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The Catcher in The Rye

Introduction of the catcher in the rye, summary of the catcher in the rye, major themes in the catcher in the rye, major characters in the catcher in the rye, writing style of the catcher in the rye, analysis of literary devices in the catcher in the rye  , related posts:, post navigation.

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The Catcher in the Rye is a coming-of-age novel (or apprenticeship novel). Such a novel centers on the period in which a young person is struggling to grow up and attempts to adapt to life around him. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) pioneered this type of novel in Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre ( Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship). An apprenticeship novel can also be identified by its German name, bildungsroman , meaning novel of educational development . The Catcher in the Rye was first published in Boston on July 16, 1951, by Little, Brown and Company.

The Catcher in the Rye begins in 1950 in California, where the main character, Holden Caulfield, is undergoing psychiatric therapy. It then flashes back to a day in December 1949, when Holden Caulfield leaves Pencey Prep in the fictional town of Agerstown in southeastern Pennsylvania after flunking out. Pencey Prep is a boarding school for boys of well-to-do parents. Caulfield leaves Pencey Prep late at night on a train bound for New York City, via Trenton, N.J. In New York, Caulfield checks into a hotel and spends several days going to nightclubs and roaming the streets before going home (an apartment in a Manhattan building). Salinger may have based Pencey Prep on Valley Forge Military Academy in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in 1936. 

Protagonist : Holden Caulfield Antagonist : Holden's Internal Conflicts

Point of View and Style

Salinger writes the novel in first-person point of view from the perspective of the main character, Holden Caulfield. When presenting the narration and dialogue, the author convincingly mimics the language of a bright teenager struggling to grow up. The style, therefore, is conversational, deliberately intended to contain numerous colloquialisms and clichés. In this respect, the style in The Catcher in the Rye differs markedly from the style in such first-person narratives as Moby Dick and David Copperfield . The prose in those two novels is more formal and more grammatically precise, more elegant and decorous. In telling his story, Holden is more akin Huckleberry Finn , who tells his tale in the language of a boy who hates school, than to Melville's Ishmael or Dickens's Copperfield. Holden also shares a characteristic with many first-person narrators of Edgar Allan Poe's short stories: unreliability. Because of his immaturity and his reluctance to see himself as others see him, Holden slants his narrative so that other characters appear more reprehensible than he. Poe's narrators, such as Montresor in the short story " The Cask of Amontillado ," are unreliable for another reason: They are deranged, maniacal, moonstruck. 

Bookend Structure 

The story begins and ends at a California treatment center in which seventeen-year-old Holden Caulfield is undergoing therapy for his mental problems. In the first paragraph of Chapter 1—consisting of approximately three hundred fifty words—Holden announces that he is going to tell the reader about the "madman stuff" that happened to him in December of the previous year before he "got pretty run-down." In the second paragraph, he begins telling the story by flashing back to a Saturday in that previous December. He continues his tale until the end of Chapter 25. In Chapter 26, consisting of three short paragraphs, Holden flashes back to the present, when he is undergoing treatment at the California center. Thus, the plot structure resembles a row of books kept in place by bookends on the left and right. The bookends are the beginning and end of the novel, when Holden is undergoing treatment; the books are the chapters that tell his story. Most of the episodes in the novel—such as Holden's encounters with teachers, fellow students, nuns, a prostitute and a pimp, and his sister Phoebe—are self-contained stories, in a manner of speaking, with their own expositions and climaxes.  .

