Salinger also makes the distinction between appearances and actuality when Holden describes Stradlater’s dirty razor, which demonstrates that Stradlater is only concerned with matters that relate to his public persona. He admits that he lied to Spencer by telling him that he had to go to the gym. GradeSaver, 30 September 2009 Web. "The Catcher in the Rye Chapters 3-5 Summary and Analysis". Holden decides to spend the night in Ackley's room, can't sleep, thinks of visiting Mal Brossard but changes his mind, and decides to "get the hell out of Pencey," instead of waiting until Wednesday to leave. Children are not "phony" and the exception for adults, were two nuns that he met.. "Ward Stradlater: Holden's roommate at Pency. He wakes Ackley and talks with him some more, asking whether he could run off and join a monastery without being Catholic. These descriptions must be taken with some skepticism, for they reveal Holden’s skewed perspective on others. Stradlater comes back to the dorm. Holden finds out that Stradlater’s date is Jane Gallagher, a girl Holden got to know the summer before last when they were neighbors. Stradlater arrives and is friendly to Holden. He decides to leave Pencey and spend a few days in a hotel in New York to give his parents time to “digest” the news of his expulsion. View our essays for The Catcher in the Rye…, View the lesson plan for The Catcher in the Rye…, View Wikipedia Entries for The Catcher in the Rye…. Holden does not let any slight against him go unnoticed, such as Stradlater’s use of his jacket and his hair gel. c. He didnt want a bunch of stupid rubbernecks looking at him all gory. What does Holden reveal about himself in this part? Stradlater then becomes worried that he has hurt Holden and will get into trouble. While Holden is pretty sure that Jane is not the kind of girl that would give in to Stradlater's advances, the thought of Stradlater with his Jane makes Holden insanely jealous. Holden, Ackley, and Holden’s friend Mal Brossard decide to take a bus into town to get hamburgers and see a movie. What does Holden do right after his fight with stradlater… During their conversation, Holden holds Stradlater in a half-nelson wrestling move, annoying him while he shaves. Holden Caulfield and Daniel Issacson: Much in Common? He writes about his brother Allie's baseball mitt. Stradlater refuses to share any details, and Holden punches him. Ackley has a terrible personality and an even worse complexion. Holden further defends Stradlater, claiming that he is conceited but generous. Well, if I recall correctly, Holden keeps thinking about what Stradlater might've done with Jane and he really gets angry. What point does Holden try to make about people when he talks about Stradlater and the "commas" and Ackley's description of the basketball player? Since he has nothing else to do, Holden goes down to the bathroom to chat with Stradlater as he shaves. Compare Phoebe with both Holden and Allie. And I believe he hits Stradlater or something. Stradlater punches Holden in the nose. He asks Stradlater to give her his regards and to refrain from telling her that Holden’s been kicked out of Pencey. Stradlater tells Holden that they didn’t go anywhere; they just sat in the car that he had borrowed from the basketball coach. Log in here. Word Count: 1156, Holden decides to join Stradlater in the bathroom while he shaves. 46. Explain in what way he is different. They don’t end up seeing a movie and come back to the dorm before nine. Holden wakes Ackley again and leaves the room shortly after. Additionally, some people like them cannot appreciate the real skill of writing or playing … Stradlater is Holden’s roommate at Pencey. Ward Stradlater is Holden's roommate at Pencey Prep. That's when the fight starts. He observes that he looks pretty tough, even though he obviously lost the fight. He claims to be both illiterate and an avid reader, but when identifying his favorite authors he cannot identify any particular reason why he likes their works. Even though Holden is eager to talk to Jane before their date, he doesn’t say hello to her. His view that adults serve only their self-interest is aggressively cynical, and his disillusionment with reality has crystallized into a jaded naïveté. All in all, The Catcher in the Rye is the story of a boy who once loved something so much that he cannot dare to love again now that the person is gone. Like Stradlater, Holden has a narrow focus; however, his self-centered behavior does not center on physical appearance as it does with Stradlater. Holden thinks D.B. Stradlater walks around shirtless to show off his build. Holden Caulfield, the sixteen-year-old protagonist of J. D. Salinger’s first