Holden Caulfield of The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger

When one’s imagination becomes the director and producer of his thoughts and actions, he loses touch with reality. The ideas and plans are in a chaotic time slot; loneliness becomes the major factor in forming erratic thoughts and actions. In the novel A Catcher in the Rye, J.D Salinger gives insight to the protagonist’s thoughts, experiences, and frustrations in his world. Holden Caulfield’s instinctive desire to be a savior of the innocents evolves, and many times in the story, he faces disappointment. The internal struggles arise when his imagination draws him into situations in which he is unable, but wants desperately to be the hero. The world around him including his peers, family, and random encounters, are those conflicts,†¦show more content†¦Pencey’s ads in papers or magazines featured boys playing polo, but Holden has never seen a horse on Pencey’s campus. The phoniness, for which Holden is constantly seeing and judging, i s obvious through Pencey’s polo ads. Pencey, in Holden’s view, is a place of phoniness; therefore he is not going to give his all in participation at the school academically, socially, or athletically. Salinger uses Pencey as a constant example of Holden’s outward conflicts between Holden and Pencey, which has become his present society. Brian Way writes, â€Å"School is the agency by which America more than most countries consciously socializes the immature for entry into the approved adult activities; and so a boy’s relation to his school becomes a microcosm of the individual’s relation to his society† (34-35). Holden has never really fit into the school because he sees it as the same as he sees his outside world. Holden’s unchanging view of the world as being full of phonies and phony things is present here at Pencey. Holden is the source of his own failure; he truly does not conceive of himself as being a phony at all, but is persistently finding phoniness in the world around him. Holden’s inner conflicts cause illusions, and tremendous amounts anguish. Holden wants to be a protector, but he is experiencing the same problems, and must mature in order to be this â€Å"guardian angel† which is hisShow MoreRelatedHolden Caulfield and the Pressures of Society: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger1286 Words   |  6 Pages The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, characterization is often found, especially regarding the protagonist, Holden Caulfield. Salinger also includes many themes in his novel relating to growing up in a corrupt society. Hence, this paper will compare, contrast, and evaluate literary criticisms regarding the themes and characterization of J.D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye. Many critics of The Catcher in the Rye discuss in depth the characterization of the protagonist Holden CaulfieldRead MoreHolden Caulfield of Catcher In the Rye, the equivalent portrayal of J.D Salinger1734 Words   |  7 PagesHolden Caulfield of Catcher In the Rye, the equivalent portrayal of J.D Salinger Jerome David â€Å"J.D† Salinger’s masterpiece, The Catcher in the Rye, is a world to the disillusioned protagonist Holden Caulfield. The story follows Holden Caulfield following his eviction from his private school, Holden leaves school two days early to travel New York before returning home. He interconnected with many different folks along the way and fascinatingly, the character of Holden Caulfield holds a remarkableRead MoreMental Analysis on Holden Caulfield in J.D. Salinger ´s The Catcher in the Rye824 Words   |  4 PagesCare Service Corporation) (The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America). J.D. Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye, provides the narrative of a young adult, Holden Caulfield, who I believe shows many symptoms of several different mental disorders. In this essay, I will be providing examples straight from The Catcher in the Rye that support my theory of Holden Caulfield’s lack of mental stability. Holden Caulfield demonstrates extreme and inconsistent behaviors throughout his narrative, describingRead MoreParallels Between the Conflicts of J.D. Salinger and Holden Caulfield from Catcher and the Rye618 Words   |  3 PagesLiterature writers, J.D. Salinger, was familiar with a rough childhood by experience. He was able to parallel his experiences to the experiences of Holden Caulfield, the protagonist in The Catcher in Rye. In this novel, Holden experiences conflicts that most youth are not familiar with. The conflicts in Holden Caulfield’s life are caused by various forces and circumstances. One of the main conflict’s in the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, is the recurring theme of innocence. Holden attempts to resistRead MoreHolden Caulfield ´s Innocence and Purity in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger850 Words   |  4 PagesIn a society filled with impureness, Holden Caulfield searches for purity and innocence in everyone around him. Lonely, affectionate, and judgmental, Holden is the narrator and protagonist of The Catcher in the Rye. His actions and the way he acts reveals that Holden is very lonely, and is longing for human companionship. Holden is somewhat mature above his age, but still desires pleasures like any other teenage boy. After meeting people, Holden becomes very judgemental about the way people act.Read MoreThe Catcher in the Rye Essay1442 Words   |  6 Pagescharacteristics of Holden Caulfield, the adolescent protagonist hero of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye and illuminate the reasons as to why this prototype of brood ing adolescence, displaying a rather uber-cool style of disaffection, disenchantment and disillusionment became an indispensable figure of interest, in literary circles as well as popular culture. The paper seeks to take issue with the wider dimensions attached to the ‘incapacitation and debilitation’ Holden is often accused ofRead MoreD. Salinger s The Catcher s The Rye 1872 Words   |  8 Pages J. D. Salinger s novel is often called, . . . the forbidden fruit in the garden of literature (The Catcher 116). J. D. Salinger is a writer from the 1950s, a time where literature has questioned the ideas of traditions placed in a community. Through his life and through his characters Holden Caulfield and Phoebe Caulfield in the 1950s realistic fictional bildungsroman The Catcher in the Rye, the postmodernist author J. D. Salinger focuses on the theme of self isolation in society in orderRead MoreAnalysis Of Characters And Themes Of The Catcher Rye 1537 Words   |   7 Pages Analysis of Characters and Themes in The Catcher in the Rye J.D. Salinger was born in 1919 to a wealthy Manhattan family. He grew up in the same social conditions as Holden Caulfield does in The Catcher in the Rye. The last thing Salinger cared about was being a successful student because he was very lazy, without care for his responsibilities and tasks. Salinger flunked out of many prep schools, and his parents sent him to a military academy named Valley Forge in Pennsylvania, where he graduatedRead MoreSimilarities And Differences Between Salinger And Holden Caulfield1671 Words   |  7 Pagesbook, â€Å"The Catcher in the Rye†, Holden Caulfield has many conflicts and life lessons. Throughout the story the author, J.D. Salinger, creates events that make the main character realize that in life people change and grow. The message behind the story is let children grab the â€Å"gold ring† and you can’t always be the catcher in the rye. All of the things that make Holden who he is have many resemblances to the life of the author, J.D. Salinger.   Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the similarities between Holden and Salinger’sRead MoreSymbolism In Catcher In The Rye712 Words   |  3 PagesCatcher in the Rye essay Essay question: Analyse how symbolism was used to develop the key ideas in the written text. In the novel â€Å"Catcher in the Rye†, author J.D Salinger uses symbolism to create and portray key idea to us as the readers. The key ideas he portrays are; Holden Caulfield is the guardian of youth and that Holden is a broken record that no one wants to listen to. Throughout the novel, author J.D Salinger often mentions a red hunting hat worn by Holden and the way in which Holden