Growing Up Is Hard to Do : In terms of psychological and emotional development, Holden Caulfield seems stuck in adolescence, unable to advance. He envies other teenagers and young adults who have less trouble adjusting than he does. But to protect his ego and preserve his self-esteem (which is already low), he refuses to acknowledge his shortcomings and face himself. Rather, he continually harps on the shortcomings of others. He thinks the outer world is at fault for his problems, not his own inner world. Holden's refusal to confront his weaknesses makes it difficult for him to mature and grow emotionally.  Loneliness and Alienation : Holden has been unable to make any real friends or confidants, save for his little sister, Phoebe, and Jane Gallagher, whom he befriended in childhood. Consequently, he feels lonely and depressed. It is his isolation and depression—along with his failure to face his shortcomings (Theme 1)—that bring about his emotional breakdown.  Escape : Unable to solve his problems, Holden continually escapes from them. He escapes school by flunking out. He escapes the company of others by arguing with them or insulting them. He even leaves school four days ahead of schedule to have a few days on his own in New York City. There, he asks Sally Hayes to escape with him to Vermont or Massachusetts. He wants her to camp out with him and leave the world behind. When she refuses, he insults her and she walks out on him. Lack of Commitment : Holden aimlessly drifts from school to school and refuses to commit himself to definite goals for the future. His father was a Roman Catholic but fell away from his religion. D.B. was a writer of promise but abandoned serious writing to produce schlock for big bucks in Hollywood.  The Search for Identity : In his effort to "find himself," Holden buys a red hunting hat. Wearing it makes him unique. No one else around him has such a hat. Therefore, by wearing the hat, he becomes an individual, sui generis.  Abandonment : Holden may feel abandoned for the following reasons: (1) Time and again, his parents send him to a boarding school. (2) His brother D.B. lives on the West Coast, nearly 3,000 miles away. (3) His brother Allie died. (4) His childhood crush, Jane Gallagher, has decided to date Ward Stadlater, a Pencey Prep ladies' man. (5) His peers continually reject him because of his abrasive manner.  Rebellion : Holden has perfected the art of rebellion—against his school, his peers, his parents, and society in general.  Deception : Holden sees others as phonies because he thinks they pretend to be what they are not. However, Holden himself sometimes pretends to be what he is not. He also lies frequently about his age and his identity in order to overcome adverse circumstances. He also tells Mrs. Morrow, a train passenger with whom he converses, that he has a brain tumor. Hope : There seems to be a glimmer of hope for Holden. He reads good literature, including works by Ring Lardner, Thomas Hardy, and W. Somerset Maugham. He also loves his parents, in spite of any faults they may have, noting on the first page of the novel that "They're nice and all." In addition, although he too often generalizes about people—calling many of them phonies even though he knows little about them—he does seem to recognize the importance of sincerity, candor, and modesty. 

Most of the episodes in the novel—such as Holden's encounters with teachers, fellow students, a prostitute and a pimp, and his sister Phoebe—are little stories in themselves, with their own expositions and climaxes. However, the climax of the entire novel appears to occur in Chapter 25, when Holden tells Phoebe that he has decided to return home instead of going out west to work on a ranch. .

While walking on a New York street, Holden hears a boy singing the first two lines of a poem by Robert Burns: "If a body meet a body, / Comin' thro' the rye." However, either the boy is singing it wrong or Holden hears it wrong, for Holden later tells the reader that the boy is singing "If a body catch a body." At any rate, Holden tells his sister Phoebe that he would like to become a catcher in the rye. Here is what he envisions: Children are playing in a field of rye near a cliff. Posting himself at the perimeter of the rye field, Holden saves children from falling over the edge of the cliff. It may be that, symbolically, he would be saving children from running headlong into the big bad world of grownups, as he did. Following is the complete poem by Robert Burns

If a body meet a body, Comin' thro' the rye, If a body kiss a body, Need a body cry? Every lassie has her laddie, Nane, they say, ha'e I; Yet a' the lads they smile on me, Comin' thro' the rye.

If a body meet a body, Comin' frae the town, If a body greet a body, Need a body frown? Every lassie has her laddie, Nane, they say, ha'e I; Yet a' the lads they smile on me, Comin' thro' the rye.

Amang the train there is a swain, I dearly love mysel' But what's his name, or where's his hame, I dinna choose to tell. Every lassie has her laddie, Nane, they say, ha'e I; Yet a' the lads they smile on me, Comin' thro' the rye.

Holden continually characterizes people around him as phonies. For example, in Chapter 2, he says, "One of the biggest reasons I left Elkton Hills was because I was surrounded by phonies." Oddly, though, Holden himself repeatedly does what phonies do: deceive people. "I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life," he admits to the reader. Nevertheless, he doesn't seem to deserve being called a phony. Here's why: Generally, Holden does not lie to impress people; rather, he lies (or otherwise deceives people) to protect his ego or his identity, to get a drink in a bar, to avoid confrontations, to make an excuse to leave, or to play a joke. The true phony, on the other hand, uses deceit to impress people. Of course, Holden is not averse to telling a whopper, which he does after Mrs. Morrow asks him (on the train ride to New York) why he is going home on a Saturday, four days earlier than the scheduled Wednesday dismissal. Holden answers, "I have to have this operation. . . .It isn't very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain." 

