Character List

Holden Caulfield The narrator and protagonist of The Catcher in the Rye, Holden is the son of a wealthy New York family who moves from boarding school to boarding school after being repeatedly expelled. Although he displays a number of typical teenage characteristics, his adolescent foibles become increasingly disturbing throughout the novel, revealing a self-destructive side. Holden, it seems, has been particularly devastated by the death of his brother Allie, who he considered the perfect child. This has thrown him into an existential crisis of sorts; he is unable to find joy in life or to cope with his loss. Ultimately on the brink, he capitulates to convention and comes back home, though there is little sense that he has found even the basic ingredients for happiness. Phoebe Caulfield Phoebe, Holden's nine-year-old younger sister, is more mature and intelligent than her age implies. She realizes the extent of her brother's misanthropy and unhappiness. Holden appreciates every minute detail of Phoebe's existence, it appears, including her stories about "Hazle Weatherfield, Girl Detective." Holden treats Phoebe with more respect and kindness than he treats any other character in the story. Phoebe, for her part, recognizes how tenuous Holden's grasp on reality is. Unlike her parents, she knows he is struggling, and she simply wants to be there for him. In the end, it is her willingness to go to the ends of the earth with him that wakes Holden up to the impossibility of his self-destructive impulses. He succumbs to this reality because he cannot bear to see Phoebe suffer. Allie Caulfield Holden's younger brother, Allie died from leukemia. Holden often reminisces about Allie, particularly about his baseball mitt, which Holden uses as the subject for Stradlater's essay. Holden adored Allie, but when Allie died, Holden lost his capacity to truly love without fear. The idea of putting his heart on the line for someone who might disappear has become Holden's crucible--and the consequences of shutting down have left him numb. Mr. Antolini Holden's former English teacher at Elkton Hills, Mr. Antolini now teaches at NYU. He allows Holden to stay with him and his wife after Holden leaves his home. He tells Holden that Holden is headed for a fall and that he envisions Holden dying nobly for an unworthy cause. When Holden awakens to find Mr. Antolini touching his head, he interprets it as a homosexual advance and quickly leaves the house. Holden says afterward that this type of perverse advance seems a regularity in his life. <a href="http://www.burstnet.com/ads/ad9283a-map.cgi/ns/v=2.3S/sz=300x250A/" target="_top">< img src="http://www.burstnet.com/cgibin/ads/ad9283a.cgi/ns/v=2.3S/sz=300x250A/" border="0" alt="Click Here" /></a> Ward Stradlater Vain, self-centered, and arrogant--nevertheless a "secret slob"--Stradlater is Holden's roommate at Pencey Prep. He asks Holden to write an English essay for him, but he gets angry after finding the essay too off-topic. Holden gets into a fight with Stradlater after he suspects that Stradlater seduced Jane Gallagher, with whom Holden is in love. At his core, Holden seems to want to be Stradlater and thus to command power over men and women alike.

Carl Luce One of the most intelligent people Holden knows, Carl was a student at Whooton when Holden attended. Carl then went to Columbia. He meets Holden at the Wicker Bar, where he chastises Holden for his immature behavior and recommends that he get psychiatric help. Robert Ackley A boorish, obnoxious student at Pencey, Ackley lives in a dorm room connected to the one where Holden lives. He is socially inept and physically disgusting; his complexion is poor and Holden suspects that he never brushes his teeth. Sally Hayes Holden goes out on a date with Sally, whose pretentious mannerisms ultimately drive Holden to insult her. Despite his contempt for her, Holden asks her to run away with him to New England, where they would live in a cabin in the wilderness together. After he insults Sally, however, she breaks ties with him, and Holden oddly feels relieved about that. Mr. Spencer Holden's history teacher at Pencey, Mr. Spencer discusses Holden's expulsion with him before he leaves the school He advises Holden to find direction in his life. Maurice The elevator man at the Edmond Hotel who is also a pimp, Maurice assaults Holden after he refuses to pay a ten-dollar fee to the prostitute he has arranged for Holden. Maurice told Holden the charge would only be five dollars, but he later cheats him on the price-pummeling Holden after the boy argues for the original price. Sunny A prostitute whom Holden hires for the evening but then rejects. Sunny demands a tendollar payment, but Holden had been led to believe that the charge would only be five. Bernice Krebs Bernice is a blonde woman from Seattle whom Holden meets at the Lavender Room. Holden dances with Bernice but grows to dislike her because she displays too much enjoyment for being a tourist in New York City. Faith Cavendish Faith is a former burlesque stripper and supposed prostitute. Holden calls Faith late at night to set up a date, but she refuses to go. Lillian Simmons Lillian is one of D.B.'s old girlfriends. Holden meets her at Ernie's and promptly leaves to avoid her and her new boyfriend. Lillian Antolini

The wife of Mr. Antolini, Lillian is an older woman who married Mr. Antolini because they shared similar intellectual interests. Horwitz Holden argues with Horwitz, a cab driver, on his way to Ernie's. Jane Gallagher Stradlater's date for the evening, Jane was a close friend of Holden several summers before. Holden frequently reminisces about spending time with her. Jane is one of the few people whom Holden speaks about in entirely positive terms; he is in love with her. D.B. Caulfield Holden's older brother, D.B. is a war veteran who is currently a screenwriter in Hollywood. Selma Thurmer The daughter of the Pencey headmaster, Selma is a nice girl, but Holden considers her unattractive because she does not treat her father with enough respect. Dr. Thurmer The headmaster of Pencey, Dr. Thurmer gives Holden advice that "life is a game" when he expels Holden from the school. Mr. Haas Mr. Haas is the Headmaster of Elkton Hills who, according to Holden, ignores "funnylooking" parents of Elkton students in favor of more elite parents. Ossenburger Ossenburger is a wealthy undertaker and Pencey graduate who gives a speech to the Pencey student body in which he exalts his relationship with Jesus. Edgar Marsalla Holden recounts that Edgar, a Pencey student, farted during the speech by Ossenburger. Mr. Hartzell An English teacher at Pencey, Mr. Hartzell is the only teacher who did not fail Holden during the previous semester. Mal Brossard Mal Brossard accompanies Holden and Ackley into the city to see a movie the night before Holden leaves Pencey. Ernest Morrow