Confucius Goes on and on About ‘Humanity’ free essay sample

‘Humanity’ and ‘filial piety’ are probably the most important believes that Confucius had; he uses these two words more than any other words in ‘The Analects of Confucius’. Among many other things Confucius had mentioned, ‘humanity’ is the central thought of Confucianism that Confucius had believed everything starts from the ‘humanity’. ‘Humanity’ in a Chinese character means a combination of human and number two, which means how you should treat others when there are two or more people. It can be a relationship between husband and wife, sisters, brothers, and friends. Confucius basically wanted people to treat others with a love and treat others like you want others to treat you. Although, the most important thing is how you treat your parents. Confucius points out the importance of ‘filial piety’ by saying the root of ‘humanity’ is ‘filial piety’. â€Å"A man who respects his parents and his elders would hardly be inclined to defy his superiors. We will write a custom essay sample on Confucius Goes on and on About ‘Humanity’ or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page To respect parents and elders is the root of humanity†. (1. 2) In Confucianism, ‘filial piety’ is a fundamental moral standard and furthermore the most important teaching from Confucius. However, the definition of ‘filial piety’ is not just how you take care of your parents such as feeding them but you have to show your parents a respect and also show them a good attitudes. (2. 7, 2. 8) To practice ‘filial piety’ towards one’s parents, you also do not want to give any anxiety to your parents. It also means that you do not want to harm your body even including your hair (this is why people at the time did not cut their hairs for their whole life) because your body is what your parents had given to you. ‘Filial piety’ is not only important when parents are alive but also important after their parents had passed away that they have to do the memorial ceremony for their ancestors with a respect like ancestors are still alive. Confucius mentions about the elders whenever he mentions about ‘Filial piety’, he believes that you do not only show respect to your parents but also to other people who are at your parents’ age. As grown up in the culture where there are still many elderly people believe in Confucianism, showing respect to people who are older than you is important especially to people who are at your parents’ age because they are also someone’s parents and you want your parents to treated as you treat others’ parents. In conclusion, ‘humanity’ is the central thought of Confucianism. ‘Filial piety’ is what Confucius had thought most important factor of ‘humanity’. ‘Filial piety means how you show a respect to your parents but it also indicates how you respect your leaders and show an honor to your country. Confucius points out ‘filial piety’ is a fundamental of love others, respecting your leaders and show an honor to your country, so basically Confucius had though ‘filial piety’ is the root of ‘humanity’.

