Catcher in the Rye Characters: A Comprehensive Review of Themes and Characters

Last Updated: 27 Jun 2023
Pages: 2 Views: 193

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is an intriguing story. It contains marvelous character portraits, a psychological analysis of the process of growing up, and many more qualities. This book has many interesting characters and plot lines, which you will discover as you read along.

The three main settings are Pencey Prep, D.B's room, and the zoo. Pencey Prep is the high school that Holden has just been kicked out of. A few of the chapters take place here. D.B's room is Holdens brother's room, where after sneaking into his own house, Holden spends the night. At the zoo, Holden takes his sister Phoebe to the carousel and feels the happiest he has felt in a long time.

The four main characters are Holden Caulfield, Phoebe Caulfield, Stradlater, and Robert Ackley. Holden Caulfield is a young teenager who is kicked out of Pencey High School because of his lack of motivation and he has failed several times. He avoids telling his parents that he failed and wanders the streets of New York. Phoebe Caulfield is Holden's younger sister. Holden and she have a good relationship, and she does not want him to leave her. She is a symbol of happiness and joy for Holden. Stradlater is a good-looking athlete and the roommate of Holden at Pencey High School. Holden thinks that he is very annoying. Ackley is annoyed by everything, especially Stradlater, and does not like to be bothered.

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The plot consists of different settings, unique characters, and interesting ideas. The book starts out with Holden Caulfield just having been kicked out of Pencey Prep School because he fails his classes. To avoid telling his parents, he leaves Pencey without telling them and wanders the streets of New York, encountering new experiences. He meets Stradlater's mother, a prostitute, and other women. Holden becomes very lonely and wishes to talk with his loving little sister, Phoebe.

Holden leaves the streets of New York to sneak into his home and spend the night in his unused brother's room. After he gives the news to Phoebe that he would like to move to the west, Phoebe is upset and gives Holden the silent treatment. Later, Holden takes Phoebe to visit the zoo. She is still not speaking to him, but goes along anyway. At the zoo, the see the carousel, which Phoebe has always loved. Holden gives her a ticket to ride and the silent treatment ends. He then promises her that he will stay and not go out west. As it starts to rain, Holden sits, getting drenched, watching Phoebe go around the carousel. He feels that this is one of the happiest times of his life. He then realizes that this is what makes him happy. By the end of the book, Holden feels that he just cannot take living his life that way anymore, and therefore, goes to an institution.

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Catcher in the Rye Characters: A Comprehensive Review of Themes and Characters. (2023, Jun 27). Retrieved from https://phdessay.com/catcher-in-the-rye-characters-a-comprehensive-review-of-themes-and-characters/

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