The Catcher in the Rye

by

J. D. Salinger

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on The Catcher in the Rye makes teaching easy.

Maurice Character Analysis

The elevator operator at the hotel where Holden stays on his first night in New York, who turns out to be a pimp—Maurice offers to send a prostitute to Holden’s room for $5. Hesitant at first, Holden agrees, though he doesn’t actually have sex with the prostitute, Sunny, when she arrives. Nonetheless, he gives her $5, but she tells him he owes her a grand total of $10. When he refuses, she leaves, but she returns shortly thereafter with Maurice, who punches Holden in the stomach because he calls him a “moron,” at which point Sunny takes the extra $5 from his wallet.

Maurice Quotes in The Catcher in the Rye

The The Catcher in the Rye quotes below are all either spoken by Maurice or refer to Maurice. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Phoniness Theme Icon
).
Chapter 13 Quotes

If you want to know the truth, I’m a virgin. I really am. I’ve had quite a few opportunities to lose my virginity and all, but I’ve never got around to it yet. Something always happens…I came quite close to doing it a couple of times, though. One time in particular, I remember. Something went wrong, though—I don’t even remember what any more.

Related Characters: Holden Caulfield (speaker), Maurice
Page Number: 120
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 14 Quotes

It took me quite a while to get to sleep—I wasn’t even tired—but finally I did. What I really felt like, though, was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out the window. I probably would’ve done it, too, if I’d been sure somebody’d cover me up as soon as I landed. I didn’t want a bunch of stupid rubbernecks looking at me when I was all gory.

Related Characters: Holden Caulfield (speaker), Maurice, Sunny
Page Number: 136
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire The Catcher in the Rye LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Catcher in the Rye PDF

Maurice Quotes in The Catcher in the Rye

The The Catcher in the Rye quotes below are all either spoken by Maurice or refer to Maurice. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Phoniness Theme Icon
).
Chapter 13 Quotes

If you want to know the truth, I’m a virgin. I really am. I’ve had quite a few opportunities to lose my virginity and all, but I’ve never got around to it yet. Something always happens…I came quite close to doing it a couple of times, though. One time in particular, I remember. Something went wrong, though—I don’t even remember what any more.

Related Characters: Holden Caulfield (speaker), Maurice
Page Number: 120
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 14 Quotes

It took me quite a while to get to sleep—I wasn’t even tired—but finally I did. What I really felt like, though, was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out the window. I probably would’ve done it, too, if I’d been sure somebody’d cover me up as soon as I landed. I didn’t want a bunch of stupid rubbernecks looking at me when I was all gory.

Related Characters: Holden Caulfield (speaker), Maurice, Sunny
Page Number: 136
Explanation and Analysis: