"The Catcher in the Rye" Section 4

 

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

After Holden wanting to leave, he decides to stay and spend time with Phoebe. “She ran and bought her ticket and got back on the goddam carrousel just in time. Then she walked all the way around it till she got her own horse back,” (Salinger, 212). This quote holds symbolism to Holden’s direction in life through the novel. Holden, at this moment, watching his sister on the carrousel, has gotten back on the right track in life. He has stopped falling off the cliff of giving up completely. He walked all around New York to begin to realize that the world is not simple and naïve as he views it. Holden continued to go in circles in his life not knowing his purpose and trying not to conform to society. He does not need to conform to society to keep from falling off the cliff. He needs to learn his own way and reevaluate his simple view of the world. Holden needs to get on his “own horse back” by not having to conform to society, but by learning to accept that society is full “phonies” and to not get too caught up in it.

"The Catcher in the Rye" Section 4

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

In chapter 24, Holden goes to one of his old teacher’s, Mr. Antolini for help. Holden is not sure where to go in his life. He is afraid to see his parents for fear of their reaction to his failures. Holden has an innocent and unrealistic view of what he wants to do with his life. Throughout the book, Holden has been walking in search of his purpose in life, and he cannot seem to find it. He is falling out of touch with the world and himself and he does not know it. Mr. Antolini’s comment captures the direction Holden is headed for,“This fall I think you’re riding for—it’s a special kind of fall, a horrible kind. The man falling isn’t permitted to feel or hear himself hit bottom. He just keeps falling and falling,” (Salinger, 187). Recognizing that Holden is falling, Mr. Antolini acts as Holden’s “catcher in the rye.” Holden doesn’t know where he is going in the world and needs someone catch him. This advice helps Holden realize to look for something different in the world so he will not give up in the future. Holden has an intelligent and observant mind, he just needs to get started in the right direction to not fall from the “cliff.”

"The Catcher in the Rye" Section 4

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

In chapter 22, Holden finally gets to see his sister Phoebe. We truly get to know Holden in depth through his conversation and relationship with his younger sister. The fact that he is able to relate to her most reveals his innocence and youthful spirit. Moreover, Phoebe is able to help Holden evaluate how he sees the world. The world is far from perfect, and it will always be filled with “phonies.” Holden focuses only on the negative side of things instead of finding something he wants to be or something he likes. He responds through this excerpt, “I’m standing on the edge of some cliff—I mean if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That’s all I’d do all day. I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all,” (Salinger, 173). This reveals Holden’s fantasy and the disconnect he has with the world around him. He does not want to deal with the hardships and the imperfect ways of the world because they are far from simple. Phoebe helps him come to the realization that the only way to live in this world is to accept the fact that the world is not simple.

"The Catcher in the Rye" Section 4

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

When entering his house, Holden is extremely careful when going by his parent’s bedroom. Ironically, they are not even home. By talking with Phoebe, we find out that Holden’s dad can be tough on him when it comes to school. For example, “ ‘Daddy’ll kill you,’ … ‘No, he won’t. the worst he’ll do, he’ll give me hell again, and then he’ll send me to that goddam military school. That’s all he’ll do to me,’ ” (Salinger, 166). As children, we do not always realize the reasons our parents are tough on us. Holden’s dad obviously pushes him to succeed and do well in school. Phoebe, as a young child, does not yet recognize the motive of her father for being tough or “killing” Holden. Although Holden has a youthful and childlike spirit, he recognizes that his dad getting mad at him will not be the end of the world. Holden’s dad is tough on him because of his love for Holden. He wants Holden to be happy and live a good life. Holden’s dad’s possible reaction might be the result of desperation of trying to get his son on the right track in life, so he does not live a purposeless and unhappy life.