novel, “The Catcher in the Rye,” which has been published by Little, Brown and … As he shaves, he asks Holden to do him a favor by completing his English homework for him. Holden packs quickly, momentarily saddened as he packs the new ice-skates his mother had bought him. Why? ©2021 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Be specific in your answer. Ackley returns, and Holden is actually glad to see him, for he takes his mind off of Jane Gallagher. The theme of sexuality and relationships is also developed. Rather, Holden can sense that Stradlater is only interested in having sex with Jane—an idea that sets Holden on edge. What does the fight between Holden and Stradlater tell us about Holden? Holden tells him to leave so that he can write Stradlater’s composition. (Holden does not like the term). He also gets out of the room as quickly as possible, but not before asking Holden to write an essay for him. He's not tough. His presence in the novel serves to highlight some of Holden’s psychological issues, and particularly his unspoken issues with sexuality. Start your 48-hour free trial and unlock all the summaries, Q&A, and analyses you need to get better grades now. Holden nervously asks Stradlater about his date with Jane. What can teenagers learn from the story Catcher in the Rye? He keeps calling Stradlater a moron. How does stradlater react? Ackley falls back asleep, and Holden can’t stop thinking about Stradlater’s date with Jane, remembering a double-date he had taken with Stradlater once. What might this object symbolize? Holden once double-dated with Stradlater, and he knows how Stradlater used a sort of false sincerity (Holden calls it his Abraham Lincoln voice) to get his way with girls. What does Spencer keep calling Holden? Stradlater went on a date with Jane and Holden got jealous at the thought of what they possibly could have done! Salinger devotes Chapter 4 to Holden’s fixation on Stradlater’s behavior. Holden is very nervous about Jane’s date with “a sexy bastard” like Stradlater. But he cannot stop imagining Jane fooling around with Stradlater, and he has trouble falling asleep. Beneath the cynical self-absorption, Holden may be a talented and intelligent writer who fails to apply himself to tasks. That's when the fight starts. This shows that he does not completely hate him, but he does not really like him either. Holden tells him to leave so that he can write Stradlater's composition. When he comes back, Holden expresses his irritation towards him, tearing up the composition he wrote for him and lighting a cigarette in the dorm, which he knows Stradlater does not like. He flaunts his assets, whether physical or monetary. Chapter 7. Holden gives this description of Stradlater in Chapter 4. Because Stradlater is much bigger, he easily wins, though this doesn’t stop Holden from persisting in calling him a “moron.” It is this fight that finally inspires Holden to leave Pencey once and for all, setting off for New York City in the middle of the night. What residents of the lagoon is Holden worried about? 47. He even managed to get in a fist fight with Stradlater, who I would have Holden feels “so lonesome” as he talks with Ackley. Although Holden does not employ his standard term “phony” to describe Stradlater in this chapter, he makes it clear that Stradlater exemplifies a strong sense of artificiality. Holden called him a moron and wouldn't shut up after Stradlater warned him to keep quiet. What does Holden say about him hating people, such as Ackley and Stradlater? Holden calls Stradlater a moron and gets a bloody nose for his trouble. He thinks the well-wishing implies that he's going to need good luck in the future. This also can be seen in Holden’s description of Ossenburger. After they spend some time in the room together, Holden tells Ackley to leave so that he can write Stradlater’s composition. Salinger, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. After dinner, Holden enjoys “horsing around” in the freshly fallen snow with some classmates. As Holden tells us, "Most guys at Pencey just talked about having sexual intercourse with girls all the time—like Ackley, for instance—but old Stradlater really did it. His sister Phoebe is the smartest little kid that he has ever met, and Holden himself is the only dumb one. In the middle of his conversation with Ackley, after fighting Stradlater, Holden is overcome by a deep loneliness. Holden asks Stradlater questions about her, and Holden shares how they used to play checkers together and how she “had a lousy childhood.”