Those Four-Letter Words 

Because The Catcher in the Rye contains numerous profanities, it was controversial when it was published and remains controversial today. Parents frequently oppose its inclusion in high-school curriculums. Why did author Salinger give Holden Caulfield such an offensive tongue? Apparently to show that Holden is trying to sound grown-up in front of his peers—and the reader. Holden mistakenly believes that uttering profanities makes him seem worldly-wise and mature. However, his swearing has the opposite effect, revealing him as a confused adolescent who still has a lot of growing up to do. Thus, Salinger writes profanities into the story to serve a literary purpose. Not all writers are like Salinger in this respect. For example, many Hollywood scriptwriters insert profanities into dialogue solely to obtain an adults-only rating, such as "R," to enhance box-office appeal; the swearing is gratuitous.  .

Because the narrator of The Catcher in the Rye is a teenager who tells his story in a conversational style, most figures of speech in the novel are clichés, such as strictly for the birds , frozen to death , shoot the bull , for crying out loud , gives me a royal pain , hated his guts , booze hound , sharp as a tack , slept like a rock , and tossed his cookies . Here and there, however, are other types of figures of speech. Among them are the following: 

Anaphora and Metaphor  

It rained on his lousy tombstone, and it rained on the grass on his stomach. It rained all over the place.  Anaphora occurs with the repetition of it rained at the beginning of clauses. The metaphor compares the grave to a stomach. 

Or you'd just passed by one of those puddles in the street with gasoline rainbows in them.  The metaphor compares the image in the puddle to a rainbow in the sky. 

Alliteration

c razy c annon f resh-air f iend We can s moke till they s tart s creaming at us

Irony and Hyperbole

It's really ironical, because I'm six foot two and a half and I have gray hair. I really do. The one side of my head—the right side—is full of millions of gray hairs. I've had them ever since I was a kid. And yet I still act sometimes like I was only about twelve  Holden himself explains the irony here. The hyperbole is "millions of gray hairs."

Dramatic Irony

Dramatic irony is a dominating figure of speech in the novel. Although Holden acknowledges that he has faults and weaknesses, he fails to realize how immature and maladjusted he is. However, the careful reader is aware of his immaturity throughout the novel.  . ..