Six Grammar Reminders for Journalism Majors

Six Grammar Reminders for Journalism Majors Just starting out with a  journalistic writing? Youre probably struggling with the insane amount of grammar and spelling rules. English courses are challenging, but theres nothing like mastering the complex art of journalism. Its a whole new world, and its scary out there. Below are six grammar reminders to help you along the way (also you read an article about major rules in journalistic writing). Write these down and keep track of your progress you can even create a grammar journal, if you want to stay ahead of the game. Most students struggle with these changes. If you’re one of them, youre not alone. Lets get started. 1. Use real quotation marks, rather than foot markers Believe it or not, many computers automatically insert foot markers (the measurements of feet and inches) rather than actual quotation marks. This will drive your professors insane, if you dont make alterations before turning in your piece. Fonts like Times New Roman will generate foot markers instead of quotation marks. Youll notice the difference because foot markers are straight lines, rather than curved quotes. Monitor this closely, and mess with the settings on your computer. Sometimes, its just a matter of changing your font. Other times, youll need to make the change manually. 2. Frame your quotes correctly Many college students dont know how to properly format their quotes. Below are a few examples of the wrong format: â€Å"The dog jumped over the moon,† She said. â€Å"the dog jumped over the moon.† she said. â€Å"The dog jumped over the moon†, she said. Okay, let’s just get a few things straight. First of all, the first letter of a quote is always capitalized. Secondly, unless an exclamation point or a question mark are involved, the comma always goes between the last word in the quote and the ending quotation marks. And, finally, the pronoun (in this case â€Å"she†) is always lowercase (unless, of course, it’s a proper noun like â€Å"Julie†). It should really look like this: â€Å"The dog jumped over the moon,† she said. Because so many novelists and essayists allow their work to be published without proper quotation editing, many young writers are confused about how it should look. Journalistically, the method given above is the proper print method. 3. Avoid long, rambling sentences Notice my sentence in the previous section: â€Å"Because so many novelists and essayists allow their work to be published without proper quotation editing, many young writers are confused about how it should look.† This sentence is far too long for a journalistic article. You’d need to say something more like: â€Å"Many novelists publish their work without proper quotation editing. Because of this, young writers are often confused about how it should look.† One long, rambling sentence should become two or three short, succinct sentences. 4. Theyre, Their, and There Let’s quickly review the uses of these three terms. â€Å"Their† involves possession. For example, you might say: â€Å"Their home was beautiful.† â€Å"They’re† is a contraction, meaning â€Å"they are†. For example, you might say: â€Å"They’re going to the beach.† â€Å"There† involves a place or a sense of being. For example, you might say: â€Å"There is a beautiful home by the beach.† You need to be especially careful when using these words in stories, because your editor will explode after two or three transgressions. 5. Than versus Then Another quick review. â€Å"Than† involves a comparison. For example, you might say: â€Å"She likes soda more than milk.† â€Å"Then† involves a sequence, meaning â€Å"next† or â€Å"therefore†. For example, you might say: â€Å"We’re going to the beach, then to the movies.† 6. Effect versus Affect Our final review is one of my personal favorites. I can’t even begin to tell you how many journalism students confuse these two words. â€Å"Effect† means a consequence. It’s a noun, or a thing. For example, you might say: â€Å"Her anxiety was an effect of her previous relationship.† â€Å"Affect† means that something is being â€Å"had†. Or an effect is being made. For example, you might say: â€Å"Her anxiety is affecting her schoolwork.† Most of the time, â€Å"affect† is used as a present-tense verb, or â€Å"affecting†. Usually, this trick helps students remember the difference between the two. When it comes to journalism, professors are extremely picky about the pieces their students turn in, specifically when it comes to grammar and spelling. Using the wrong word too many times can be the difference between moving up and staying where you are on a newspaper staff. Keep this in mind as you take more advanced courses. The most important thing in journalism is professionalism. You’ll need to remember that. Good luck!

Animal Testing essays

Animal Testing essays Traditionally, animals have been used to ensure the safety of our consumer products and drugs. Yet around the world, scientists, regulators and animal protectionists work together to develop alternatives to their use. The use of animals in the life sciences dates back to ancient Greece and the earliest medical experiments. To learn about swallowing, physicians cut open into the throat of a living pig. To study the beating heart, they cut open into its chest. For centuries physicians and researchers used animals to enhance their knowledge about how the various organs and systems of the body functioned, as well as to hone their surgical skills. As long as animals have been used in experiments, people have expressed concerns about such research. Questions about the morality, necessity, and scientific validity of animal experiments have arisen since those ancient physicians first began to study bodily functions. Alternatives are methods, which refine existing tests by minimizing a! nimal distress, reduce the number of animals necessary for an experiment or replace whole animal use with vitro or other tests. While vivisection has received more attention and funding, clinical and epidemiological (studying the natural course of disease within human population) studies have had a much more profound impact on human health. In fact, clinical and epidemiological evidence linking smoking to lung cancer was established long before warnings of the dangers of smoking were released to the general public. Because animal experimentation failed to each the same conclusion, warning labels on cigarettes were delayed for years! During this time hundreds of people died from lung cancer because the results of animal experimentation were considered more valid than studies of human patients. Animal based research is the science of the past. There are a number of alternatives available to modern researchers, which are less expensive, more reliable, and ethica...

Business Policy and Strategic Management Research Paper

Business Policy and Strategic Management - Research Paper Example The author of the paper states that growth is the way of life. Almost all organizations plan to expand. This is why expansion strategies are the most popular corporate strategies. Companies aim for sustainable growth. A growing economy, burgeoning markets, customers seeking new ways of need satisfaction, and emerging technologies offer ample opportunities for companies to seek expansion. Apart from competitive strategies, competition could coexist with cooperation. Corporate strategies could take into account the possibility of mutual cooperation with competitors while competing with them at the same time so that the market potential could expand. Cooperative strategies could be of the following types: 1. Mergers 2. Takeovers (or Acquisitions). 3. Joint Ventures & 4. Strategic Alliances.  Merger and takeover (or acquisition) strategies essentially involve the external approach to expansion. Basically two, or occasionally more than two, entities are involved. There is not much diffe rence in the three terms used for such types of strategies and they are frequently used synonymously. But a subtle distinction can be made. While mergers take place when the objectives of the buyer firm and the seller firm are matched to a large extent, takeover or acquisitions usually are based on the strong motivation of the buyer firm to acquire. The takeover is a common way for acquisition and maybe defining as "the attempt (often spring as a surprise) of one firm to acquire ownership or control over another firm against the wishes of the later management (and perhaps some of its stockholders). Joint ventures occur when an independent firm is created by at least two firms. In an era of globalization, joint ventures have proved to be invaluable strategies for companies looking for expansion opportunities globally. Strategic alliances are partnerships between firms' whereby their resources, capabilities, and core competencies are combined to pursue mutual interests to develop, man ufacture or distribute goods or services. Organizations follow the growth paths can be pursued via external expansion and mergers are the most popular measures. In this case (Merger) the business does not create the productive facilities itself, but purchases existing production. A merger is a situation in which, as a result of the mutual agreement two firms decide to bring together their business operations. A merger is distinct from a take over in so far as a takeover involves one firm bidding for another's shares. One firm thereby acquires another. A merger implies that managers through negotiation have reached an agreement acceptable to both sides. Mergers provide a much quicker means to growth than internal expansion. Not only does the firm acquire new capacity, but also it acquires additional consumer demand. Building up this level of consumer demand by internal expansion might have taken a considerable length of time.  

