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The Catcher In The Rye

Chapter One:

Holden Caulfield tells his story from a rest home where he has been staying ever since he had his nervous breakdown. The reader immediately senses his rebellious nature when he says that he will not tell about his "lousy" childhood and "all that David Copperfield kind of crap". Instead he describes his parents as -- they are nice, but "touchy as hell." He also mentions his brother, D.B., who is working in Hollywood as a writer. He doesn't respect him because he feels that his brother sold himself short for the sake of earning more money. He feels that he is too talented for the type of work that he is doing.

Holden begins talking about himself from the time that he was expelled from Pencey Prep, a school he attended in Agerstown, Pennsylvania. It was the last Saturday at school, the time of the football game with Saxon Hall.

Holden, is not attending the game because he had just returned from New York from a fencing match and realized that he had accidentally left the foils on the subway. The fencing team was angry at Holden because he had been in charge and had been careless.

Before he leaves school, Holden goes to say good-bye to Mr. Spencer, his history teacher. He knows that Holden has been expelled and tries to give him some advice.

Review:

The story is told in the first person by Holden Caulfield who recounts the events that led up to his present condition. His manner of speaking is consistent with his age and adolescent mentality.

From the way Holden speaks, the reader assumes that there is something wrong with him but Holden never reveals what it is. Holden talks about "phoniness" around him and how the dishonesty of the adult world disturbs him. He also mentions the problem of materialism and his contempt for his brother who in his pursuit of money is being untrue to himself and to his ideals.

Chapter Two:

Review:

Chapter Three:

Ackley does not have many friends and makes a nuisance of himself until Holden's roommate, Stradlater comes. Ackley hates him and quickly leaves.

Review:

Holden introduces some of his peers at Pencey, as he perceives them. Ackley is depicted as being weird and nasty and Stradlater as the good-looking, conceited "jockey." Even though he doesn't seem to like either of the two boys, Holden doesn't reject them.

Chapter Four:

Stradlater tells Holden that he has a date with Jane Gallagher, a girl Holden knows and likes. This upsets him as he was concerned that Stradlater would take advantage of her. He asks Stradlater to give her his regards and not to tell him that he was kicked out of school. He lets Stradlater wear his hound's-tooth jacket and half promises him to write an essay for him.

Review:

This chapter further establishes Holden's personality. He admits to being a liar and loving fantasy. In his favor however, he also exhibits a certain amount of kindness towards others. He lends Stradlater his jacket, agrees to write an essay for him, and shows concern about Jane at being alone with Stradlater.

Chapter Five:

Since it was Saturday, the meal that was always served was steak. It wasn't very appetizing and everyone was glad when it was over. Afterwards Holden decided to go with Ackley and Mal Brossard to Agerstown to see a movie. When they get there, they change their mind and just hang around a bit.

When they get back to Pencey, Mal goes to play bridge and Ackley stays with Holden in his room. He finally leaves when Holden begins to work on the assignment for Stradlater.

Holden decides to write a descriptive essay about a baseball glove that his brother Allie used to copy poems onto. Allie who was two years younger had died of leukemia several years before
and this incident had a profound effect on Holden.

Review:

Holden's description of Allie and how he felt when he died, gives the reader some insight as to the extent of Holden's loss. The chapter also reveals how his parents were unable to understand the deep loss that he experienced and were more concerned with the fact that he could not control his rage about his brother dying, and that he broke the windows in the garage.