Can you identify each of the following characters? Can you explain why each is important to the development of the story?

Allie D.B. Jane Gallager Carl Luce

Mr. Antolini Mr. Spencer Ward Stratlater

Robert Ackley Sally Hayes Phoebe

Can you list key scenes in order? You need to be able to keep track of time sequence.

Consider Holden’s academic career. Why do you think he has so much trouble in school?

Whay are children important to Holden?

What is Holden’s greatest complaint about most people in society? Can you give examples?

When and where does Holden tell the story? Why is this information important?

Can you explain the significance of the title?

Why does Holden hate movies?

In what ways is the book an example of a "search for self" book?

In what ways is the book an example of a book that pits Conformity versus Rebellion?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Holden’s feelings and actions are those of a very troubled person who deserves our sympathy more often than our praise; A close look at Holden reveals that he possesses very strong moral, compassionate instincts. Is he simply a good but confused person?

Because Holden is a troubled young man, his language is frequently profane, demonstrating his negativism. While not to minimize the inappropriateness of such language, it should be pointed out that Holden’s constant use of "goddam" is always spelled with a lower-case "g" and is clearly not intended to take the Lord’s name in vain. Secondly, Holden does seem to limit his use of obscenities to those which are trite and essentially meaningless. There are certain expressions which Holden himself abhors; for instance, he desperately attempts to obliterate the word "F___ you" from place where youngsters may view them. He loathes the expression for its distortion of the sex act into something evil and for its potential to corrupt the young mind.

Holden admits to being a "terrific liar." Holden’s motive for lying is usually one of the following: the need to escape boredom, to create excitement (when he tells the blonde at the bar that Cary Grant has just passed), or to please others and/or prevent hurt feelings (when he tells a classmate’s mother that her son is too modest about his achievements; when he tells his history teacher that his lectures were "very interesting"). Holden’s fabrications only serve to intensify his alienation from others. And, while the stories he spins are often quite amusing, the humor is actually pathetic, reminding us of his tragic isolation.

Holden states that he is "sort of an atheist." The use of the words sort of indicates the uncertainty of his conviction. Furthermore, it is contradicted elsewhere in the novel, especially in his references to his deceased brother: "I know it’s only his body and all that’s in the cemetary, and his soul’s in Heaven and all…"

Several scenes point to the fact that what Holden actually rejects is not religion but religious hypocrisy – which, in his confusion and naivety, he fails to distinguish from the former. He is repelled by the gaudy Radio City Christmas Show. He shows similar disdain for two men who curse about the Christmas tree they are unloading from a truck. It seems to be society’s commercialized version of Christmas and religion which Holden detests, and it is this disgust that has brought him to his rather naïve conclusion that he is an atheist.

Holden states that he "likes Jesus and all…" In sum, Holden embodies some Christian values: compassion, sincerity, simplicity, and a love of childhood innocence.

There’s a connection between Holden’s excessive drinking and his feelings of alienation. He seems to drink to escape his loneliness. Holden’s drinking does not make him glamorous or mature or worthy of respect – hence, he gains no friends from it. Nor does getting drunk help him forget about his problems. On the contrary, it is at his height of intoxication that Holden plunges to an abyss of despair, stumbling through Central Park at night, fearing that he will die alone in the cold.

Holden’s attitudes towards sexuality also support the view that he is confused but moral. On one hand, Holden admits to having sexual desires. He even submits, to some degree, to society’s demand that young men be sexually adroit: he thinks that a prostitute might provide him with the "practice" he needs for marriage, and it is with some diffidence that he admits to being a virgin. But underlying these feelings – and indeed, governing them, it seems – is a strong sense of what is right and what is wrong. Holden is a virgin, despite frequent opportunities; when girls request that he "stop," he stops. Furthermore, Holden clearly believes that sex without love is improper. Consider Holden’s behavior with the prostitute: first, his motives for having the prostitute sent to his room; and second, the reason that he pays and sends her away before any services are rendered. Holden’s reason for accepting the sly elevator boy’s proposition is, once again, that he is desperately onesome; this is but another vain attempt to seek out human companionship. His desperation has also muddled his capacity to reason: "When you’re feeling very depressed, you can’t even think." Holden’s motive for retreat in this scene is notably linked to these same principles, for he has stepped over his moral boundaries. Holden feels nothing but despair at the sight of Sunny’s pulling off her dress. Ironically, his brief encouter with her only intensifies his depressed state.