BHP Billitons Vacation Program Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

BHP Billitons Vacation Program - Case Study Example Being a chemical engineer, it has always been my dream desire to associate myself with a company, which adopts highest standards of professionalism and values better performances. BHP Billiton believes in equality in all it does. The Company expresses its dedication towards growing a rich culture, diverse workforce and providing a work environment in which every employee is treated fairly, respected and has the opportunity to contribute to business success - while always being given the opportunities to realize their full potential as individuals. I am sure everybody would love to perform still better if provided such a working environment. I am no exception to this temptation and feel quite excited about the vacation program to secure a head start for my career. The resources sector is a highly growth potential sectors today as the world's demand for resources continues to increase. Therefore if provided an opportunity, I'll try my best to make optimum use of the opportunity by learning the professionalism and skills required to excel in life.

Threat of Lutheranism to the Catholic Church Essay Example for Free

Threat of Lutheranism to the Catholic Church Essay The end of the fifteenth century had left Christendom with a Church in great need of reform. The Church had been greatly weakened by the events of the past few centuries. The fourteenth century’s Great Famine and Black Death had battered the public’s trust in the Church, as had the Papal Schism spanning from 1378-1417. When the ideas of Martin Luther began to spread in the early 1500s, the Church became afraid for its power, its reputation, and its finances. Luther was promising people that they would be saved through their faith alone—what place did that leave for the Church and its teachings? In any other time in human history, Luther’s ideas likely would have been quietly beaten down and buried, but a very unique set of circumstances allowed the ideas of a small-town monk and professor to take on the immense power of the Catholic Church. While others’ ideas could be ignored, the Church was intensely threatened by Luther because his ideas questioned the role and necessity of their already-weakened institution, called for an end to indulgences, endangered social stability, and exposed the failings of the Church by returning to the Bible as the only source of God’s truth. Two hundred years before Luther came onto the Church’s radar, the Catholic Church was enjoying great power and success. The Church leaders wielded considerable influence on all matters in Christendom. Even those who felt discontent with the Church were too afraid to rebel against its order, fearing the loss of their salvation. The despair of the Great Famine and Black Death, however, greatly destabilized the Church’s position. The people of Europe had placed so much faith in the Church, yet what could they think when their priests and monks proved susceptible to the plague, dying in higher numbers than the common people? Should not the Pope, with his power bestowed by God, be able to stop this famine and disease from ravaging the continent? Should God not save His people? The doubts of the people caused the first real murmurings of religious upheaval, made even worse by the Papal Schism. The schism caused people to not only question the power of the Church, but to wonde r who was really in charge and from what source his authority came. The weakness of the Church in the wake of the famine and plague led to the prominence of potential reformers in the late 1300s and early 1400s. John Wycliffe and Jan Hus preached the desire for the Church to return to a humbler form, one bereft of extreme wealth and grandeur. Both men hailed the importance of putting the Vulgate into the vernacular so the common man could understand it. Though they both lived many years before Luther, their teachings caused great anxiety in the Church, and their actions helped to lay the groundwork for the Protestant Reformation. One of the greatest reasons the Church was already feeling so threatened and vulnerable when Luther started preaching was because of the discoveries of Lorenzo Valla. Valla, a student of Petrarch’s humanist schools, had spent time studying the Donation of Constantine, the document from the Emperor Constantine giving the Catholic Church authority over the entire Roman Empire. After examining the document, Valla came to the conclusion that it was a forgery and, thus, completely voided. His essay revealing the forgery was circulated for many years and finally officially published in 1517. The Church, having using the Donation of Constantine for centuries to validate its power over Christendom, flatly rejected Valla’s logic. After the blows of the last century, the delicate Church could not afford for people to start questioning its authority. The combination of the effects of the Great Famine, the Black Death, the teachings of Wycliffe and Hus, and the discovery of Valla left the Church in a very vulnerable position. When Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses up on the door of a Wittenberg Church, the Church leaders were understandably threatened. The last thing they needed were more attacks on their teachings and influence. By challenging the people of Wittenberg to a debate on his theses, Luther made himself even more of a threat because he was forcing the people to think. People who had complacently followed church teachings all their lives were now being told to question the things they had taken for granted. The Church had even more reasons to be threatened by Luther. The availability of the printing press at this time allowed for Luther and his friends to