Catcher in the Rye

A detailed Summary of Catcher in the Rye

...I was standing way the hell up on top of Thomsen Hill, right next to this crazy cannon that was in the Revolutionary War and all. You could see the whole field from there, and you could see the two teams bashing each other all over the place. You couldn't see the grandstand too hot, but you could hear them all yelling, deep and terrific on the Pencey side, because practically the whole school except me was there...

There were never many girls at all the football games. Only seniors were allowed to bring girls with them. It was a terrible school, no matter how you looked at it. I like to be somewhere at least where you can see a few girls around once in a while, even if they're only scratching their arms or blowing their noses or even just giggling or something. Old Selma Thurmer- she was the headmaster's daughter- showed up a the games quite often, but she wasn't exactly the type that drove you mad with desire. She was nice girl, though. I sat next to her once in the bus from Angerstown and we sort of struck up a conversation. I liked her. She had a big nose and all her nails were all bitten down and bleedy-looking and she had on those damn falsies that point all over the place, but you felt sort of sorry for her. What I liked

This passage is found in the first chapter and Holden describes himself and his life, to let the reader know a little more about himself. He describes the football game as he watches and then thinks to himself, and describes Selma Thurmer. What I got out of the passage I found really interesting and surprising.

about her, she didn't give you a lot of horse manure about what a great guy her father was. She probably knew what a phony slob he was. (The Catcher in the Rye, 2-3).

How is it that one circumstance or feeling can be a person's stability, yet also his or her owns destroyer? In the first passage, it becomes obvious that Holden separates himself from the rest of his schoolmates in the football game. Seclusion of the outside world is a way of protection for Holden in that he does not have to deal with people and their deceptions, hypocrisy, and falsity- his main fear. However, his loneliness will also be a source of great pain because he will yearn for companionship and love. Alienation and seclusion are a source of Holden's strength and stability in his life in that he can prevent and stop "phoniness". However, it will ultimately be the source of Holden's weakness. He will begin to shut himself out from the world around him, and I think this foreshadows an illusory wall that he will build around himself. Holden will eventually stop making connections with people, and will lock himself out of relationships and love. Holden wil

Some common words found in the essay are:
Selma Thurmer, Selma Thurmer-, Revolutionary War, Catcher Rye, , Thomsen Hill, selma thurmer, passage found, describes selma, football game, source holden's, idea seclusion, chapter holden,

Approximate Word count = 976
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels