Catcher in the Rye Character List

Arthur Childs

A Quaker student at the Whooton School who argues about the Bible with Holden.

Dick Slagle

A fellow-student at Elkton Hills who is jealous of Holden's nice suitcases.

Mr. Antolini

A former English teacher of Holden's at Elkton Hills. He now lives in New York City and teaches at NYU. Holden calls him very late at night (well after midnight on Sunday night; he did not leave the Wicker Bar until 1 a.m. and then he visited the park before he visits Phoebe). Holden goes to Antolini's apartment after he leaves Phoebe at his home. Holden likes Antolini and respects his intelligence; however, an incident on this evening causes Holden to flee from Antolini.

Mrs. Morrow

A forty or forty-five year old woman who takes the train to New York with Holden; she is the mother of his classmate, whom Holden despises but speaks very favorably about to his mother. Holden tells Mrs. Morrow that he is going home early because he has a brain tumor.

Sally Hayes

A girlfriend of Holden's in New York; he has a picture of her on his dresser at Pencey Prep. Holden has a date with Sally on Sunday in New York City. They end up in an argument.

Ossenburger

A graduate of Pencey Prep and an undertaker who is a big donor to the school. Holden's comments about him show Holden's disdain for wealth.

Robert Ackley

A student at Pencey whose room is next to Holden's. Ackley is a senior, eighteen years old. Holden dislikes Ackley's poor personal hygiene. Holden says Ackley has a terrible personality and is a nasty guy. Holden also objects to Ackley's touching other people's personal possessions. Yet Holden is kind to Ackley, feels sorry for him, and defends him when he speaks to Phoebe.

Carl Luce

A student whom Holden knows from his days at the Whooton School, Luce is three years older than Holden and a student at Columbia. Holden meets Luce at the Wicker Bar for drinks on the Sunday night of Holden's New York City stay. Holden annoys Luce by talking about sex.

Faith Cavendish

A woman of reputedly loose morality; Holden calls her from the Edmont Hotel in New York and tries to make a date; he gets her phone number from Eddie Birdsell of Princeton.

James Castle

An Elkton Hills student who is bullied and commits suicide by jumping out the window. Although Holden barely knew Castle, Holden loaned him a turtleneck sweater, which Castle was wearing on the day of his death.

Maurice

Elevator operator in the Edmont Hotel who is also a pimp

Mr. Haas

Headmaster at Elkton Hills, a school Holden previously attended. Holden's memories of Haas reveal Holden's impatience with phony people and what he means by the term "phony."

The Two Nuns

Holden meets these nuns at breakfast on Sunday in New York City; he converses with them and gives them money; Holden likes the nuns.

Ernest Morrow

Holden's classmate at Pencey whom Holden dislikes intensely

Mal Brossard

Holden's friend at Pencey with whom Holden goes to Agerstown on a Saturday night with Ackley.

Mr. Spencer

Holden's history teacher at Pencey Prep; Holden's interaction with him shows Holden's discomfort around those who are old, frail, and sick. The "life's a game" advice is important.

D.B. Caulfield

Holden's older brother, who lives and works in California. Holden calls him a "prostitute," but he does not mean it literally; Holden objects to D.B.'s writing for Hollywood instead of writing short stories and novels. Therefore, Holden thinks D.B. is prostituting his talent

Ward Stradlater

Holden's roommate at Pencey Prep who is from a wealthy family; Stradlater is a senior and Holden is a junior. Stradlater is an athlete and a ladies' man. Holden calls him a secret slob and an egotistical person. Stradlater's date with Jane Gallagher leads to a fist fight with Holden.

Phoebe Caulfield

Holden's ten-year-old sister whom Holden describes as pretty and smart. She plays a critical role in saving Holden from becoming a runaway.

Allie Caulfield

Holden's younger brother; Allie dies from leukemia while the family is in Maine on July 18, 1946. Allie is two years younger than Holden. Holden is thirteen when Allie dies, so Allie is eleven at his death, and Allie has been dead for three years.

Mr. Cudahy

Jane Gallagher's stepfather, who is a heavy drinker and walks around the house naked in front of Jane. Strong suggestion of possible inappropriate conduct.

Ed Banky

Pencey Prep basketball coach who loans his car to Stradlater for the date with Jane Gallagher although it is against school rules. Holden resents the preferential treatment athletes receive.

Dr. Thurmer

Pencey Prep headmaster, whom Holden hates for his phoniness.

Selma Thurmer

Pencey Prep's headmaster's daughter. Holden's interaction with her shows his kindness and compassion. She is one of multiple characters for whom Holden feels "sorry."

Jane Gallagher

Stradlater's date; Holden knows her; Their families belong to the same golf club; their families went to the same vacation spot in Maine; Jane's parents are divorced; mother remarried a drinker. Suggestion of inappropriate behavior by Jane's stepfather.

Horwitz

The cab driver who takes Holden from the Edmont Hotel to Ernie's club. Holden discusses the ducks in Central Park with him, and Horwitz talks about the fish in the frozen lagoon. He is the second cab driver whom Holden has questioned about the ducks.

Rudolf Shmidt

The false name Holden gives to Mrs. Morrow; Rudolf Schmidt is actually the janitor of Holden's dorm at Pencey Prep.

Ernie

The piano player at the nightclub called "Ernie's" in Greenwich Village which Holden visits in the early morning hours of Sunday. Holden thinks Ernie "knows" he is good and feigns humility.

Holden Caulfield

The protagonist and narrator; a sixteen-year-old boy at the time of the reported incidents; he is seventeen as he is narrating the story

Bernice, Marty, and Laverne

The three older women from SeattleHolden meets at the Lavender Room, a Bar in the Edmont Hotel.

Sunny

Young prostitute from Hollywood whom Holden meets at the Edmont Hotel.