I've got more beef with Holden than a cattle slaughterhouse.
I've got more beef with Holden than Arnold Schwarzenegger's biceps.
Remember the old lady from those Wendy's commercials who would say "Where's the beef?"
I will tell you where it is. Here. Now. Between me. And Holden. It's not what's for dinner, it's what's for this blog post.
But to the meat of the argument. I was initially pleased with the character of Holden in Susan Glaspell's The Inheritors, as I believe most readers were. He seems to be the only other character in the play besides Madeline and the ever-absent Fred who thinks differently, progressively, and by our standards here in Futureland, more reasonably than the other nationalist characteristics. However, while Madeline and Fred sit on the hot seat of society being accused of anti-government sentiments and facing serious repercussions for their thoughts and actions (Fred already has), Holden seems to be sitting pretty in his well-respected and comfortable Professor's chair.
As we learn more about Holden and his past, he begins to seem more and more of a disappointment. He harbors those passionate, convicted ideals of a man who cares for all people and is frustrated with the direction his country is headed. But he comes across as very unenthusiastic in his actions, or rather non-actions, to communicate his disappointment. Unlike Madeline and Fred, he appears to be a very weak revolutionary (if we can call them that this early in what will someday become a revolution across the U.S. giving us our modern values.)
The guy only says what he thinks when asked. He's a chump. An enabler. Glaspell dangled a character of influence capable of assisting Madeline and Fred in front of her audience's faces and BOOM. Turns out he's as effective as Horace when it comes to moving America and Morton College towards a better, brighter, more inclusive future. Great. Thanks Sue.
There's some 100% grass fed, Kobe-quality beef.
The nail in the coffin was of course when I read the stage direction in the fourth act as Holden enters. He "looks older." He doesn't even like what he's become! He has sat in silence and stewed in his own fear for years practically working for the ideals he despises. Sure, the Senator wants him fired because he communicated some mild discomfort with the treatment of one of his students in prison, but I'd hardly say that's an active role in communicating his ideals.
And I mean his wife must be so.... Oh, right, his wife... That is a thing isn't it?...
I concede that one of the most important qualities of being an American is grappling your own responsibility before taking on that of the World. Holden recognizes his limitation, and while Madeline and Fred have the youthful spryness and openness of future to shout their beliefs to the heavens, he has people to take care of.
Holden's situation ultimately showed me more about Madeline and Fred than I had thought he would. Regardless of whose values are more reasonable, I think it makes sense to say that the youngsters don't know their values. They can pick and choose as they develop their beliefs, but ultimately the part of their lives they are in prompts exploration and risk taking. There are no people other than your young self to get hurt, and you feel invincible.
Holden was undoubtedly the same, but he chose not to be the eternal-antagonist. There just were not opportunities for him to make a difference, and in time, he chose his own happiness and the health of those he loved over the possibility of seeing his ideals come to light.
We tend to think big until we turn inwards and see how small we are. That's what Holden showed me, and what he tries to show Madeline. She may be opening doors for society a crack, but in one moment she will close every other door for herself. Holden managed to give dignity to his smallness. He showed how sacrificing oneself for a belief is far more selfish than giving all that you can to the world and the ones you love before kicking the bucket.
Beef cooked, stewed, seasoned, eaten, and tastes like humble-pie.