Beowulf : Medieval epic poem written in Old English. For further information, see the Beowulf Study Guide on this site. Biltmore : World-famous luxury hotel between 43rd and 44th Streets in New York. In 1942, the Biltmore hosted a meeting of Jewish leaders in which David Ben-Gurion announced a resolution supporting the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine. Ben-Gurion (1886-1973) later became the first prime minister and first defense minister of Israel after it was established in 1948. The Biltmore Hotel was converted into the Bank of America Plaza Building, beginning in 1981.  Bourgeois : As a noun, member of the middle class; as an adjective, having the qualities or values of a member of the middle class. The word is often used to label a person, place, or thing as ordinary, commonplace, or inferior. Example from the novel: He was always saying snotty things about them, my suitcases, for instance. He kept saying they were too new and bourgeois .  Chiffonier (or Chiffonnier) : Chest of drawers or bureau, usually with a mirror. Colored : Term used in the 1950's to describe an Afro-American or black . Example from the novel: Ernie's a big fat colored guy that plays the piano. The terms Afro-American and black did not gain currency in America until the late 1960's.  David Copperfield : Great coming-of-age novel written by Charles Dickens (1812-1870). Dickens based the book in part on the difficult early years of his own life. For further information, see the David Copperfield Study Guide on this site. Dope Fiend : Drug addict.  El Morocco : World-famous nightclub on East 54th Street, between Second and Third Avenues. Its main room was decorated in a zebra-stripe pattern. Galoshes : Rubber overshoes or boots with a warm lining. Gladstone Bag : Hinged traveling bag or suitcase that opens flat to reveal two compartments. Grippe : Widely used term for flu, or influenza. Some Americans of the 1950's would call in sick by saying, "I have the grippe" rather than "I have the flu." Hamlet : Shakespeare play that Holden Caulfield, his brother D.B., and his sister Phoebe saw in 1948. For complete information on the play, see the Hamlet Study Guide on this site. Hound's-Tooth Jacket : Jacket printed or woven with a pattern of irregular, jagged checks.  I Know My Love : This Broadway play, by S.N. Behrman (1893-1973), opened on November 2, 1949, and closed on June 3, 1950. It is the play that Holden Caulfield attends with Sally Hayes. It starred the popular husband-wife acting team of Alfred Lunt and Lynne Fontanne.  Jitterbug : In the 1940's and 1950's, a lively dance in which a partner did twirls, lifts, or splits while holding one or both of the other partner's hands. Lardner, Ring : Writer of short stories distinguished in part for their realistic presentation of ordinary American speech and conversation.  LaSalle : Luxury car manufactured by Cadillac between 1927 and 1940.  Muckle-Mouthed : Big-mouthed, verbose, long-winded; tending to jabber on. Example from the novel: She was sort of muckle-mouthed. I mean when she was talking and she got excited about something, her mouth sort of went in about fifty directions, her lips and all. Of Human Bondage : Novel by W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965). It centers on an orphan with a clubfoot who attends several schools, tries several careers, and finally becomes a country doctor after marrying the wife of a friend. Out of Africa : Nonfiction book by Isak Dinesen (1885-1963), penname of Danish writer Karen Christence Blixen-Finecke.  Pedagogical : Having the qualities of a pedagogue, a teacher who shows too much concern for minor details; picky, fussy.  Phony : Fake, artificial; a person who pretends to be more important, talented, or accomplished than he is  The Return of the Native : Novel by Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) depicting a failing marriage. The characters in this novel and other Hardy novels live in a world Darwinian determinism in which persons are dominated by forces beyond their control.  Record : As you are no doubt well aware, no music CD's existed in the 1950's. All music recordings were on records, disks that spun on a turntable while a needle on an armlike apparatus was positioned in a circling groove on the disk to produce sound. There were several types of records—some spinning fast on the turntable, some spinning more slowly. Records spinning more slowly were programmed with more music (or speeches, sound effects, etc.). Records spinning at 33 revolutions per minute (rpm) were called LP's—that is long-playing records. Other records would spin at 45 rpm and 78 rpm. Records that would spin at lower speeds were made of vinyl and would not shatter when dropped. Records spinning at 78 rpm were brittle and would shatter when dropped. It is likely that Holden Caulfield's "Shirley Beans" record was a 78 rpm. When he dropped it, it shattered into many pieces.  Romeo and Juliet : Shakespeare play that Holden Caulfied discusses with nuns. For complete information on this play, see the Romeo and Juliet Study Guide on this site. Snow Someone : Deceive, mislead, or persuade a person through flattery, glib talk, or specious argumentation. Holden Caulfield says of Ward Stradlater: "What he'd do was, he'd start snowing his date in this very quiet, sincere voice—like as if he wasn't only a very handsome guy but a nice, sincere guy, too.  Stork Club : World-famous nightclub at 3 East 53rd Street. It opened in 1929 and closed in 1965.  Swell : 1950's equivalent of cool, awesome , or great . Examples from the novel: swell guy, swell song, swell girls, swell to see you .  Tattersall : Fabric pattern of dark squares on a light background. Example from the novel: On my right there was this very Joe Yale-looking guy, in a gray flannel suit and one of those flitty-looking Tattersall vests. The 39 Steps : 1935 film of mystery and intrigue directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Robert Donat. It is Phoebe Caulfied's favorite movie. Vye, Eustacia : Character in The Return of the Native . ( See above .) Ziegfeld Follies : Stage show featuring music, beautiful chorus girls, comedians, and elaborate sets. Florenz Ziefeld debuted his follies in New York in 1907.

American author J. D. Salinger, who was born in 1919, apparently drew upon his own experiences when bringing Holden Caulfield to life. In the following, note the similarity between events in the life of the fictional Caulfield and events in the life of Salinger. 

Holden Caulfield Born and raised in New York City Attends several boarding schools but does not graduate Parents Are of Different Religious Faiths Parents Are Well-to-Do Undergoes Psychiatric Treatment Isolates Himself From Others

J. D. Salinger Born and raised in New York City Graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy; attended several colleges but did not graduate Parents Were of Different Religious Faiths Parents Were Well-to-Do Hospitalized for Stress After Serving in World War II Lives Reclusively in New Hampshire

