The Catcher in the Rye

Holden Caulfield

The protagonist and narrator of the novel. A troubled and alienated teenager who has been expelled from several prep schools.

Phoebe Caulfield

Holden's younger sister, whom he deeply loves and respects. She is intelligent, insightful, and one of the few people Holden genuinely connects with.

Allie Caulfield

Holden's younger brother who died of leukemia. Allie is idealized by Holden and represents innocence and purity.

D.B. Caulfield

Holden's older brother, who is a writer turned Hollywood screenwriter. Holden views him as a sell-out.

The Secret Goldfish

the book of short stories that D.B. writes before going to Hollywood

Mr. Spencer

Holden's history teacher at Pencey Prep, whom Holden visits before leaving school. He is concerned about Holden's future.

Mr. Antolini

An English teacher whom Holden admires. He gives Holden advice about his future, but also makes Holden uncomfortable when he tries to touch him.

Sally Hayes

An attractive girl Holden dates. She is conventional and represents the phoniness Holden despises.

Jane Gallagher

Holden's childhood friend and crush. She is innocent and represents a past that Holden idealizes.

Stradlater

Holden's roommate at Pencey Prep. He is handsome, popular, and a pervert according to Holden. They get into a fight over Jane Gallagher.

Ackley

Holden's unhygienic and annoying dorm neighbor at Pencey Prep. Holden finds him irritating but also somewhat pities him.

Maurice

The elevator operator at Holden's apartment who later assaults him after a disagreement over payment for a prostitute.

Sunny

A prostitute hired by Holden through Maurice, who he finds disturbing and confrontational.

Carl Luce

A student at Columbia who was Holden’s student advisor at the Whooton School. At Whooton, he was a source of knowledge about sex for the younger students, and Holden tries to get him to talk about sex at their meeting.

Dr. Thurmer

The headmaster of Pencey Prep, where Holden is expelled. He is seen as a symbol of the phony adult world that Holden despises.

Mrs. Morrow

The mother of a classmate, Holden lies to her on a train, presenting himself and her son as more sophisticated people than they are. She is depicted as a well-meaning but naive woman.

Ernest Morrow

A classmate of Holden's at Pencey Prep, whose mother Holden deceives during a train journey. He uses Ernest's name to fabricate a story, showcasing his tendency to lie and escape reality.

BB gun fight

an event that Holden excluded Allie from, leading to Holden’s guilt.

Radio City

where Holden goes to see a movie. He finds the Rockettes’ Christmas stage show ridiculous and superficial, but it makes him remember how he and Allie used to love the kettledrum player in the Radio City pit orchestra. The man was an unnoticed, minuscule part of the show, but he seemed to take joy and pride in what he did.

Hazle Weatherfield

an orphaned detective about whom Phoebe writes books and whose last name Phoebe writes as her middle name

Pencey Prep

The boarding school from which Holden is expelled, and where he interacts with many of the novel's characters.

Phoniness

A concept Holden despises, representing hypocrisy and artificiality, exemplified by characters like Sally Hayes and Dr. Thurmer.

Innocence

A valued quality, associated with Allie and Jane Gallagher, representing a pure past Holden tries to protect.

Alienation

Holden's pervasive feeling of being disconnected and isolated from society and other people.

New York City

A primary setting of the novel after Holden leaves Pencey Prep, where he experiences various encounters.

Red Hunting Hat

A symbol of Holden's desire for protection, individuality, and rebellion against conformity.

Museum

A place Holden loves due to its unchanging nature, symbolizing his desire for permanence and aversion to the adult world's phoniness.

Carousel

A symbol of childhood joy and the freedom to reach for dreams, experienced by Holden with Phoebe.

Catcher in the Rye

The central metaphor of the novel, reflecting Holden's imagined role of protecting children from losing their innocence.

James Castle

A character who tragically takes his own life after being bullied, representing the themes of isolation and the impact of cruelty in society.

Ed Banky

A character who is the basketball coach at Pencey Prep who lent Stradlater his car

Bernice

A character who dances with Holden at the Lavender Room but ultimately embodies the superficiality he despises.

Jim Steele

a name Holden uses as a cover when he is at the hotel

Faith Cavendish

A character Holden contacts after leaving Pencey, known for her sexual openness and lack of deep conversation.

Rockefeller Center

Ernie’s Club

a nightclub in New York City where Holden goes to listen to jazz and feel connected; finds the piano player to be a phony

Little Shirley Beans

A record that Holden buys for his sister Phoebe, symbolizing his desire to protect her innocence. It becomes a significant item in the story, representing his emotional state.

About a girl who is shy and doesn't want to leave her house because she's missing her front teeth.