Catcher in the Rye (16 and 17)

Questions and Answers

1. What does Holden want to buy in Chapter 16?
   Holden wants to buy a record for Phoebe.

2. What is the significance of the red hunting hat in these chapters?
   Holden uses the red hunting hat as a symbol of protection and comfort.

3. Who does Holden meet at the record store?
   Holden meets a girl named Sally Hayes at the record store.

4. What does Holden think about the people in the city?
   He finds them to be phony and superficial.

5. What does Holden do after leaving the record store?
   He goes to Central Park to sit on a bench and reflect.

6. Who does Holden think of while he is in Central Park?
   He thinks of his younger sister, Phoebe.

7. What is Holden's opinion about people who take the subway?
   He generally feels disdain for them, viewing many as intellectually inferior.

8. What does Holden decide to do about his relationship with Sally?
   He decides to call her and ask her out, despite his mixed feelings.

9. How is Sally described when Holden meets her?
   Sally is described as attractive and somewhat self-absorbed.

10. What kind of date do Holden and Sally go on?
    They go to see a play together, though Holden is not particularly excited about it.

11. How does Holden feel about the play they attend?
    He does not enjoy it and finds the people around him irritating.

12. What proposal does Holden make to Sally during their date?
    Holden impulsively suggests that they run away together.

13. How does Sally react to Holden's proposal?
    Sally reacts negatively, calling him crazy and rejecting the idea.

14. What does Holden think about leaving the city?
    He feels conflicted and anxious about the idea of escaping.

15. What does Holden call Sally during their argument?
    He calls her a "phony", reflecting his frustrations with her behavior.

16. What is Holden's emotional state after the argument with Sally?
    He feels despondent and angry, realizing he has no one to relate to.

17. What does Holden do after he leaves Sally?
    He wanders around the city feeling lonely and lost.

18. In Chapter 17, how does Holden feel about women in general?
    He has mixed feelings, viewing some as appealing while also finding many fake.

19. What does Holden hope to do in the future?
    He fantasizes about becoming the "catcher in the rye," protecting children from losing their innocence.

20. What internal conflict does Holden face throughout these chapters?
    He struggles with his desire for connection versus his fear of intimacy and being hurt.