Study Questions and Essay Topics

• Will Holden Caulfield go on to a successful life in a worthy career? Or will he continue to fail? 
• Will Phoebe grow up like Holden, isolated and lonely, or will she continue to be a good student who looks forward to a promising career? When preparing an answer to this question, consider the following information that Holden discloses about Phoebe: (1) She writes books (the girl-detective stories) but never finishes them. (2) She is very emotional. (3) She impulsively decides to run away with Holden.
• Why do Holden's parents keep sending him away to boarding schools? 
• Using passages from the novel — and your interpretations of these passages — write a profile of the Caulfield family as it was when Holden was growing up with Allie and Phoebe. Among the questions you might address in your essay are the following: Was the Caulfield home a happy one? Did Mr. and Mrs. Caulfield devote enough attention to their children? Did they attempt to instill in their children strong moral values? 
• To what extent did Holden's New York environment shape his character when he was a child. Keep in mind that his home was an apartment on the 12th floor of a building in New York City. Keep in mind, too, the kinds of material advantages (or disadvantages) to which he had access. The novel is full of clues about the financial status of Holden's parents. An example of a clue is this sentence: "The week before that, somebody'd stolen my camel's-hair coat right out of my room, with my fur-lined gloves right in the pocket and all." Holden also points out that his father is a corporation lawyer. 
• To what extent did author J.D. Salinger base Holden Caulfield's experiences on his own? While researching this question, you will discover that Salinger grew up in New York City (as did Holden), graduated from a boarding school (Valley Forge Military Academy, in the same part of Pennsylvania as fictional Agerstown), and attended several colleges but did not graduate from any of them. (Holden, of course, attends several boarding schools without graduating.) Salinger's background is similar in other respects to Holden's. Find as many of these similarities as you can. (See the table above to get a start.) Then discuss whether Holden Caulfield is actually J.D. Salinger — or write an essay on this subject.
• The Catcher in the Rye was published in the middle of the 20th Century. Is the novel still relevant today? Do some teenagers continue to face the kinds of problems Holden faces?

The Catcher in the Rye

By jerome david salinger.

‘The Catcher in the Rye’ is a hugely popular novel about a young man named Holden Caulfield.

Article written by Emma Baldwin

B.A. in English, B.F.A. in Fine Art, and B.A. in Art Histories from East Carolina University.

J.D. Salinger’s novel tells the story of the cynical young man and his experiences in Manhattan, New York. Throughout, the author engages with themes of growing up, change, and the protection of childhood innocence.

‘Spoiler Free’ Plot Summary  

When  The Catcher in the Rye begins, teenager Holden Caulfield has just been expelled from another prep school with failing grades. Anger at his roommate causes him to storm out of the school early and travel home without telling anyone.  

In Manhattan, he drifts from place to place. He encounters people from his past, some of whom he can hardly stand, others who can’t stand him. These include his wise young sister, a prostitute and her pimp, and a past girlfriend. Through these interactions, Holden’s opinion about the world and its people is fleshed out. His anger with life and his role becomes quite clear, and he expresses a desire to run away from his life entirely .  

The Catcher in the Rye Detailed Summary  

Spoiler alert – important details of the novel are revealed below.

J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye is a frame narrative, meaning there is a story within a story. The narrator, Holden Caulfield , is telling the reader his own history. Where he is as he tells this story is only implied, but it is likely a mental hospital of some sort. When the story begins, he’s sixteen years old, and it’s the period between the end of the school term and Christmas.  

He begins by outlining his life on a Saturday after classes end at Pencey Prep school in Agerstown, Pennsylvania. It becomes clear that this is not Holden’s first prep school but his fourth. He failed out of the three previous, and it appears as though he’s failed out of this one as well. Holden got failing grades in the majority of his classes and is being expelled. It is his intention to return home later that week.  

Holden goes to visit his history teacher, an older man named Spencer, but the meeting doesn’t go well. Holden does not want to hear Spencer’s reprimands or life advice. Soon after, he runs into his roommate, the handsome yet kind War Stradlater. He asks Holden to write an essay for him and informs him that he’ll be going on a date with someone Holden knows and cares about from another school, Jane Gallagher. This surprises and worries Holden as he’s sure that Ward doesn’t want anything but sex from her. Holden also runs into his neighbor in the dorms, Ackley, an irritating young man with serious hygiene issues.  

When Ward comes back from the date, Holden question’s him about what happened, and he doesn’t get a straight answer. This angers Holden, who attacks the much bigger and stronger Ward. They fight, and unsurprisingly Holden loses. This is the last straw for Holden, who decides he’s going to leave Pencey Prep at that moment and proceed home to Manhattan and stay there without telling his parents.   Readers also soon learn about Holden’s younger brother Allie who died of leukemia three years before the novel’s beginning.

On the train on the way to New York City, he meets the mother of one of his fellow students at Pencey Prep. Despite intensely disliking her son, he tells the woman they’re friends. He then flirts with her and invites her for drinks which she declines. Holden’s cynical view of the world and his irritation with most people drive him away from human company, something he then craves. When he gets to New York, he rents a room at the Edmont Hotel. His room is positioned so that he can spy into other people’s rooms.  

