at the park in Union Square. Whether I'm with friends or I'm just walking through the park I've always had this feeling of comfortability. One of the feelings that Holden feels a lot and is comfortable with is the feeling that he is home or that he doesn't mind being alone. That is the way I feel when in the park. I like this park because it has some of the same qualities that have. For example, it is fun, exiting, and in the park their is always something to do. I have always enjoyed being in this place.

Penn Station

Penn Station was one of the favorite places I visited, mainly because it was indoors. I liked it in doors because it was a break from the horrible rain and wind that was above us. But for Holden it wasn't much of a treat, it was more of a shelter. Throughout the book Holden doesn't have a home that he lives in. He goes and stays at several places, one of those places is Penn Station. Both times when Holden is at Penn Station it was dark and he was tired. Holden narrates this when inside, "Everybody was in the sack. I was quite lucky when i got to the station, because i only had to wait about ten minutes for a train."(53). This marks the first time when he goes into Manhattan. When I was there I felt a sense of confusion and that I was lost. Which is what I think Holden felt in the whole book.

Museum of Natural History

This is me at the Museum of Natural History. I think this is one of Holden's favorite places. It is because he likes the idea of everything being the same and everything staying right where it is and not changing. When I went there this Saturday it was raining extremely hard and the wind was almost unbearable. As a result, no one was allowed inside. But from the outside I tried to think about why Holden likes this place for different reasons than most people. I realized that most people go there for all of the cool artifacts and information, but for Holden it is more of a place that he goes to find peace and solitude. When in the museum Holden says, "It always smelled like it was raining outside, even if it wasn't, and you were in the only nice, dry, cosy place in the world. I loved that damn museum."(120). This quote from the book really makes me wish that i went in, because I was outside in the freezing cold wind and rain.

The Lake

This is me at the lake in Central Park. I visited here because I feel like this is one of the most important places that Holden visits during the novel. I have to admit, it is hard to see what Holden saw during this situation. It's hard because in the book he is drunk, it is cold out, and he thinks he is dying. Holden at the lake says, "Boy, I was shivering like a bastard, and the back om my hair, even though i had my hunting hat on, was sort of full of little hunks of ice. That worried me. I thought I'd get pneumonia and die."(154). From what he says here I can not relate to him on a higher level than other places that he's been. But, what I can say is that other than the ducks that seemed like they were having a good time. The whole place seemed pretty gloomy. Their weren't many people out (much like Holden when he went there) and that most likely contributed to Holden's feeling that he was always lonely. I thought at this place that it was very interesting to put yourself in Holden's shoes.

The Carousel

One of the places that I went to is the carousel. Unfortunatly, it was not open. There were not too many people in the park because it was a very gloomy day. While I was there I noticed that it was very calm, cool, and in a way relaxing. From what I saw I can safely assume that Holden was feeling a simaliar way. In the book Caufield narrates, "I felt so damn happy, if you want to know the truth. I don't know why"(213). When i was there I felt a feeling kind of like that. I felt happier, and I didn't know why, it was as if the place was filled with happiness. Something else I noticed that Holden does touch upon, is how beat up the whole place is. It seems as if a lot of the paint was chipping and that no one was taking very good care of it. But, what mattered the most to both Phoebe and Holden, was how thrilling and exiting the whole experience was.

Plan

The plan was to visit several different places that Holden has been to. I went to four places that he went too, and a place where I think I feel like Holden.

Starting

I will soon be going to three separate places that Holden has gone too. I will take photos and then post about my experiences afterward. I will keep you posted on where I will be going.