The Catcher in the Rye

1
The Catcher in the Rye

• Chapters 10-12

2
Holdens Quest for Companionship

• Wants to call Phoebe
• You never saw a little kid so pretty and smart
  in your whole life (67).
• Red hair like Allie
• Person he likes and can communicate
• And when Allie and I were having some
  conversation about things in general, old
  Phoebed be listening. Sometimes youd forget
  she was around, because she was such a little
  kid, but shes let you know (68).
• Childlike and innocent

3
Lack of Self-Awareness

• Lavender Room
• Realizes hes out of place
• Also, there were very few people around my age
  in the place. In fact, nobody was around my age
  (69).
• Refuses to acknowledge his behaviors or actions
• The other two grools nearly had hysterics when
  we did. I certainly mustve been very hard up to
  even bother with any of them (70).
• He feels like they want the interaction, they are
  boring him- phonies
• Ridicules and criticizes those around

4
Lack of Self-Awareness

• Lavender Room
• Mocked and pitied
• She kept asking me to call up my father and ask
  him what he was doing tonight (75).
• Calls them phonies, he is the one out of place
• Sees situation from a skewed point of view
• thinks hes mature and suave
• I tried to get them to stick around for a while,
  but they wouldnt (75).
• needs to see true self confused and depressed,
  desperate for interaction

5
Lack of Self- Awareness

• Lonely
• it was one of those places that are very
  terrible to be in unless you have somebody good
  to dance with, or unless the waiter lets you buy
  real drinks instead of just Cokes (75-76).
• Reality but makes excuses

6
Holdens Relationship with Jane

• Happy when hes with her
• Wants to protect her
• I really got to know her quote intimately. I
  dont mean it was anything physical or anything-
  it wasntYou dont always have to get too sexy
  to get to know a girl (76)
• She represents goodness, intimacy without
  sexuality
• Childhood innocence

7
Holdens Relationship with Jane

• Close bond
• She was the only one, outside of my family, that
  I ever showed Allies mitt to (77).
• Reveals an intense and intimate moment with her
• Then, all of a sudden, this tear plopped down on
  the checkerboardI dont know why, but it
  bothered the hell out of me (78-79).
• The she really started to cry, and the next
  thing I knew, I was kissing her all over-
  anywhere (79).
• Intimacy without physical

8
Holdens Relationship with Jane

• Mirrors Holdens situation and how he handles it
• I asked Jane what the hell was going on. She
  wouldnt even answer me, then. She made out like
  she was concentrating on her next move(78)
• Holden wont admit or turn to anyone for help
• Her innocence was taken advantage of?
• Holden couldnt protect her
• May explain his preoccupation with Jane and
  wanting to talk to her

9
Holdens Loneliness

• Holden feels increasing despair and isolation
  when not in contact with others
• What made it worse, it was so quiet and lonesome
  out, even though it was Saturday night It makes
  you feel so lonesome and depressed. I kept
  wishing I could go home and shoot the bull for a
  while with old Phoebe (81).
• Who he really wants to see

10
Holdens Loneliness

• Do you happen to know the ducks that swim
  around in it? In the springtime and all? Do you
  happen to know where they go in the wintertime,
  by any chance? (81).
• Ducks may provide an answer
• Seeks companionship
• Would you care to stop off and have a drink
  with me somewhere? (83)
• Alone with no where to go

11
Holdens Quest for Companionship

• Ernies
• Anyway, it made me feel depressed and lousy
  again, and I damn near got my coat back and went
  back to the hotel, but it was too early and I
  didnt feel much like being alone (84).
• Reality of his situation
• Ridicules everyone
• I certainly began to feel like a prize horses
  ass, though, sitting there all by myself (86).
• Sees the reality - refuses to acknowledge or take
  responsibility for it

12
Holdens Quest for Companionship

• It made me mad, though, when I was getting my
  coat. People are always ruining things for you
  (87).
• Holdens past encounters
• Feels that others have ruined things for him
• not been there for him when he needed them