. Holden asks if he can sleep in Ackley’s roommate’s bed; Ackley won’t give a clear answer, which annoys Holden. Our By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Holden himself is sarcastically phony to Ackley when Ackley is rude to him. When Stradlater won’t tell Holden if he “gave her the time” in the car, Holden hits him and Stradlater pins him to the floor. Ross, J.J.. Soman Chainani and Adam Kissel, October 10, 2008 and ed. Well, that went well. Both characters, then, serve as ‘foils’ to Holden -- illuminating both his strengths and weaknesses as the protagonist. In Chapter 3, Holden’s admission that he is the “most terrific liar” one could meet is interesting given his detestation of phoniness. In The Catcher in the Rye, what are Holden's personality traits (e.g., judgmental)? Since Holden has always wanted to protected the innocence of a child, it is quite likely that he gives her his cap to keep … Stradlater is a “Yearbook” kind of handsome guy. He loves it and begs Holden to write another essay for him. Holden returns to his room, where he puts on a red hunting hat he bought in New York. They fight over Stradlater treating his date like trash, seeing as how she was an old friend of Holden's. He then borrows Holden’s hound’s-tooth jacket and leaves. Salinger introduces two other Pencey students in this chapter, each of whom represent contrasting types of reprehensible behavior. Also, how does this add to his characterization? Holden thinks about Central park, and how the Lagoon in Central park South would be frozen over in the winter. The reason Holden ultimately rejects Mr. Spencer’s perspective on rules may have to do with a deeper resentment at being told what to think. Whether giving away a tie or strutting around the dormitory in a state of undress, he performs these actions to show what he possesses. What criteria does Holden use to assess his favorite authors. In addition, as we perceive later, Holden lies to himself about shutting himself off from the deep emotion of love, since he clearly wants to love another despite his idea that he never wants to take the risk again after his brother’s death. He's angry that it's written in rhymes. He allows Stradlater to borrow his hound’s-tooth coat for his date, he writes a composition assignment for Stradlater, and he works on an inferior typewriter because he has loaned his own typewriter to someone else. Also to know, does Holden like Ackley? We’ve discounted annual subscriptions by 50% for COVID-19 relief—Join Now! Whatever the cause of his difficulties, the paper does reveal that Allie’s death is still a major concern for Holden and that the erratic and often violent behavior that Holden demonstrates during the course of his tale has a precedent. Holden wrote Stradlater’s essay on the glove, and was highly offended when Stradlater did not properly appreciate his work because Stradlater did not understand the significance of the object. Holden calls Stradlater a moron and gets a bloody nose for his trouble. Both use others as means to a particular end. Why is Holden thinking of joining a monastery? Because Stradlater is much bigger, he easily wins, though this doesn’t stop Holden from persisting in calling him a “moron.” There is blood everywhere, and Holden is sobbing on the carpet and keeps calling Stradlater a moron until Stradlater walks out of the room. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Holden keeps yelling at … He cannot even remember the name of his date that evening, and expects Holden to write his paper for him simply because he asked. At Pencey, Holden lives in the Ossenburger Memorial Wing of the new dorms. Holden is bothered by memories of double-dating with Stradlater, disgusted by Stradlater’s “technique” of using a sincere voice and ignoring his date’s protests to his physical advances. As we continue, we’ll look specifically for the subtext of how Allie’s death perhaps precipitated this deep alienation in Holden and caused him to lose himself to cynicism and repressed pain. When Stradlater leaves the room, Holden finds his hunting hat and, with a bloody face, goes next door to Ackley’s room. Stradlater is going on a date with Jane, who is a childhood friend of Holden's. Holden's red hunting cap could also symbolize protection of childhood naivete. He sits on the floor until Stradlater leaves the room, then puts on his hunting hat and stares at himself in the mirror. Stradlater leaves the room, and Holden inspects his own bloody face in the mirror. Ackley, a student whose room is connected to Holden’s, barges in. The Catcher in the Rye study guide contains a biography of J.D. Ackley is annoyed by the conversation, and Holden is annoyed by Ackleys phoniness, so he leaves. He wants to go say hello to her but is not in the mood to actually do it. Holden goes with Ackley and Mal Brossard into New York City to