"The Catcher in the Rye" section 2

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

In section two of the novel, Holden travels around New York throughout the night. The audience can tell Holden’s main inner struggle is loneliness. He continually thinks about Jane, who is the closest friend he has had and the girl he loves. Through criticizing the world, he creates a sense of separation from everything else. For example, “I was surrounded by jerks… I listened to their conversation for a while, because I didn’t have anything else to do,” (Salinger, 85). Holden sees everyone else as the issue and refuses to acknowledge his loneliness. He also decided to walk forty-one blocks back to the hotel by himself in New York. Walking in the city alone contributes to the lonely tone developing in the novel. Moreover, Holden paid for a prostitute to come into his room that he did not have sex with. Holden continually thinks about and tries to interact with women, but it never seems to work out for him. His continual thoughts about Jane reveal that he is lonely without her. Holden trying to dance with the women at the hotel club and ordering a prostitute contribute to his loneliness and his desire to have someone in his life.

"The Catcher in the Rye" Section 2

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Holden is very critical of the world around him. He often sees the world as having the problem, yet he never looks to himself. Despite his claims of being humble and not self-centered, Holden shows times where he is self-centered and moronic like the world around him. Because he has some gray hair, Holden thinks he appears older than his age. Therefore, he often goes into clubs and tries to order alcohol. For example, “I ordered a Scotch and soda, and told him not to mix it… ‘ I’m sorry, sir,’ he said, ‘but do you have some verification of your age? Your driver’s license perhaps?’ ” (Salinger, 69). He continually compliments himself on his ability to fool people with his age, yet it backfires here. Moreover, he continually calls himself “suave.” When he tries to dance with three older women in the club, they laugh and hardly pay any attention to him. When he danced with the blonde women, she did not even engage in a conversation Holden was desperately trying to make.

"The Catcher in the Rye" Section 2

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

At old Ernies, Holden reveals his opinion of himself and various traits he despises in other people. One trait he despises people who are self-centered and phony by trying to make it seem like they are not self-centered. For example, “He had a big damn mirror in front of the piano, with this big spotlight on him, so that everybody could watch his face while he played… old Ernie turned around on his stool and gave this very phony, humble bow,” (Salinger, 84). Holden also despises the typical moronic person, which happens to be the majority of people. For example, “You should’ve heard the crowd, though, when he was finished. You would’ve puked… They were exactly the same morons that laugh like heynas in the movies at stuff that isn’t funny,” (Salinger, 84). From this excerpt, Holden holds a high opinion of himself. Despite being kicked out of school for poor grades, he believes he is very smart in terms of common sense. He feels that he is real and truly humble, not self-centered like everyone else in the world. For example, “If I were a piano player or an actor or something and all those dopes thought I was terrific, I’d hate it. I wouldn’t even want them to clap for me,” (Salinger, 84). Holden tends to separate himself completely from everyone else, when he definitely shows some characteristics of being self-centered.

"The Catcher in the Rye" Section 2

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Characterization

In chapter eleven, Holden Caufield thinks about Jane Gallagher and all the time they spent together. His stream of consciousness about her characterizes who she is and helps the audience know why Holden cares for her. He characterizes her through stories of how they met and his memories of their interactions together. For example, “I remember this one afternoon. It was the only time old Jane and I ever got close to necking, even… Then she really started to cray, and the next thing I knew, I was kissing her all over—anywhere—her eyes, her nose… She sort of wouldn’t let me get to her mouth,” (Salinger, 78-79). Holden and Jane were obviously very good friends who cared deeply for each other. This excerpt also characterizes Jane as modest and different from how most girls would act. Being less physical with Holden actually attracted him more than silly girls who just want to get physical. Holden reveals through his own actions how much he cares about and trusts Jane. For example, “She was the only one, outside my family, that I ever showed Allie’s baseball mitt to, with all the poems written on it,” (Salinger, 77). Through his descriptions of being with other girls seeming meaningless, we can easily decipher that Jane is his ultimate love and friend. His action of showing Jane one of his most treasured possessions speaks volumes towards his feelings about her.