who is holden caulfield writing to

What is Holden Caulfield famous for?

Holden Caulfield is a fictional character in author J. D. Salinger's 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye. Since the book's publication, Holden has become an icon for teenage rebellion and angst, and now stands among the most important characters of 20th-century American literature.

What happened to Holden Caulfield at the end of the catcher in Rye?

In the end, Holden has a mental breakdown, which occurs some time before he begins writing his story. By the novel’s conclusion, he is facing depression and struggling with the harsh inevitability of growing up. The The Catcher in the Rye quotes below are all either spoken by Holden Caulfield or refer to Holden Caulfield.

Is Holden Caulfield related to JK Salinger?

Holden Caulfield is one of the most enduring characters in 20th-century American fiction. It has been suggested that Salinger himself related so closely to Holden that he was protective of the character.

How is Holden Caulfield an uncertain character?

The ambivalent, second-guessing style enforces the sense of Holden as an uncertain character who doesn’t know himself or his own desires. Later, he says, “All of a sudden, I decided what I’d really do, I’d get the hell out of Pencey—right that same night and all.”

Who did Holden write the essay for?

StradlaterAfter a lackluster trip to town with Ackley and another student, Holden settles in to compose the descriptive theme paper for Stradlater. He decides to write about his brother Allie's left-handed baseball glove.

Who is Holden Caulfield talking to?

Character Analysis Holden Caulfield. Holden Caulfield, the 17-year-old narrator and protagonist of the novel, speaks to the reader directly from a mental hospital or sanitarium in southern California.

Who is Holden telling the story to besides the reader?

ESSAY 3: The whole novel is Holden's narration of this long story. Who is he telling this story to (besides the reader) and what can we conclude about Holden's fate? Besides the reader, Holden is telling his story to his therapist.

What was the purpose of writing The Catcher in the Rye?

Interpretation. The Catcher in the Rye takes the loss of innocence as its primary concern. Holden wants to be the “catcher in the rye”—someone who saves children from falling off a cliff, which can be understood as a metaphor for entering adulthood.

What does Holden realize at the end?

Holden indicates as much when in Chapter 26 he claims, “I sort of miss everybody I told about.” If it is true that Holden has grown less bitter by the end of the book and that he's learned the value of other people, then he may grow past his current depressive slump and go on to have a more successful career at his new ...

What does the last line of The Catcher in the Rye mean?

From that, Holden is in the hospital. The last line of the book says, "Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody." From what I remember, this means that Holden made up all of those stories.

Why was Catcher in the Rye banned?

The Catcher in the Rye has been challenged several times for its “excessive vulgar language, sexual scenes, and things concerning moral issues” (Sova).

Why do people not like Catcher in the Rye?

Most parents dislike the book for its crude language, occasional sexual themes and the whole notion of Holden Caulfield's quest. Despite many parents' objections, Catcher in the Rye is a classic story that all highschoolers need to read.

Is Holden Caulfield a phony?

In The Catcher in the Rye, the book is centered around a teenage boy who struggles to be truthful with himself and others. Despite the fact that Jay Gatsby is without a doubt a phony, Holden Caulfield is the more phony of the two because he is a liar, a hypocrite, and covers up his true feelings.

What age is Catcher in the Rye appropriate for?

This coming-of-age book by J.D Salinger is published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, and written for kids ages 14 years and up. The age range reflects readability and not necessarily content appropriateness.

Why is it called The Catcher in the Rye?

The book's title stems from a scene in Chapter 16 when Holden observes a young boy who, ignored by his parents, walks in the street while singing “If a body catch a body coming through the rye.” Holden interprets this scene as a perfect expression of the innocence of youth.

Where is Holden as he narrates the story?

mental hospitalHolden is not specific about his location while he's telling the story, but he makes it clear that he is undergoing treatment in a mental hospital or sanatorium. The events he narrates take place in the few days between the end of the fall school term and Christmas, when Holden is sixteen years old.

Who is Mr Spencer in Catcher in the Rye?

Mr. Spencer is Holden's history teacher at Pencey. He's the first adult Holden talks to in the book, and Holden seems to hold both him in high regard.

What does Holden Caulfield's name mean?

Featured on Sparknotes. A brief note about Holden's name: a “caul” is a membrane that covers the head of a fetus during birth. Thus, the caul in his name may symbolize the blindness of childhood or the inability of the child to see the complexity of the adult world.

Who is DB in Catcher in the Rye?

D.B. is Holden's older brother is a screenwriter in Hollywood. He used to write great stories—so great, in fact, that Holden credits him (twice) with being his favorite writer. D.B. is the height of phoniness in Holden's mind because he's sacrificed his art (writing stories) for money (writing screenplays).

Who wrote Holden Caulfield?

Green Day wrote a song titled "Who Wrote Holden Caulfield?" for their second studio album, Kerplunk (1992) after lead singer and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong read The Catcher in the Rye. Initially, he gave up on reading it after dropping out from Pinole Valley High School when he was 18 years old.

What nationality is Holden Caulfield?

Nationality. Irish-American. Holden Morrisey Caulfield is a fictional character in author J. D. Salinger 's 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye. Since the book's publication, Holden has become an icon for teenage rebellion and angst, and is considered among the most important characters of 20th-century American literature.

Why was Holden Caulfield banned from the Catcher in the Rye?

This was the reason he was unwilling to allow filming of the book or use of the character by other writers. The Catcher in the Rye is required reading in many high school English courses, although it has been banned from some school libraries by parent and teacher groups opposed to its use of profanity and perceived glorification of rebellion.

When was Holden Caulfield first published?

Salinger's first Holden Caulfield story, " I'm Crazy ", appeared in Collier's on December 22, 1945 . It is sometimes mistakenly reported that the name "Holden Caulfield" was derived by Salinger from a marquee or poster for the film Dear Ruth, starring William Holden and Joan Caulfield, but Dear Ruth was released in 1947 -- more than a year-and-a-half after Holden Caulfield's first appearance in print, and more than six years after Salinger's first unpublished short story was written using this name for a character.

What is Holden's most striking characteristic?

One of Holden's most striking and quintessential qualities is his powerful revulsion for "phony" qualities, a catch-all term for the perceived hypocrisy that irritates Holden.

How tall is Holden?

Holden is very much a character of contradiction; at seventeen years of age, he is six feet two-and-a-half inches (189 cm) tall, and already has some grey hair – though he himself admits that he sometimes acts more like a 13-year-old than an adult.

What does the mother of Caulfield's schoolmate send him?

Several other details match those found in the first chapter of Catcher, including a reference to the mother of one of Caulfield's schoolmates and to his own mother sending him a gift of ice skates, but the story ends with his returning home instead of running away from school.

Who is Holden Caulfield?

Holden Caulfield Character Analysis. Holden Caulfield. The novel's narrator and protagonist, Holden is a high school junior who has flunked out of prep school several times. He is from New York City, where his younger sister, Phoebe, still lives with his parents. Holden also has a deceased younger brother, Allie, and an older brother, D.B.

How old was Holden Caulfield in 1950?

It is several months into 1950, and 16-year-old Holden Caulfield is recuperating at an unspecified location after becoming “run-down.” His story begins, he says,... (full context)

Why does Holden tell Ackley to leave?

Finally, Holden tells Ackley to leave so he can work on Stradlater’s English homework. The assignment is... (full context)

What is Holden's struggle with Phoebe and Allie?

On the brink of adulthood, Holden struggles to bridge the gap between the innocent perfection he per ceives in childhood (namely in Phoebe and Allie) and the "phoniness" that he thinks makes up most of adulthood and the rest of society.

Why did Holden walk to Central Park?

Holden walks to Central Park to check on the ducks in the lagoon. On his way,... (full context)

How does Holden exit the school?

After delivering the note for Phoebe, Holden exits the school by using a different staircase. On his way out, he notices yet... (full context) Holden sets out for the Museum of Art. On his way, he considers calling Jane Gallagher,... (full context) Upset, Holden goes to the bathroom in the museum, feeling suddenly ill.

What happens to Holden in the end?

In the end, Holden has a mental breakdown, which occurs some time before he begins writing his story. By the novel’s conclusion, he is facing depression and struggling with the harsh inevitability of growing up.

What does Holden's name mean?

A brief note about Holden’s name: a “caul” is a membrane that covers the head of a fetus during birth. Thus, the caul in his name may symbolize the blindness of childhood or the inability of the child to see the complexity of the adult world. Holden’s full name might be read as Hold-on Caul-field: he wants to hold on to what he sees as his innocence, which is really his blindness.

What are Holden's peculiarities?

The most noticeable of Holden’s “peculiarities” is how extremely judgmental he is of almost everything and everybody. He criticizes and philosophizes about people who are boring, people who are insecure, and, above all, people who are “phony.”.

What does Holden mean by "phony"?

Holden applies the term “phony” not to people who are insincere but to those who are too conventional or too typical—for instance, teachers who “act like” teachers by assuming a different demeanor in class than they do in conversation, or people who dress and act like the other members of their social class. While Holden uses the label “phony” ...

Why does Holden use the term "phony"?

While Holden uses the label “phony” to imply that such people are superficial, his use of the term actually indicates that his own perceptions of other people are superficial. In almost every case, he rejects more complex judgments in favor of simple categorical ones.

How do you know if Holden is a troubled narrator?

The obvious signs that Holden is a troubled and unreliable narrator are manifold: he fails out of four schools; he manifests complete apathy toward his future; he is hospitalized, and visited by a psychoanalyst, for an unspecified complaint; and he is unable to connect with other people.

What is the catcher in the rye about?