Thanks to Helen Frangedis, Paul VI High School, Fairfax, VA

Holden Caulfield is a very real character, an authentic portrayal of an idealistic, sensitive American adolescent who is suffering silently with guilt and depression over the death of a younger brother, who fears his own death, who despairs about the future, who worries about his own sexuality, and who longs for communion, love, truth and beauty: yet he sees corruption and mendacity everywhere.

Holden has not faced his problems, and his behavior is both immature and destructive. His engaging a prostitute and being too scared to go through with the act, hanging out at bars trying to get served, and spending too much money are all evidence of a desperate yet feeble attempt to assert his masculinity and his maturity. Is he simply too unsophisticated and too young to play this role?

On the one hand Holden’s cursing shows his underlying insecurity and his attempt to act tough when in reality he is not. On the other hand Holden demonstrates a measure of innocence in his desire to protect little children from exposure to corruption. While watching his little sister go round and round on the carousel he admits that, "The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the gold ring, you have to let them do it, and not say anything. If they fall off, they fall off, but it’s bad if you say anything to them." After perceiving this truth, that children cannot be shielded, Holden is on his way to recovery. That there is this epiphany and the suggestion of redemption at the end of the book is a source of hope in the book. Even though the adult world doesn’t hear Holden’s cry for help and gives him pat answers no one believes will work, one gets the feeling at the end of the book that Holden is going to return to the world.

Thanks to Leta Marks, Bloomfield High School, Bloomfield, CT

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Catcher is, in essence, a Jeremiad, an extended complaint to God about the state of the world. It is specifically religious in purport, something that makes much sense given Salinger’s involvement with mysticism when he wrote the book. The book is an attempt to invoke the presence of God in a godless world. Holden’s desire to find evidence of God somewhere in the world is precipitated by the death of his brother, which seems to be evidence for the non-existence of God. Consider the following:

1. The book is structured in 26 chapters, almost certainly in accordance with a Jewish mystical practice related to the numerical value of the name of God. In ancient Hebrew, all letters have numerical values. There was no separate set of counting characters. Upon these values a science of numerology developed in the middle ages. The Hebrew "tetragrammatron," the name of God, transliterated as YHWH, has a total value of 26.
2. The book might be addressed to God. You get this if you read the last line of chapter 25 across the grain: "God, I wish you were here." If you are inclined to numerological reading, you could think about the fact that this wish for God’s presence is articulated just before the name of God is symbolically completed by the addition of the 26^th and final chapter, a chapter in which Holden tells us that he was somehow healed of his affliction.

Thanks to Ira Abrams, Seton Academy, South Holland, IL

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

 

TCITR characters are listed here approximately in the order in which they are mentioned in the novel.

Holden Caulfield: narrator and main character

Mr. and Mrs. Caulfield: Holden's parents

D. B. Caulfield: Holden's older brother
He used to be a "real writer" but now prostitutes himself in Hollywood. He wrote a book of short stories called The Secret Goldfish.

Mr. Haas: headmaster at Elkton Hills
He was really nice to visiting parents who weren't "funny-looking".

Mr. Spencer: Holden's history teacher at Pencey
In Chapter 2, Holden goes to his house for a goodbye visit. Mr. Spencer has the flu. He reads Holden's abominable essay answer about the Egyptians aloud. He questions Holden about his goals in life and his feelings about getting expelled from Pencey.

Mrs. Spencer: Mr. Spencer's wife
Just like Mr. Spencer, she is old. She can't hear very well.

