Holden Caulfield is the protagonist and narrator of the story. Holden is seventeen when he tells the story, but was sixteen years old when the events took place.[9] His narration begins with his expulsion (for academic failure) from a school called Pencey Prep. He is intelligent and sensitive, but Holden narrates in a cynical and jaded voice. He finds the hypocrisy, phoniness, and ugliness of the world around him unbearable.

Allie Caulfield was Holden's younger brother, who died of leukemia when Holden was thirteen. Even though Allie was younger than Holden, Holden idolized Allie. Holden even prays to his deceased brother for safety. The night of Allie's death, Holden smashed all the windows in the family garage with his bare fists leading to permanent damage to his hand. Because of this injury, Holden can no longer make a tight fist with his right hand.

Phoebe Caulfield is Holden's younger sister. She is in the fourth grade at the time Holden leaves Pencey Prep. In some ways, she can be even more mature than him, even criticizing him for childishness.

D.B. Caulfield is Holden's older brother and lives in Hollywood. Holden professes to despise cinema for he believes it exemplifies his concept of "phoniness", but throughout the book he offers thoughtful and in-depth commentaries on films he has seen.

Robert Ackley Holden’s next-door neighbor in his dorm at Pencey Prep. Ackley is a pimply, insecure boy with terrible dental hygiene. He often barges into Holden’s room and acts completely oblivious to Holden’s hints that he should leave. Holden believes that Ackley makes up elaborate lies about his sexual experience.

Ward 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. Stradlater is sexually active and quite experienced for a prep school student, which is why Holden also calls him a “sexy bastard.”

Jane Gallagher A girl with whom Holden spent a lot of time one summer, when their families stayed in neighboring summer houses in Maine. Holden likes to remember Jane as a sensitive, innocent girl with a unique approach to checkers. She is Stradlater’s date Saturday evening, which bothers Holden.

Mr. Spencer is Holden’s history teacher at Pencey Prep.

Sally Hayes is a very attractive girl whom Holden has known and dated for a long time. Though Sally is well read, Holden claims that she is “stupid,” although it is difficult to tell whether this judgment is based in reality or merely in Holden’s ambivalence about being sexually attracted to her. She is certainly more conventional than Holden in her tastes and manners.

Mrs. Morrow The mother of Holden’s contemptible classmate, Ernest, she shares a train ride and creative conversation with “Rudolf Schmidt,” the alias used by Holden.

Horwitz The most interesting of the cab drivers in the novel, he takes Holden to Ernie’s Nightclub and offers unusual zoological insight regarding those ducks and the fish at the lagoon.

Sunny The prostitute Holden hires through Maurice. She is one of a number of women in the book with whom Holden clumsily attempts to connect.

Maurice The elevator operator at the Edmont Hotel and Sunny’s pimp, who procures a prostitute for Holden.

Bernice, Marty, and Laverne Three thirtyish tourists from Seattle, they leave Holden with the tab at the Lavender Room. Bernice is a very good dancer.

Carl Luce A student at Columbia who was Holden’s student advisor at the Whooton School. Luce is three years older than Holden and has a great deal of sexual experience. At Whooton, he was a source of knowledge about sex for the younger boys, and Holden tries to get him to talk about sex at their meeting.

Ernie A talented pianist at his own club in Greenwich Village, he exemplifies Holden’s concept of an artist who has sold out.

Lillian Simmons All bust and no brains, she and her date ask Holden to sit with them at Ernie’s. She used to date D.B. and oozes her fake charm in hopes of making a good impression.

James Castle A student at Elkton Hills, he jumped to his death rather than recant a statement about an arrogant bully.

Mr. Antolini Holden’s former English teacher at the Elkton Hills School. Holden sometimes finds him a bit too clever, but he looks to him for guidance.

Mr. Vinson Holden’s speech teacher at Pencey wants his students to unify and simplify their speeches and never digress.

my absoulote all time favourite book-theres always a copy nestled in my bag-the joys ive garnered from this book and limitless-it touched me at 16 and it continues to do so-a rare rare beauty of a book-genius-It works on so many levels-utter genius

I never liked it, as I just want to smack Holden all of the time.

Even though I understand the attraction of the book to teenagers of all ages, for there is a need to rebel, esp in the time it was written, and even love the way it is narated, the utter cunt that is Holden Caufield cannot intrigue me, like Tom Ripley, who is basically the same character; a whiney, insecure person without any backbone. But at least Ripley does not spiral deeper into this egocentrical pit of wallow that Caufield submits us to.

Followed the Wikipedia page you used, btw, which tells something about how attempted screen adaptations, and had to snigger at this part. A movie about one of the most unlikeable characters in the world, worshipped by lunatics and killers; can't wait to see it!

HamsterHuey said:

try "12 stories" by salinger

aw jeez huey-we have such different tastes-how will we ever live together?

jonylawson said:

We won't. Ever.

HamsterHuey said:

abierman said:

En nu ga ik het park in, rosé drinken met Talita van mijn Nederlandse profiel site.

HamsterHuey said:

Nou, doe Talita van je Nederlandse profiel site de groetjes!

abierman said:

Te laat!

i haaaaate this book. hate. it.

Great book. It's interesting to reread every few years and see how differently you relate to it. When I was younger, I related to Holden somewhat. Rereading this book provides an interesting guage to see how much you change over time and even how unrelatable the person you once were is. Or at least that's how I look at it.

evenstar3 said:

I love you. Looooove you.

HamsterHuey said:

i read it for school at the apex of my angsty teen years and wanted to throw it across the room.

let's burn copies of it together sometime

evenstar3 said:

Yes, please. It's the very American thing to do. Not cuz it is evil, or un-Christian, but just cuz it is WHACK.

I never understood the adoration. It's a very well written book, sure, but the characterisation is just... well, very Jimmy Dean; interesting to watch, but over the top.