see a movie, but since Ackley and Brossard had both seen that particular Cary Grant comedy, they play pinball and get hamburgers instead. Phoebe reminds Holden of Allie in physical... Holden said he felt like committing suicide. Stradlater, in comparison to Ackley, is a “secret” slob, who would always shave with a rusty razor that he would never clean. Holden is angry because his brother never visits him. In order to heal, he will have to learn to love again without fear and without shutting down. Holden worries about Stradlater’s date with Jane. For the composition, Holden decides to write about his brother Allie’s baseball mitt. Notes. There is blood everywhere, and Holden is sobbing on the carpet and keeps calling Stradlater a moron until Stradlater walks out of the room. Holden sees Jane as a whole person, and he is interested in details about her. In Chapter Ten, Holden describes his family in more detail in the course of this chapter. I'm pretty sure that's how it started, anyway. Most of these things are done begrudgingly, and it seems that Holden is coerced by stronger peers like Stradlater. He then proceeds to… I'm pretty sure that's how it started, anyway. Ackley is Holden's next-door … Holden puts on his red hunting hat and looks in the mirror. And I believe he hits Stradlater or something. Both Holden and Stradlater are acting like the immature boys they are. Stradlater compounds his vanity with a strong egotism. He adjusts his hunting hat, yells “Sleep tight, ya morons!” and leaves. How might we describe Salinger’s style as a writer? When he prepares to leave Pencey, taking a final look down the corridor, Holden awkwardly states, “I was sort of crying. Allie, Holden’s younger brother, died when Holden was thirteen. Holden hears Stradlater come back to the room and go to bed. Summary: Holden, fully aware of his roommate's sexual tendencies, anxiously awaits Stradlater's return from his date with Jane Gallagher. Our By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Holden himself is sarcastically phony to Ackley when Ackley is rude to him. Allie, born two years after Holden, died of leukemia in 1946. I almost wished I was dead… I felt so damn lonesome.” This theme of loneliness—and the ensuing pull of death—is developed throughout the novel. About Stradlater? When they return, Ackley remains in Holden’s room, telling them about a girl he had sex with, but Holden knows that he is lying, for whenever he tells that same story, the details always change. Already a member? Click to see full answer Moreover, how does Holden describe Stradlater? In truth, Holden is much more like Ackley than Stradlater. Holden’s memories of his brother Allie are detailed and suggest the depth of his grief. In contrast, Stradlater is known for pursuing girls for sex, not friendship, and is uninterested in details about Jane. According to Holden, Stradlater is “Yearbook” handsome, implying that his attractive appearance is best shown in photographs and is thus divorced from Stradlater’s actual self. The Question and Answer section for The Catcher in the Rye is a great Ackley is ostentatiously boorish; in appearance and in manners he is disgusting and oblivious to all social graces. Holden claims that he is different from other men when it comes to woman. Stradlater insists, however, that Holden not write it too well, for the teacher knows that Holden is a hot-shot in English. I don’t know why.” He quickly covers this expression of sadness by yelling an angry good-bye. Holden strongly disliked him as he saw him as the quintessential phony, because Stradlater often put up an act in order to keep his image as a "jock" and to impress girls". He does things purely out of impulse, such as giving Stradlater a half-nelson. Holden does have his merits, as Stradlater indicates when he asks him to write his composition. Ackley claims that he hates Ward Stradlater, Holden’s roommate, as a “goddamn sonuvabitch,” but Holden tells Ackley that the real reason is that Stradlater told him that he should actually brush his teeth. Stradlater is much stronger than Holden, and pins him down and kneels on his chest. What does Holden do with the girl that Maurice sends over? First, Stradlater is an object of jealousy. Even though Holden is with Ackley, he is isolated; he does not share this sense of despair with his friend. Holden asks Stradlater not to tell Jane that he got kicked out. Holden explains that Stradlater is a “Year Book kind of handsome guy” who is a “secret slob.”. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Holden misses his brother and depends on the glove as a … Holden does not let any slight against him go unnoticed, such as Stradlater’s use of his jacket and his hair gel. What can teenagers learn from the story Catcher in the Rye? It is an apt self-identification, for his delusions are not so much about making others believe his deceptions (it is doubtful that persons such as Mr. Spencer believe Holden’s lies) but about self-delusion. Holden thinks nearly all adults are "phony". Stradlater uses Holden for favors such as writing papers, while Holden uses Ackley for amusement. Holden insults him some more, and Stradlater finally leaves the room. Holden claims that he is the most terrific liar one could ever meet. After writing the composition, Holden looks out the window and listens to Ackley snoring. When Ackley comes back into his room, he’s happy to get his mind off of it. I was personally acquainted with at least two girls he gave the time to. Stradlater barely listens as he fixes his hair with Holden’s gel. In these chapters, Holden’s character is further developed for readers. However, Holden’s descriptions of both of these characters cannot be trusted entirely. Holden does, however, have a few positive remarks about Stradlater. Holden gets up and goes into Ackley’s room, his face covered in blood. Holden has an eye for detail and the nuances of Stradlater’s behavior; he even analyzes the rhythm of the conversation that the two have when Stradlater asks Holden to write a paper for him. He writes about his brother Allie’s baseball mitt. The theme of ‘pain avoidance,’ then, however mundane, becomes the secret to decoding all of Holden’s self-destructive behavior. Ossenburger, a wealthy undertaker, graduated from the school, and Holden relates how “phony” Ossenburger seemed when he gave a speech exalting faith in Jesus. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye? Stradlater’s physical attractiveness comes up many times in the book’s early chapters, and this rambling passage exemplifies Holden’s borderline obsession with his roommate’s physique. (187) Holden says that he doesn’t hate a lot of people. Holden tries to ignore him, then pretends that he is blind. What type of literary devices are used in The Catcher in the Rye and what makes them effective? Continuing to berate others for phoniness, Holden cannot recognize his considerable failings. Maurice hit Holden in the stomach and Sunny toke another 5 from Holden’s wallet. Stradlater is a lady's man, and jock, and boastful about his sexual prowess with the ladies. After a lot of name-calling (on Holden's part) Stradlater smacks Holden a good one in the nose, resulting in quite the bloody mess. When pressed, he tells Stradlater he’ll only do the composition if he gets the time. Stradlater emerges as conceited and self-centered and obsessed with his appearance and image. List the people Holden thinks of calling from Penn Station. These characters do, nevertheless, serve the purpose of showing the stifling conditions that Holden faces at Pencey. The more I read of Catcher in the Rye, the more I believe that Holden has an “I hate the world” attitude. Stradlater leaves for his date wearing Holden’s hounds’-tooth jacket. 45. Holden realizes the irony that he is flunking out of Pencey, yet is still asked to do work for others. Stradlater leaves. He notes that “I felt so lonesome, all of a sudden. Ackley cuts his nails right in front of Holden. Explain Holden’s reaction to … Stradlater is playful and charming, but is still self-centered and arrogant. Like Stradlater, Holden has a narrow focus; however, his self-centered behavior does not center on physical appearance as it does with Stradlater. What does Holden admit about himself concerning fighting at the end of chapter 6? resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. Holden elaborates on his family history, recounting how his brother Allie died of leukemia. Well, if I recall correctly, Holden keeps thinking about what Stradlater might've done with Jane and he really gets angry. As Holden was talking with Phoebe at the house, he offers her the hat and makes her keep it. How is she similar to and/or different from her brothers, according to Holden’s description of her? But Holden witnesses a different side to Stradlater at first hand; he sees that Stradlater makes no effort to keep his razor or his toiletries … Holden cries as he takes a long last look down the corridor. Having nothing better to do, Holden keeps Stradlater company as he shaves. He admits that he is a very nervous person, which is evident when he becomes worried about Stradlater’s date with Jane. Salinger foreshadows the source of Holden Caulfield’s psychological troubles in Chapter 5 when he describes the composition that Holden writes for Stradlater. Stradlater - Holden's roommate at Pencey Prep.Stradlater is handsome, self-satisfied, and