The Catcher in the Rye: Characters

Holden Caulfield – The novel’s narrator and protagonist, Holden is a seventeen year-old high school junior who has flunked out of prep school several times. His sister is Phoebe, and he has a deceased younger brother, Allie and an older brother, D. B. On the brink adulthood, Holden struggles to bridge the gap between the innocent perfection he perceives in childhood (namely in Phoebe and Allie) and the “phoniness” that he thinks makes up most of adulthood and the rest of society. The strategy that Holden uses to counter the onslaught of prep school teachers and pubescent classmates that threaten his childhood innocence is evasion: he ditches school for New York and spends a few days bouncing between hotels and bars. Holden’s escape to New York is an act of desperation, not maturity, as shown by his often inappropriately childish behavior throughout the novel. He wears an awkward hunting hat in the middle of Manhattan and asks cab drivers about the ducks in Central Park, for example. Holden’s eventual mental breakdown, which occurs some time before he begins writing his story, signifies the severity of his suffering as he faces the inevitability of growing up. His dream of becoming a “catcher in the rye” represents his wish to save other children from the descent into adulthood that he vainly tries to resist.

Phoebe Caulfield – Holden’s younger sister. Though only ten years old, Phoebe is considerably more mature than Holden. She is a voice of reason throughout the novel, both in Holden’s thoughts and in the advice she gives to him in person. Phoebe is also unusually perceptive: her insight into Holden’s misanthropy, his hatred of almost everything, is a key turning point in the novel. It’s no coincidence that perhaps the most level headed and intelligent character in the novel is a child. Holden idealizes childhood and values children’s ideas and opinions more than those of adults. Phoebe’s intelligence and wise counsel offer a strong contrast to the lectures he receives from the various teachers and headmasters that he despises.

Allie Caulfield – Holden’s deceased younger brother. Allie died of leukemia on July 18, 1946, when Holden was thirteen. Holden describes Allie as intelligent, calm, and friendly.

D. B. Caulfield – Holden’s older brother. Holden looks up to D.B., but is disappointed in his decision to go to Hollywood to write for the movies, which Holden thinks is an act similar to prostitution.

Jane Gallagher – A summer girlfriend of Holden’s. Jane is one of the few people of whom Holden speaks fondly. In fact, he idealizes her so much that he makes her sound perfect.

Ward Stradlater – Holden’s roommate at Pencey Prep. Though Stradlater is attractive and popular, Holden despises him for his arrogance and his “secret” dirty hygiene.

Robert Ackley – The peculiar and annoying student who lives in the room next to Holden’s. Ackley’s bad skin and teeth make him physically repulsive to Holden.

Sally Hayes – A beautiful girl whom Holden has dated in the past. Sally is an example of women to whom Holden is attracted, but does not respect.

Mr. Antolini – Holden’s former English teacher, now an instructor at New York University. Mr. Antolini is one of the few adults Holden respects, and one of the few who is willing to both engage with Holden and yet also not to let Holden get away with any of his tricks. He warns Holden that Holden is headed for a “terrible fall.”

Mr. Spencer – Holden’s history teacher at Pencey Prep who tries unsuccessfully to motivate Holden to “play by the rules,” and take more responsibility for himself and his academic performance.

James Castle – A student at Elkton Hills (Holden’s former school) who committed suicide by jumping out of his window after an argument with another student.

Faith Cavendish – A former stripper whom Holden calls to arrange a date shortly after he arrives in New York.

Mr. Haas – The headmaster of Elkton Hills, Holden’s former school.

Carl Luce – Three years older than Holden, Luce was Holden’s student advisor at the Whooton School.

Maurice – The elevator operator at the Edmont Hotel, who makes extra money by being a pimp.

Sunny – A teenage prostitute who Holden sees at the Edmont Hotel.

Horwitz – The taxi driver who explains to Holden about the ducks in the Central Park lagoon.

Bernice Krebs – A girl Holden dances with at the Edmont Hotel’s nightclub.

Lillian Simmons – An obnoxious girl that D.B. once dated. Holden avoids her at Ernie’s.

Dr. Thurmer – The Pencey Prep headmaster. He tells Holden that “life is a game,” advice that Mr. Spencer repeats to Holden at the beginning of the novel.

Ernest Morrow – A boy who Holden considers the “biggest bastard” at Pencey. Holden meets Ernest’s mother on the train to New York.

Rudolf Schmidt – The Pencey Prep janitor. Holden uses his name when he introduces himself to Ernest Morrow’s mother on the train to New York.