Dr. Thurmer: headmaster at Pencey
He gave Holden the "Life is a game" speech.

Robert Tichener and Paul Campbell: two of Holden's friends at Pencey
These are the guys with whom Holden tossed a football around--until it got dark and Mr. Zambesi told the boys to go inside.

Mr. Zambesi: Biology teacher at Pencey

Ossenburger: alumnus who donated money to Pencey
The Ossenburger Memorial Wing (where Holden lived) was named after him. He made a lot of money with a chain of funeral parlors. On the morning after the year's first football game, he gave a long speech in which he tried to be funny and inspirational.

Edgar Marsalla: Holden's classmate at Pencey
He farted in the middle Ossenburger's chapel speech. He was sitting in the row in front of Holden.

Ward Stradlater: Holden's roommate at Pencey

Robert Ackley: Holden's dirty next door dormmate at Pencey

Herb Gale: Robert Ackley's roommate (Ely?)
Holden sleeps in his bed after the fight with Stradlater.

Mr. Hartzell: English teacher at Pencey
According to Stradlater, Mr. Hartzell regards Holden as a "hot-shot" in English.

Howie Coyle: Holden's classmate at Pencey
He is a terrific basketball player.

Fitzgerald: ex-date of Stradlater
Stradlater refers to her as "that pig".

Phyllis Smith: babe who was almost Stradlater's date

Bud Thaw: boyfriend of Jane Gallagher's roommate

Jane Gallagher: Holden's great love and almost girlfriend
She and Holden used to play checkers together and held hands a lot.

Mr. Cadahy: Jane Gallagher's "booze hound" step father
He was a "skinny guy with hairy legs". A supposed playwright, he only drank, listened to mystery shows, and walked around at home with no clothes on. Holden thinks he abused Jane.

Mal Brossard: "bridge fiend" and friend at Pencey
He is on the wrestling team. He goes to Agerstown with Holden and Ackley for burgers and pinball.

Allie Caulfield: Holden's nice and brilliant red-headed brother

Ed Banky: basketball coach at Pencey
He always lends his car to Stradlater for dates.

Leahy and Hoffman: dormmates at Pencey
They had an empty box of Kolynos toothpaste outside their door. Holden kicks it while contemplating visiting Mal Brossard. He then decides to leave Pencey and stay in a cheap New York hotel until his parents get over the initial shock of his expulsion.

Frederick Woodruff: classmate who buys Holden's typewriter
Holden woke him up right before leaving Pencey. Holden got $20 dollars for the typewriter, which originally cost $90.

Mrs. Schmidt: 65-year old wife of Rudolf
After their fight, Holden tries to insult Stradlater by telling him to go "give her the time".

Rudolf Schmidt: janitor in Holden's dorm at Pencey
Holden uses the name as an alias while conversing with Mrs. Morrow on the train.

Holden's grandmother: generous with money, senile
She sends Holden birthday money "about four times a year". Holden tells Mrs. Morrow that his grandmother is taking him to South America for the summer, and that's why he won't be able to visit Ernie in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Mrs. Morrow: sexy, 40 to 45-year old mother of Pencey classmate Ernest
She gets on the train at Trenton, leaves her bags in the aisle and sits next to Holden. She's wearing orchids. She notices the Pencey sticker on Holden's luggage and starts a conversation with him. After some telling her some lies about how great Ernest is, Holden says he's going home early because he has to have a brain tumor removed.

Ernest Morrow: Holden's 'ass-slapping with a towel' dormmate at Pencey
He's is a terrible guy who's "about as sensitive as a goddam toilet seat". Holden gives glowing reviews of him to Mrs. Morrow.

Henry Fencer: elected class president in the story Holden invents for Mrs. Morrow

Phoebe Caulfield: Holden's smart and sweet kid sister

Sally Hayes: Holden's good looking ex
Ackley always picks up her picture and puts it back in the wrong place. Holden thinks about calling her when he arrives at Penn Station.