disseminate his teachings throughout all of Germany. Once Luther’s ideas had spread, the Church ran into even more problems with Luther. Luther refused to back down from his ideas, even after Pope Leo X sent a cardinal to reason with him. Despite their frustration, the Church was unable to put Luther to death because of protection from Friedrich the Wise, the ruler of Luther’s district. Friedrich, quite pleased with the attention that is coming to his district, refuses to hand over Luther to church authorities. The Church leaders were always threatened by voices of dissent against them, but could, under normal circumstances, quickly put the dissenter to death for heresy. Luther proved a great threat because Friedrich’s protection allowed him to remain unharmed and able to write and distribute his teachings. While the circumstances leading to Luther’s rise to prominence had already put the Church on high alert, it was also the content of Luther’s teachings that caused them great panic. The cornerstone of Luther’s teachings was that â€Å"whoever has faith will have everything† (Luther 13). He preached that faith in God was the only thing required for salvation. Luther’s teachings stood in stark contrast to those of the Church, which emphasized ceremonies, indulgences, and the seven Sacraments. The followers of the Church had been told that money and good works could get them into heaven, only now to be told that â€Å"if a man were not first a believer and a Christian, all his works would amount to nothing and would be truly wicked and damnable sins† (Luther 39). If people were to believe that salvation were to only be gained through their own personal faith, then what role would the Church play? According to Luther, they no longer needed the Church to administer the Sacraments, to intercede on their behalf, or to use indulgences to free themselves and loved ones from Purgatory. The Church, for so many centuries in a position of political and religious authority, could not stand for these teachings, teachings that devalued them to nothing. While the Church was greatly threatened by the effect of Luther’s ideas on its own power, there was also concern for their effect on social stability. At this time period, politics and religion were intricately linked. Political leaders and church leaders all came from wealthy families. High-ranking parents were able to pay church leaders to secure their sons a role such as bishop or pope. People who were born peasants were peasants for their whole lives. The stability of this system was deeply rooted in religion. Traditional church teachings were needed because they â€Å"legitimized social hierarchies and political authority† (Diefendorf 4). To avoid discontent among the peasants and to retain their positions, Church leaders taught that people were born into the roles that God desired for them. Peasants were meant to be peasants, and kings were meant to be kings. People were taught that trying to change their station in life was akin to rebelling against God and would surely warrant eternal damnation. When Luther began teaching the idea of â€Å"justification by faith alone,† it called this system into question. How would social mobility forfeit salvation if faith was all that was required to be saved? The teachings of Luther alarmed all political leaders, not just those affiliated with the Church, because of the fear that these new ideas would disrupt the social order and their place within it. Despite the panic of the religious and political leaders, Luther’s ideas continued to spread throughout Christendom, gaining followers and driving people away from the Church. The Church would have had nothing to fear from Luther if they had not strayed so far from the Bible and its teachings. They viewed Luther as the threat, but his ideas were largely based in their own wrongdoing. The Church had become arrogant, greedy, and manipulative. In their desire to build grand basilicas and seize political power, they became consumed by the â€Å"completely depraved, hopeless, and notorious godlessness† that Luther detected (Luther 79). They were using fear to motivate their followers and had sunk so low as to sell salvation. I think the biggest reason the Church was so fearful of Luther’s teachings was because they sensed how much truth they contained, and they knew that the common people sensed it too. The Church had chosen to ignore its fallibility and had started writing rules in God’s place. They were out of line, and Luther drew attention to it. I think the Church knew how much they had strayed, knew they had wandered down a dark and evil path, but felt they were too far-gone. The Church was a powerful entity, and its leaders knew they had to keep being viewed that way. They could not be seen as weak or indecisive, or the common people would seize on that failing. When Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses onto a Wittenberg church door in 1517, no one could have predicted the enormous effect his ideas would have. His ideas were thrown into the world at the exact right time and were heard by the exact right ears. His idea of â€Å"justification of faith alone† was enough to rouse a whole continent, enough to provoke battles and bloodshed in town after town. Despite being a single man, his ideas were enough to draw the interest, and ire, of the Pope and the Emperor. The Church was so intensely threatened by Luther because of their already-weakened state, his promise of salvation through faith alone, his insistence on the end of indulgences, his danger to social stability, and their own possible realizations that there was truth in his words. The truth of it is, though, that the Church was threatened not by a common monk in a small town, but by the strength of an idea that was strong enough to move millions.