In New York City

His loneliness and longing for someone to talk to leads him to call Faith Cavendish, a woman he believes might have sex with him. She doesn’t really want to talk to him but suggests they meet for drinks the next day. He declines. In another strange encounter, Holden meets and dances with three women in the Lavender Room. They leave him to pay for their entire tab.  

Holden isn’t sure what to do at this point but begins recounting how he came to know Jane, the young woman Ward went on a date with. It was while their mutual families were vacationing in Maine. They played games together and held hands. They almost kissed. Holden still holds her in his mind as the perfect woman.  

After this, Holden takes a cab to Ernie’s, a jazz club in Greenwich Village. He runs into Lillian Simmons, a woman who used to date his older brother. They speak briefly, and Holden leaves abruptly. Back at the hotel, Holden is offered a prostitute by the elevator operator. The prostitute, Sunny, arrives at his apartment, but he doesn’t want to have sex with her. He pays her the $5 he owes her, but she demands five more. Holden won’t pay, resulting in the elevator operator, Maurice, coming in and beating him up and taking the money.  

The next day he calls Sally Hayes, a young woman he used to date. They go to a play and eat lunch. Holden tries to call Jane but chickens out and hangs up. Later, Holden and Sally go ice skating, and Holden becomes irritated with her when she won’t agree to run away with him. The following person Holden sees is Carl Luce, a student at Columbia University. The two don’t get on as Luce believes that Holden is too immature.  

While drunk, after he goes to the lagoon in Central Park, where he used to watch the ducks as a child, Holden breaks into his own home to speak with his sister Phoebe. She gives him some advice, and he tells her about a fantasy in which he’s the “the catcher in the rye,” a person who catches children coming out of a field of rye before they’re about to fall off a cliff, an allusion to adulthood. This was inspired by a song he heard a little boy singing: “If a body catch a body comin’ through the rye.” Phoebe tells him that the words are “If a body meet a body coming through the rye,” from a poem by Robert Burns.

Towards the end of the narrative, Holden goes to the apartment of his former English teacher, Mr. Antolini. He tries to help Holden figure out his life, but Holden is too tired and falls asleep. He leaves the apartment after becoming concerned that Mr. Antolini is making advances on him.   He spends the night sleeping on a bench in Grand Central Station.

Holden proceeds to Phoebe’s school and sends her a note explaining that he’s running away and that they should meet up at the museum to say goodbye. She arrives with her suitcase, asking him to take her with him. He refuses, and she cries. Holden walks to the zoo and then over to a park carousel, for which he buys her a ticket. He watches his sister ride the carousel and almost cries.  

It is here that Holden ends the narrative. He informs the reader that he doesn’t want to tell the next part of the story where he got “sick .” The Catcher in the Rye  ends with Holden feeling optimistic about his future and the new school he’ll attend in the fall.  

What is a short summary of The Catcher in the Rye ?

The Catcher in the Rye chronicles a few days in the life of Holden Caulfield, a young man who hates adults, is disillusioned with responsibility, and is quick to point how what he finds as “phony” in the world.

What is the main message of The Catcher in the Rye ?

The main message is the struggle of growing up. Holden finds himself torn between childhood and adulthood and his desire to remain a part of the former. The protection of childhood innocence is also a main theme of the novel. The latter is seen through Holden’s dream, the title, and the conclusion of the novel in Central Park.

Why is Catcher in the Rye so controversial?

The book has been banned in some schools due to the main character’s attitude, use of language, and themes. He has been described as a poor role for the young students who are often assigned the novel.

What mental illness does Holden have in The Catcher in the Rye ?

It’s unclear, but Holden may be suffering from depression and anxiety. Others have suggested anti-social personality disorder and PTSD.

Why is The Catcher in the Rye so famous?

It’s been incredibly famous since its release in 1951 for its focus on adolescent emotions, the changing nature of contemporary life after the Second World War, and its unique depiction of an unlikeable, unreliable narrator.

What is the main problem in The Catcher in the Rye ?

The main problem in the novel is Holden’s conflicting desire to connect with and shun the adults and adult experiences around him. He wants to be treated as an adult but feels that the adults he knows are “phony” and fake.

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About Emma Baldwin

Emma Baldwin, a graduate of East Carolina University, has a deep-rooted passion for literature. She serves as a key contributor to the Book Analysis team with years of experience.