popular, but Holden calls him a “secret slob,” because he appears well groomed, but his toiletries, such as his razor, are disgustingly unclean. Copyright © 1999 - 2021 GradeSaver LLC. Stradlater asks Holden to write an English composition for him. He asks Holden to write a composition for him for English. A moron. At times, she exhibits great maturity and even chastises Holden for his immaturity. Holden keeps him in suspense and, out of boredom, begins imitating a tap-dancer from a movie. Not affiliated with Harvard College. Stradlater punches Holden in the nose. However, if Stradlater is vapid and superficial, Holden proves himself equally so by detailing each of these aspects of his roommate’s behavior with such precision. This pattern of behavior will continue throughout the novel on a larger, more destructive scale. Log In To Your GradeSaver Account Why didn't he? That's the truth" (7.32). Hopelessly vulgar and unclean, Ackley is unaware of the contempt that Holden Caulfield has for him, even when Holden confronts him with it. What criteria does Holden use to assess his favorite authors. Chapter 14. Holden just keeps sobbing and calling him a moron. He hates it and complains that it's about the wrong subject. Stradlater does not want to continue the fight, but Holden keeps insulting Stradlater’s intelligence, intentionally provoking more violence. Ackley and Stradlater demonstrate that Holden’s disgust for the school and its “phonies” is not completely unfounded. Stradlater does, however, give the reader a new perspective on Holden Caulfield. But there's one thing Stradlater is good at: sex. Mr. Spencer never rationally explains his view of life as a game, and as a result Holden refuses to buy into it. 3. Last Updated on June 3, 2020, by eNotes Editorial. He claims that he is “not in the mood,” but this may be a way for him to deny his nervousness. What does Holden reach for after his fight with Stradlater? 2. He asks Holden if he may borrow a jacket from him. When Holden goes to Ackley’s room, Ackley is irritated, saying he had been trying to sleep as he plans to go to Mass the next morning. What does Stradlater think of the essay Holden wrote for him? She used to be his neighbor and they would play checkers togetherWhat did Holden write Stradlater's composition aboutHe tore it up because Stradlater was … In this Chapter, the negative Holden compares the handsome, athletic Stradlater to the pathetic Ackley, calling them both "slobs." What is a great idea for a thesis statement for J.D. Holden loves his brother and wants to follow in his footsteps. He says Stradlater is a moron because he doesn't want to discuss things. Maurice later knocks on Holden’s door with Sunny, the prostitute, claiming that Holden was supposed to pay 10 dollars and demanded the money. Holden believes this occurs because parents visit on Sunday and students can thus tell them that they had steak for dinner the previous night, as if it were a common occurrence. Stradlater's bragging, and Holden's name calling are both examples of this. Stradlater talks about his date that night with Jane Gallagher. What does Holden keep calling Stradlater? He counts his money and sells his typewriter to a classmate. Holden continues to behave erratically throughout the chapter. When he finally lets him up, Holden calls him a "dirty, stupid sonuvabitch of a moron." Holden says that he is … I probably would've done it, too, if I'd been sure somebody'd cover me up as soon... Holden hates Spencer's advice and hates it evenmore when he yells "good luck". Holden notes that Stradlater is a “secret” slob, who is handsome but has personal habits that are nearly as dirty as Ackley ’s, though nobody would ever know this unless they roomed with him. The Catcher in the Rye essays are academic essays for citation. Stradlater punches him in the face. Catcher in the Rye: A History of Censorship, Read the Study Guide for The Catcher in the Rye…, The Etymology and Symbolism of Characters' Names, The Maturation of Holden Caulfield and Henry Fleming, Holden Caulfield's Character Presented in the Novel. On an impulse, Holden gives Stradlater a half nelson, which greatly annoys Stradlater. The night Allie died, Holden slept in the garage and broke all the garage windows with his fist. On Saturday nights at Pencey, the students are served steak. Holden keeps yelling at Stradlater and calling him names until Stradlater punches him. Holden relentlessly insults Stradlater, driving him crazy until he punches Holden and bloodies his nose. When Stradlater sees the composition Holden has written, he becomes angry and says that Holden has done it “backasswards.” Holden takes the composition back and rips it up.