Catcher In The Rye Character Analysis

Holden Caulfield is the main character in the, the Catcher in the Rye, by J.D Salinger. He is a conflicted Character who has depicted clear differences between childhood and adulthood. Holden is dealing with the pressures of growing up while still wanting to be a child. The references that Holden makes to his childhood make it seem like that was the time when he was happiest. Jane Gallagher, who is a relevant figure in Holden’s life and past, but is never introduced in the novel, is one of the most important references to Holden’s childhood. He portrays his past with Jane as happy. “You never even worried, with Jane, whether your hand was sweaty or not. All you knew was, you were happy. You really were.” (Salinger, 43) Is a quote from the

In the final chapters of the book, Salinger introduces the Phoebe, Holden’s younger sister. Holden talks about Phoebe and how much he values her and their bond is better than any of the other characters that Salinger introduced to the reader. Phoebe questions Holden’s future after making him realize that he doesn’t “like anything that’s happening.” When questioned what he wants to be, he replies that he wants to be the ‘catcher in the rye’ (inspired by the poem he misheard’, and wants to save children from running over the edge of a cliff. The symbolism of this is the idea that Holden sees adulthood as something very negative and ‘phony’, yet children, like Phoebe, see it as a positive, natural thing that comes with life.
The irony of Holden’s fantasy is that the poem he thought was entitled “If a body catch a body comin’ through the rye” is actually entitled “If a body meet a body coming through the rye” (which Phoebe corrects him on). This mistake is significant to Holden’s character, as it captures him directly between childhood and adulthood. The word ‘meet’ here means casual sex, something Holden despises. His interpretation of the poem, which switches the word ‘meet’ for ‘catch’ shows his childlike state of mind, despite him trying to act like an adult, or even a hero, in his