The Catcher in the Rye

The Lunts

"Phony" actors in the play "I Know My Love" that Holden takes Sally to see. An Allusion to make the reader feel smart. Sally loves the Lunts.

Modernism

-Sense of dislocation/alienation -fragmented -discontinuity...Holden is nostalgic -isolation -experimentation... new language (cursing)..unreliable narrator is a new thing writers do •An intentional break from tradition (politically, socially, religiously) •Modernists believe the world is created in the act of perceiving it; that is, the world is what we say it is. Holden is an unreliable narrator...the world is however he believes it is. •Modernists believe life is unordered.

Setting

-post-war era..1940s -outside NYC Holden's depression from losing someone is enhanced bc of idea of PTSD at that time

Allie's death..pgs 38-39

-short and declarative -Holden praises somebody!!!!!111!! -unreliable.."I broke all the goddam windows with my fist, just for the hell of it." -whenever his hand hurts..it is a reminder of his brother...it causes emotional and maybe physical pain -shows contrast, Allie was the good kid. He got good letters, Holden got bad letters.

Christ Figure

A spiritual character who parallels Jesus. J.ames C.astle

Ossenberger

An old Pencey alumnus with a wing named after him. Ossenberger became rich from an undertaking business, but Holden thinks he just dumps the bodies in water or something, that he is phony. Another emphasize on Holdon's illusion of a corrupt adult world surrounding him.

Allusions

Any literary reference to something in culture. 1. Jesus... religion used inappropriately to divide people 2.Romeo and Juliet and Mercutio. In conversation with nuns. Likes Mercutio bc he is smart and entertaining, like Allie. Blames Rome because he lets another get hurt...he is like the Pencey kids 3.Hamlet "to be or not to be" suggests Holden could be suicidal. Likes when Ophelia plays with brother. 4. Farewell to Arms. Losing someone depression (Allie) = PTSD (1940s) 5. Gatsby. Likes Gatsby because Jane=Daisy 6. Catcher in the Rye. Only reader knows cheerful tune. Parents not paying attention but kid happy. Holden relates bc Holden likes kids 7.Eustacia Vye. Doesn't care what people think of her

Old Luce

Carl Luce. Holden calls him up to have a sex talk because he used to do it all the time at Whooton. Holden becomes depressed to find Carl has grown up, and doesn't want to have these immature sex talks, although he does let Holden know he is now intimate with an older, sophisticated woman. Either way, Holden is still lonesome and wishes Carl would stay with him. Holden thinks Luce is gay because he would do things like talk to guys while they were brushing their teeth (which really isn't that weird). Maybe Holden is being an unreliable narrator again, calling Luce "flitty."

James Castle

Christ Figure... Wore turtleneck that belonged to Holden when he was harassed (possibly sexually) by some boys. He jumps out windows and kills himself. Shows that is could have been Holden. Mr. Antolini is only one to reach out to castle, and Holden likes that. Similar Antolini reaches out to Holden, saying he is heading for a "fall," so Holden appreciates someone is trying to save him, but maybe he is already gone (Castle was dead by the time Antolini reached out to him)

Lillian Simmons

Ernest Morrow's mother whom holden encounters on the train ride to NYC. Tells her lies about himself and Ernest to flatter her and make him feel bad for him (operation). Weird bc she is a mother but Holden thinks she is very attractive. She is using Holden only to get to D.B. (used to date him)

Old Thurmer

Headmaster at Pencey Prep. The ultimate phony (aside from Mr. Naas). Thurmer punished a boy for farting in front of Ossenberger, showing he's all about image.

Sally

Holden doesn't like Sally (phony), but still wants to date her, showing he wants their relationship to be strictly sexual. Holden fantasies of living in a cabin and running away with Sally, and she's like "you can't do something like that." She is smart enough to realize Holden is being delusional, even though she is one of those irritating, always day-dreaming, 17 yr old girls.

Jane

Holden has an intimate and affectionate but not sexual relationship with her. One of the types of girls Holden likes, so he treats her well...doesn't kid her.

Unreliable Narrator

Holden is an unreliable narrator. There are gaps between what Salinger is saying and what Holden thinks. Used to emphasize Holden's delusion. Ex: Holden uses defense mechanisms

Catcher in the Rye

Holden misunderstands the gleeful tune "comin thro' the rye." He wants to catch the kids coming out of the ryefield. They can't see over it into the harshness of the adult world. Holden is happy to be the preserver of innocence.

Nuns

Holden runs in to two nuns before meeting with Sally. Holden talks about Romeo and Juliet, claiming he is uncomfortable because they are nuns and it is a sexy play (we know Holden, too, is uncomfortable with sex). Suggests Holden is actually smart. He donates to their cause, and digresses about money and religion. Holden decides that money and religion always wrongly creates a divide in people, and that is one of Holden's inadvertent defense mechanism for why he has trouble connecting with people.

Checkers

Holden used to play it with Jane all the time. He was playing checkers with her when her father came out, asking if there were any cigarettes in the house. She cries, and Holden kisses her. Checkers emphasize that Holden was not ready for a sexual encounter with the type of girl he likes. Instead, checkers is a childlike game.

Defense Mechanism

Holden uses defense mechanism to be an unreliable narrator and evade reality, or the reasons behind his strange behaviors.

Mr. Antolini

Holden's English teacher at Elkton Hills. The only one to approach James Castle. He goes to his house after visiting Phoebe and feeling upset. Antollini's advice seems to be coming from Salinger. The reader wonders whether or not Antolini tried to make sexual advances on Holden. On the one side: Holden is inappropriate (talks to little kids), so this could have been a way to justify. Maybe Antolini was just drunk and being paternal. Besides, Holden seems homophobic. He is always uncomfortable with sexual encounters, like when Sunny sits in his lap, or even when Phoebe hugs him, he says she is too affectionate sometimes...Or Mr. Antolini is gay. "goodnight handsome." He also hangs out with his wife only in public to dispel rumors but at home they are in separate rooms. He tells Holden he is heading for a "fall"...ironic...James Castle.

Mr. Spencer

Holden's History teacher at Pencey. Holden is disgusted by Spencer's oldness and sickness. Characterizes Holden. Holden is unreliable narrator, saying Spencer's behavior is mean-spirited, but Spencer's actions clearly seem to be motivated by concern for Holden's well-being. Holden seems to be looking for reasons not to listen to Spencer, or just basing claims off of Spencer's nastiness.

Rain

Holden's fist hurts when it rains from when he punched out windows after Allie's death. When Phoebe is on the carousel, it begins to rain. All the other adults stand under the roof of the carousel, and the kids are on the carousel, but Holden stays on the bench, getting soaking wet. His hunting hat protects him, but he gets wet anyway. Regardless, he is happy to see Phoebe looking happy on the carousel. I think this signifies a bad ending. He is by himself, stuck in between childhood and adulthood. Holden thinks the hat, or his illusion of innocence can protect him, but he gets drenched regardless, showing the innocence cannot protect him. But it could also be good because Holden is content being this way.

Ackley

Holden's next-door neighbor at Pencey. Has gross teeth, acne, and touches things without putting them back. Becomes angry at Holden for insulting monasteries. Showing how religion is used inappropriately to divide people. But the reader wonders if Ackley is really so bad, or if it is just the result of Holden's tone and hostility towards him because of his nastiness.

D.B.

Holden's older brother out in Hollywood. Holden considers him a phony.

Stradlater

Holden's roommate at Pencey. He is phony, and has lots of sex. He sounds like he used coercion though...But we wonder if Stradlater is really as bad as Holden describes him. There is little basis to Holden's claims about Stradlater, other than the fact he just doesn't like him. They get into a fight over Jane.

Alumnus Initials in Bathroom

On Veterans' Day an alumni has he and Stradlater show him to the bathroom to see if his initials are still carved in the bathroom. Holden is unreliable narrator here. He says he is sad because the guy is wheezy and out of breath. Really, he is sad because the alumnus keeps telling them how high school was the best, yet Holden is miserable.

Symbol

Others missed: -Snow. Holden grabs a snowball on his way back from Spencer's. Holden grabs a snowball and is not sure to throw it...snow is childlike...kids play in snow. Holden is stuck...should he throw away his innocence or not? Holden ends up not throwing the snowball, implying he wants to maintain the innocence -Disappearing. When Holden crosses the sidewalk, he asks Allie not to let him disappear (kind of like the ducks do). Holden is still lost in between childhood and adulthood. Holden wants to revert back to his childhood, as he beckons to Allie, one of his happiest memories from being a kid. The same thing happens in the beginning of the book... Holden hasn't changed.

Emerson

Philosopher whose ideas are articulated by Salinger. Believed one should accept themselves and their class, not based off the opinions of others, for otherwise, it will ruin them. Also, Men distract from themselves by picking on those who are esteemed. (So does Holden...Pencey, Andover guy Sally talks to, etc.) Men also measure themselves based off what each other has, not who they are. Holden and Salinger agree that Social class wrongly creates a divide amongst people (suitcases).

Thoreau

Philosopher whose ideas are articulated by Salinger. Saying one escapes the real world to live truthfully and with purpose, to escape modern society and just observe life. Holden escapes the modern society he is disgusted with, but Salinger does not agree with Thoreau; Holden is a wreck.

Comin through the Rye

Phoebe reminds Holden the song is called "comin through the Rye." Shows how Holden is being delusional in thinking he can be the "catcher in the rye" or preserver of innocence.

Sunny

Salinger is showing how society has made it acceptable for men to take advantage of women, and Holden doesn't like it. The Prostitute Holden hires, but doesn't actually have sex with her. Holden gets super uncomfortable when she takes off her dress and sits on his lap. Holden's actions suggest he is not ready for a real sexual encounter, even with a "bad" type of girl. She and Maurice rob him. But, we basically think it is because of Maurice. The reader wonders if Holden decides to leave Sunny alone because she is still childish, saying things like "like fun you are," and that she has a teeny squeaky voice. Holden is slightly delusional here; she is a prostitute after all. He's hoping he can "catch" her and bring her back to innocence.

Ernest Morrow

Son of Lillian Simmons, whom Holden encounters on train to NYC. He tells her that Morrow is a sweet guy, and he could have been nominated for class president if he weren't so modest. Really, Holden thinks he is a bastard. Could be lying to flatter Lillian, although he does not say so.

Baseball Mitt

Stradlater asks Holden to write his paper about a room or home. Instead, Holden writes about Allie's baseball mitt that has poems written on it. This is a symbol because the mitt is Holden's "home," or something that makes him feel comfortable. He has no real home because he keeps moving. Also, Holden chooses to bring the mitt to Pencey out of all things, showing how important it is to him.

Hound's-tooth Jacket

Stradlater wants to borrow Holden's Hound's-tooth jacket for his date with Jane.

Hunting Hat

Symbol. Holden buys a unique, warm, red hunting hat he gives to Phoebe. It is weird and Holden wears it only with people he is comfortable with, showing his insecurity and lack of companionship. It is red, just as Phoebe and Allie's hair is, showing he wants to be like them. He eventually gives the hat to Phoebe because he wants to protect her.

Ducks

Symbol. Holden innocently wonders where the ducks go when the pond freezes over in NYC. Could suggest how Holden has reached that certain age where people become cold, and Holden doesn't know where to go; should he revert back, or grow up...+ pond is partly frozen and partly not frozen (in between)? Also, mirrors Holden's situation in that he tries to solve his problems by evading his environments.

Museum of Natural History

Symbol. Holden likes the exhibits because they are frozen and unchanging...he wants innocence and childhood to be this way. It's Holden's ideal world. Holden is scared by the fact that every time he visits it, he has changed.

Grey Hair

Symbol. Holden says it's ironic because he acts young, but he half a head of grey hairs. Shows that Holden is stuck in between childhood and adulthood.

Phoebe

Symbol. Phoebus Apollo..god of the sun. She is the sun of Holden's life. Holden's red-haired, beloved sister. Phoebe is smart for a kid. She sees past Holden's illusions and can tell he is heading down the wrong path. Phoebe knows Holden is wrecked, but still loves and appreciates him. Holden wants to be like her (red hunting hat), and wants to protect her by giving her the outlandish hat (kids can get away with wearing crazy stuff, too). Phoebe is one of the few people Holden describes accurately. She wants to run away with Holden because she thinks he needs someone to look after him and protect him (also gives red hunting hat).

Little Shirley Beans

Symbol. The record Holden buys for Phoebe. It shatters, but Phoebe still wants it. Shows how Holden is shattered, but Phoebe still wants to appreciate it.

Ed Banky

The basketball coach who lends his car to Stradlater. Holden accuses Stradlater of making sexual advances on Jane in the car, and Stadlater responds sarcastically. Holden swings at him, sparking a fight.

Carousel

The book ends with Holden allowing Phoebe to ride a carousel. This could suggest that the story goes around and around: we start and finish in a hospital...maybe Holden just goes to school the following fall and is miserable there, too.

Rudolf Schmidt

The name of the janitor of Holden's dorm at Pencey. Holden gives Lillian Simmons this name. Maybe suggesting Holden's insecurity.

Suitcases

The nuns have ****** suitcases, and it makes Holden sad ): Holden's old roommate wanted people to think he had nice suitcases too. Basically, Holden thinks a contrast in class will always make people feel uncomfortable. Social class should not divide America...it is the melting pot. Salinger seems to agree with Holden.

Stream of Consciousness

The way the story is written so that it just follows Holden's conscious thoughts and reactions to events, perceived as an unedited, continuous flow. Essentially, Holden just says the first thing that comes to his head.

T.S. Eliot's "Love Song.."

Thought of as the first modernist poem. It is fragmented, and follows a stream of consciousness (dictated by narrator's thoughts). Narrator is intimidated by women. He is constantly moving. Doesn't like how society thinks you need to be a certain way...he is different. He is anxious about getting old. It's all like Holden

First Person narration

Used so that Salinger gets in only Holden's head, emphasizing his delusion...cannot tell what other people are thinking, only what Holden thinks they are thinking.