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What advice does Mr. Antolini give to Holden? Is it good advice?

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Final answer:

Mr. Antolini advises Holden to live humbly for a cause, emphasizing the importance of education and personal growth, which is generally considered good advice as it promotes maturity and intellectual development.

Step-by-step explanation:

In J.D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye, Mr. Antolini provides Holden with some profound advice during a pivotal moment. He emphasizes the importance of education and warns Holden about the potential for a fall that many young people experience. Mr. Antolini tells Holden, 'The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.' He advises Holden to live with purpose and not to fall prey to self-destructive behaviors, which can result from a lack of direction and understanding. In essence, Mr. Antolini's advice is to find something worth living for, to seek understanding, and to apply oneself in learning.

Analysing Mr. Antolini's advice, it is largely considered good advice, as it encourages personal growth, awareness, and intellectual development. It suggests that the path to maturity and self-fulfillment involves a commitment to learning and contributing positively to a cause bigger than oneself. This advice resonates with the theme of avoiding a life wasted on superficial endeavors that J.D. Salinger often hints at throughout the novel.

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