The Catcher in the Rye. The number of readers who have been able to identify with Holden and make him their hero is truly staggering. Something about his discontent, and his vivid way of expressing it, makes him resonate powerfully with readers who come from backgrounds completely different from his. It is tempting to inhabit his point of view and ...

Who Wrote Holden Caulfield analysis?

This song is about the novel Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger. Holden Caulfield is the leading character in this novel. Holden feels like an outcast, trying to find his way through adolescence.

What is Holden Caulfield syndrome?

Holden Caulfield suffers from post traumatic stress disorder. The fictional cause is the death of his beloved little brother, Allie.

What mental illness does Holden Caulfield have?

Caulfield may be seen as suffering from a variety of mental illnesses including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This mental state could be a result of a variety of factors, including the death of his younger brother Allie, as well as witnessing the gruesome scene of a classmate’s death.

Is Holden in a mental hospital at the end of the book?

After a two month jump in time, he explains that he returned home to his family and got sick. He was sent to a rest home, which is more commonly known as a hospital to treat his mental illness. He narrates the final part of the book from this institution, with a hopeful attitude towards the future.

What does the ending of Catcher in the Rye mean?

The Catcher in the Rye ends ambiguously. The ambiguity is mostly due to the significant time gap between the book’s last two chapters. This would entail believing that his happiness at the end of Chapter 25 is genuine and that this happiness predicts an eventual, full recovery.

Why does Maurice hit Holden?

Maurice hits Holden, because Sunny the prostitute asks for more money than was originally agreed, and Maurice comes up to his room and beats him up to get the money.

Why does Holden have a mental breakdown?

Through psychoanalysis of Holden Caulfield, one may suggest that Allie ‘s death, social development, and an identity crisis are large contributing factors in Holden ‘s mental breakdown. Throughout the story, Holden frequently mentions feeling depressed and lonely. He also has problems getting along with people.

What does Holden's language indicate?

In addition to marking his desire to be seen as rebellious, Holden’s language also indicates his immaturity. Rather than using profanity for emphasis, or to express extreme emotion, Holden uses words like “goddamn” as verbal placeholders, examples of the intellectual laziness Mr. Spencer points out in their meeting.

What is Holden's narrative speech?

Holden’s narrative speech more closely resembles that of the uneducated characters than that of the more educated, “phony” ones. But when he is in a situation where he wants to appear sophisticated, he switches to a more elevated style, revealing his upper class background.

What slang does Holden use?

As the reader notices from the very first sentence, Holden makes liberal use of 1950s-era slang (like “lousy” and “swell”) and drops curse words (like “hell” and “damn”) frequently.

What does Holden mean by hyperbole?

Holden also tends to engage in hyperbole and generalization, both of which undermine his authority as a narrator and signify that he himself is unsure how to make sense of his life. Hyperbole is a form of overstatement that is not meant to be taken literally.

What is the style of the Catcher in the Rye?

The style of The Catcher in the Rye is highly self-conscious and vernacular, defining the main character while keeping the reader aware that the story is a creation of its narrator. The voice is characterized by Holden’s colloquial and frank use of language. As the reader notices from the very first sentence, Holden makes liberal use ...

Does Holden have a propensity for generalization?

Holden also has a propensity for generalization. Throughout the novel, he makes an observation, then immediately generalizes from it. For example: “ [Ackley] could hear me all right through the shower curtains, but he didn’t answer me right away. He was the kind of guy that hates to answer you right away.”.

Is Holden the only character in the book with his own unique voice?

It also keeps us aware that he is crafting his story for a certain effect, with limited success. Holden is not the only character in the novel with his own unique voice.

Who is Holden's history teacher?

Mr.Spencer is Holden's history teacher. Mr.Spencer asked him to stop by and when he went over he got scolded for flunking out of school.

Who is Holden's brother?

D. B. is Holden's older brother and is a screen writer in Hollywood. Holden hates that D. B. has "sold out" to the Hollywood establishment for money and a fancy Jaguar. Holden calls his brother a "prostitute" because he takes money for his writing talent.

What does Holden think of Pencey?

Holden feels that Pencey has high academic standards, but he is skeptical about it's claim to mold boys into "splendid, clear-thinking young men". He thinks that those boys who were splendid and clear thinkers were probably such before they were enrolled into the school.

What does Holden mean by "life is a game"?

Holden was thinking that life was a game when you are on the side where all the hot-shots are. But if you are on the side where there aren't any hot-shots, then it is not a game. He means that when there are hot-shots on your side, it is a game between you and them. Without hot-shots life is nothing.

Why does Holden watch from the hill?

Holden watches from the hill because he doesn't want to go down and see the students. Just got back from New York with fencing team and because he was on his way to say goodbye to Mr.Spencer.

Was Stradlater a good guy?

He said that Stradlater was a good guy and generous. Also he said that he didn't say the thing about brushing his teeth to insult him.

Overview

In The Catcher in the Rye

In other works

Caulfield family in other works

Cultural impact

External links