Mrs. Hayes Sally Hayes' mother
She told Sally that Holden was "wild" and "had no direction". Holden won't call Sally from Penn Station because Mrs. Hayes knows Holden's mother.

Carl Luce: classmate at Whooton School
Holden's intellectual "advisor" who lectured to fellow students in his room about sex and "perversities". He always knew which celebrities were homosexual. Holden thinks of calling him from Penn Station but decides not to because he "didn't like him much." Later, Holden meets him for a drink, and they have a short conversation.

first cabbie: "wise guy"
He thinks Holden is joking about the ducks in Central Park. Holden says that he's "travelling incognito".

bellboy at the Edmont: 65-year old bald guy
He combs his hair over to hide his baldness. He's "even more depressing than the room".

assorted "perverts" at the Edmont:
"Distinguished-looking" older man puts on women's clothing and postures in front of a mirror. Laughing man and woman squirt water from mouth to mouth.

Anne Louise Sherman: a girl Holden "horsed around with" in the past
She was a "terrible phony". She and Holden necked "the whole night".

Faith Cavendish: former burlesque stripper
She resides at the Stanford Arms Hotel on 65th and Broadway. She's supposed to be an easy date. Holden calls her, but she won't meet him because she says it's too late and her roommate's sick. She suggests meeting tomorrow, but Holden backs out.

Eddie Birdsell: Princeton guy who told Holden about Faith Cavendish

Marty, Laverne, Bernice Krebs: girls in the Lavender Room
These are moronic, giggling, movie-star-obsessed, out of towners. Bernice is dumb, blonde, relatively good looking, and a great dancer. The other two are ugly and Holden finds them uninteresting.

Horowitz: New York taxidriver

Lillian Simmons: D.B.'s ex-girlfriend with very "big knockers"
Holden runs into her and her date at the Wicker Bar.

Commander Blop: Lillian's date in the Wicker Bar

Two nuns: Holden meets them at a diner

Ernie: owner of and piano player at the Wicker Bar

Sunny: spooky prostitute

Jim Steele: alias Holden uses with Sunny & the three Lavender Room girls

Maurice: Sunny's pimp and the elevator guy at the Edmont
He swindles Holden out of $5 and beats him up.

Bobby Fallon: former neighbor in Maine
Holden went with him to the lake to shoot BB guns and didn't let Allie come along.

Arthur Childs: classmate at Whooton
Quaker boy with whom Holden debated Bible issues, especially the Disciples.

Dick Slagle: roommate at Elkton Hills
He had cheap suitcases and called all of Holden's things "bourgeois".

Estelle Fletcher: singer of "Little Shirley Beans"
Holden bought the record for Phoebe but broke it before he could give it to her. Phoebe kept the pieces.

little boy walking in street: sang "If a body catch a body..."
Seeing and hearing him made Holden feel less depressed.

Louis Shaney: classmate at Whooton School
The first boy Holden met at Whooton. He tried to find out if Holden was Catholic while they were chatting about tennis.

little girl in park: same age as Phoebe
Holden asked her if she knew Phoebe and helped her tighten her skates.

Gertrude Levine: classmate in elementary school
She was usually Holden's partner when the class visited the Museum of Natural History.

Harris Macklin: roommate for two months at Elkton Hills
This raspy-voiced guy was a bore, but he was also a great whistler.

The Lunts: Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, famous actors
Holden took Sally Hayes to a play starring the Lunts.

George: Andover "jerk"--acquaintance of Sally's
Ivy League guy with whom Sally schmoozed during the play's intermission.

James Castle: classmate at Elkton Hills
Committed suicide by jumping out a dorm window.

Mr. Antolini: Holden's heavy-drinking ex-English teacher at Elkton Hills
Holden goes to Mr. Antolini's apartment to spend the night. Holden wakes up in the middle of the night to find Mr. Antolini petting him on the head. Holden finds it too "perverty" and quickly leaves.

Lillian Antolini: Mr. Antolini's wife
She's a lot older than Mr. Antolini. They "kiss a lot in public".