About the Book

J.D. Salinger

J.D. Salinger was a pioneer of the American short story. He is remembered today as the author of The Catcher and the Rye , as well as Fanny and Zoey , and numerous other stories about the troubled Glass family.

Salinger Facts

Explore ten of the most interesting facts about Salinger's life, habits, and passions.

Salinger's Best Books

Explore the seven best books Salinger wrote.

Was Salinger Criticized?

The criticism of J.D. Salinger’s writing is centred around his major literary achievement

Maybe there’s a trapdoor under my chair, and I’ll just disappear. J.D. Salinger

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The Catcher in the Rye

By j.d. salinger.

• The Catcher in the Rye Summary

Holden Caulfield , the narrator of The Catcher in the Rye , begins with an authoritative statement that he does not intend the novel to serve as his life story. Currently in psychiatric care, this teenager recalls what happened to him last Christmas. This story forms the basis for his narrative. At the beginning of his story, Holden is a student at Pencey Prep School, irresponsible and immature. Having been expelled for failing four out of his five classes, Holden goes to see Mr. Spencer , his history teacher, before he leaves Pencey. Mr. Spencer advises him that he must realize that “life is a game” and one should “play it according to the rules,” but the sixteen-year-old, who has already left four private schools, dismisses much of what Spencer says.

Holden returns to his dormitory, where he finds Robert Ackley , an obnoxious student with a terrible complexion who will not leave Holden alone, and Ward Stradlater , Holden’s roommate. Stradlater is conceited and arrogant, a “secret slob” who asks Holden to write an English composition for him. Stradlater prepares for a date with Jane Gallagher , a friend of Holden from several summers before, while Holden goes with Ackley and Mal Brossard into New York City to see a movie. When he returns, Holden writes the composition for Stradlater. It is about his brother’s baseball mitt. Holden relates that his brother Allie died of leukemia several years ago and states that he broke all of the windows in his garage out of anger on the night that Allie died.

When Stradlater returns, he becomes upset at Holden for writing what he thinks is a poor essay, so Holden responds by tearing up the composition. Holden asks about his date with Jane, and when Stradlater indicates that he might have had sex with her, Holden becomes enraged and tries to punch Stradlater, who quickly overpowers him and knocks him out. Soon after, Holden decides to leave Pencey that night and not to wait until Wednesday. He leaves Pencey to return to New York City, where he will stay in a hotel before actually going home.

On the train to New York, Holden sits next to the mother of a Pencey student, Ernest Morrow . Claiming that his name is actually Rudolf Schmidt (the name of the Pencey janitor), Holden lies to Mrs. Morrow about how popular and well-respected her son is at Pencey— actually Ernest is loathed by the other boys. Holden invites her to have a drink with him at the club car. When Holden reaches New York, he does not know whom he should call. He considers inviting his younger sister, Phoebe, as well as Jane Gallagher and another friend, Sally Hayes . He finally decides to stay at the Edmond Hotel.

From his window he can see other guests at the hotel, including a transvestite and a couple who spit drinks back at each other, which makes him think about sex. He decides to call Faith Cavendish , a former burlesque stripper and reputed prostitute, but she rejects his advances. He thus goes down to the Lavender Room, a nightclub in the Hotel, where he dances with Bernice Krebs , a blonde woman from Seattle who is vacationing in New York with several friends. Holden thinks that these tourists seem pathetic because of their excitement over the various sights of the city.

After leaving the Lavender Room, Holden decides to go to Ernie’s, a nightclub in Greenwich Village that his brother D.B. would often frequent before he moved to Hollywood. He leaves almost immediately after he arrives, because he sees Lillian Simmons , one of D.B.’s former girlfriends, and wishes to avoid her because she is a “phony.” He walks back to the hotel, where Maurice , the elevator man, offers him a prostitute for the night. He accepts. When Sunny , the prostitute, arrives, Holden becomes too nervous and refuses to go on with it. She demands ten dollars anyway, but Holden believes that he only owes five based on the earlier deal. Sunny and Maurice soon return, however, and demand the extra five dollars. Holden argues with them, but Maurice threatens him while Sunny steals the money. Maurice punches him in the stomach before leaving. Holden then imagines shooting Maurice in the stomach and even jumping out of the window to commit suicide.

