The Catcher in the Rye

The Catcher in the Rye is a novel by J. D. Salinger.

Plot Summary

The story is told in the first person by Holden. The book covers the three days in his life after being kicked out of Pencey Prep, right before the Christmas holidays, circa 1949. Having already been kicked out of other schools and not yet wanting to face his parents, he visits his history teacher, old Mr. Spencer, who was forced to flunk him and heads back to his dorm. He then decides to set off and spend a few days alone in New York City after a few unpleasant experiences with his fellow dorm students, particularly when his roommate comes home after "showing Jane Gallagher a good time". Holden used to know Jane Gallagher, and he held her in high esteem, and throughout the book his thoughts turn to her.

Related Topics:
First person - Prep - Christmas - 1949 - New York City

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Holden loiters around New York, drinking heavily and meeting various people, becoming increasingly depressed as he spends more time there. Holden repeatedly observes that people around him are "phonies" because of their actions. Holden has a run-in with a prostitute and her pimp at his hotel leaving him swindled for an extra $5. Later he has a date with one of his previous girlfriends, Sally Hayes. They head to the theatre and go ice skating. The experience leaves him more depressed as he realises that they do not have much in common. Through his depression he finally decides to go home and sneak into his house to see his kid sister Phoebe. He has a short conversation with her, and she lends him some of the money she got for Christmas, but he is forced to flee when his parents come home.

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Towards the end of the book, Holden visits Mr. Antolini, the only teacher he's ever trusted. Although his teacher gave him very wise and beneficial advice for his future, and lets Holden sleep on his couch, Holden awakens to find Mr. Antolini stroking his forehead. Why he does this is never revealed, but Holden initially thinks that Mr. Antolini is making a homosexual overture. He hastily excuses himself with a lie and leaves. Later on, he thinks he may have assumed too much. Holden sleeps in the train station, and in the morning decides he is going to hitchhike to the West and build a cabin for himself away from the people he knows; he plans to pretend he is a deaf mute holding a normal job. However, he can't leave without saying goodbye to Phoebe, even more so because he still has her Christmas money.

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Holden goes to Phoebe?s school and through the headteacher's secretary, sends her a note saying that he is leaving home for good and she should meet him at lunchtime at the museum of art. When Phoebe arrives, she is carrying a suitcase full of clothes and asks Holden to take her with him. He refuses angrily, realizing he is influencing her badly because she wants to go with him instead of behaving in school and playing a key role in her school play. She cries and refuses to speak to him. Knowing she will follow, Holden walks to the zoo, letting her anger lift. After walking through the zoo, with a short distance between them, they visit a park across the street. Phoebe starts talking to Holden again and Holden promises to go back home. He buys her a ticket for the carousel in the park and watches her ride an old horse on it. As Holden watches her ride the carousel, his mood gets better. Soon, he is so happy that he is almost moved to tears.

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Holden's narration ends here. He mentions in passing that he has been sick, that he has visited a psychoanalyst, and that he is going to another school in the fall.

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