Holden calls Sally Hayes to meet her for a matinee. He leaves his bags at a locker at Grand Central Station so that he will not have to go back to the hotel, where he might again face Maurice. At Grand Central Station he talks with two nuns about Romeo and Juliet and insists on giving them a donation. He shops for a record for Phoebe and feels depressed when he hears children singing the song, “If a body catch a body coming through the rye.” He meets Sally, and he immediately wants to marry her, even though he does not particularly like her.

They go to see a show starring the Lunts, which he knows Sally will enjoy because it seems sophisticated. After the show, Sally keeps mentioning that she sees a boy from Andover whom she knows, and Holden responds by telling her to go over and give the boy “a big soul kiss.” While she talks to the boy, Holden becomes disgusted at how phony the conversation is. Holden and Sally go ice skating and then have lunch together. During lunch, Holden complains that he is fed up with everything around him and suggests that they run away together to New England, where they can live in a cabin in the woods. When she dismisses the idea, Holden calls her a “royal pain in the ass,” causing her to cry.

After the date, Holden calls Carl Luce , a friend from the Whooton School who goes to Columbia, and meets him at the Wicker Bar. Carl soon becomes annoyed at Holden for having a “typical Caulfield conversation”—one that is preoccupied with sex—and he suggests that Holden see a psychiatrist. Holden remains at the Wicker Bar, where he gets drunk, then leaves to wander around Central Park. He nearly breaks down when he breaks Phoebe’s record. He thinks he may die of pneumonia.

Thinking that he may die soon, Holden returns home to see Phoebe, attempting to avoid his parents. He awakens her, but she soon becomes distressed when she hears that Holden has failed out of Pencey. She says that their father will kill him. He tells her that he might go out to a ranch in Colorado, but she dismisses his idea as foolish. When he complains about the phoniness of Pencey, Phoebe asks him if he actually likes anything. He claims that he likes Allie, and he thinks about how he likes the nuns at Grand Central and a boy at Elkton Hills who committed suicide. He tells Phoebe that he would like to be “a catcher in the rye,” and he imagines himself standing at the edge of a cliff as children play around him. He would come out of somewhere and always catch them just before they fell off the edge.

When his parents come home, Holden sneaks out to stay with Mr. Antolini , his former English teacher at Elkton Hills. Mr. Antolini tells Holden that he is headed for a serious fall and that he is the type who may die nobly for a highly unworthy cause. He quotes Wilhelm Stekel: “The mark of an 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.” Holden falls asleep on the couch. When he awakens, he finds Mr. Antolini with his hand on Holden’s head. Holden immediately interprets this as a homosexual advance, so he decides to leave. He tells Mr. Antolini that he has to get his bags from Grand Central Station but will return soon.

In fact, however, Holden spends the night at Grand Central Station, then sends a note to Phoebe at school, telling her to meet him for lunch. He becomes increasingly distraught and delusional, believing that he will die every time he crosses the street. He falls unconscious after suffering from diarrhea. When he meets Phoebe, she tells him that she wants to go with him and becomes angry when he refuses. He buys Phoebe a ticket for the carousel at the nearby zoo, and as he watches her, he begins to cry.

Holden ends his story here. He refuses to relate what happened next and how he got sick. He notes that people are concerned about whether or not he will apply himself next year. He ends the story by relating that he misses Stradlater and Ackley and even Maurice.

The Catcher in the Rye Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Catcher in the Rye is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

In my opinion, Holden didn't want to see jane with his roommate. In addition, he is insecure.

Did you like the book?

I have enjoyed The Catcher in the Rye each and every time I've read it. I hope you did too!

Explain this quote " Life is a game, boy. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules."

In the quote, Mr. Spencer is trying to explain to Holden that life is a series of choices.... we can choose to make good choices, follow the rules, and hopefully find success, or we can make bad choices and possibly never have the chance.

Study Guide for The Catcher in the Rye

The Catcher in the Rye study guide contains a biography of J.D. Salinger, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Catcher in the Rye
• Character List

Essays for The Catcher in the Rye

The Catcher in the Rye essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.

• The Etymology and Symbolism of Characters' Names
• The Maturation of Holden Caulfield and Henry Fleming
• Holden Caulfield's Character Presented in the Novel
• Holden Caulfield and Daniel Issacson: Much in Common?

Lesson Plan for The Catcher in the Rye

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to The Catcher in the Rye
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• The Catcher in the Rye Bibliography

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Catcher in The Rye — Catcher In The Rye Ending Analysis

Catcher in The Rye Ending Analysis

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Published: Mar 25, 2024

Words: 507 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

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Introduction:, body paragraphs:, counterarguments:, conclusion:.

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