According to Holden, Ernest is "the biggest bastard that ever went to Pencey." Holden meets his mother on the train to New York and lies about how popular and respected Ernest is at school. Rudolf Schmidt Rudolf is the janitor at Pencey. Holden uses his name as a pseudonym when he talks to Mrs. Morrow on the train to New York. Raymond Goldfarb Holden remembers how he and this student at Elkton Hills got drunk together. Dick Slagle Dick is one of Holden's former roommates at Elkton Hills. Holden remembers him primarily because he had delapidated suitcases. Al Pike Al Pike is a former boyfriend of Jane Gallagher. Holden decries him as an arrogant student at Choate who presumably suffers from an "inferiority complex." James Castle Holden tells a story about how James Castle, a student at Elkton Hills, committed suicide by jumping out of his window after an argument. Phil Stabile According to Holden, James Castle committed suicide after an argument with Phil.

Chapter 1
Holden Caulfield Sixteen years old. Six feet two with a shock of gray hair. Very immature but can act older than his age. (But no one notices.) Our narrator. Loves children. Hates phonys . D.B. Caulfield Holden's older brother. Served in the army. A writer. Author of "the Secret Goldfish". Now a prostitute for Hollywood (1). Selma Thurmer Daughter of Pencey's headmaster. Sat next to Holden on the bus. Not very pretty. "She was a pretty nice girl, though" (3). Robert Tichner & Paul Campbell Holden's friends at Pencey. Threw the football around until after dark. Didn't want to stop. But eventually, they had to (5). Mr. Zambesi Made Holden, Paul, and Robert stop throwing the football around (5). Mrs. Spencer Mr. Spencer's wife. She likes Holden, he thinks (7).

Chapter 2

Mr. Spencer Holden's History teacher at Pency. Holden visits him before leaving school. He flunks Holden and reads his essay on "the Egyptians" aloud as an explanation. He smells like Vicks Nose Drops and is a bad throw. "Life is a game, boy" (8). Mr. & Mrs. Caulfield Holden's parents. Mr. Caulfield is a businessman. Mrs. Caulfield doesn't sleep well. She's still traumatized over Allie. "They're grand people" (9).

Mr. Haas Headmaster at the Elkton School. One of the phoniest bastards Holden ever met (13).

Chapter 3
Mr. Thurmer Pencey Prep Headmaster. Phony. When Marsalla let one rip in chapel everyone pretended they didn't hear it. "But you could tell he heard it" (17). Ossenburger Pency alumnus who made a fortune opening funeral homes. Gave a speech in the Pency chapel. Talked to Jesus, asking Him to send a few more stiffs (17).

Edgar Marsalla Holden's friend at Pencey. Let one rip during Ossenburger's speech that " damn near blew the roof off" (17).

Robert Ackley Ackley kid. Roomed next to Holden at Pencey. No one liked him. Nosey and dirty. Holden took him along into town to be nice. Bad skin and bad teeth that "always looked mossy and awful" (19).

Ward Stradlater Holden's roomate at Pencey. Handsome and shallow. Asks Holden to write his composition for him and goes on a date with Jane Gallagher. Holden and Stradlater have a fist-fight. He was a friendly guy but "it was partly a phony kind of friendly (26).

Chapter 4
Mr. Hartzell Holden and Stratlader's English teacher. He thinks that Holden's a "hot-shot in English" (28). Howie Coyle Pencey basketball player. Ackley thinks he has a "perfect build" (29).

Jane Gallagher Stradlater's date and Holden's childhood friend. His image of frozen perfection. A major character in the book without actually appearing in it. When she and Holden played checkers she would never move her kings out of the back row (31).

Chapter 5
Mal Brossard Pencey wrestler who goes into town to get a burger and maybe catch a movie with Holden and (relunctantly) Ackly (35). Allie Caulfield Holden's younger brother who died three years earlier of leukemia. Bright, sensitive, and exceptional. Wrote poetry on his baseball mitt. "You'd have liked him" (38).

Chapter 6
Ed Banky Pencey basketball coach. Stradlater was one of his "pets" so he let Stradlater borrow his car to go on his date with Jane Gallagher (43).

Chapter 7
Ely Ackley's absent roomate (49). Frederick Woodruff Pencey student who buys Holden's typewriter for twenty dollars (52).

Chapter 8
Mrs. Morrow Ernest Morrow's mother. Attractive woman. Holden meets her on the train from Agerstown to New York City. He lies to her to spare her feelings concerning her son. Holden also tells her that he has a brain tumor (54). Ernest Morrow A classmate of Holden's. Although Holden tells his mother that he is popular but sensitive, in actuality he is "doubtless the biggest bastard that ever went to Pencey" and "about as sensitive as a goddam toilet seat"(54).

Rudolph Schmidt The janitor of Holden's dorm. Holden assumes his name during his conversation with Mrs. Morrow (54).

Chapter 9
Phoebe Caulfield Holden's ten-year-old sister. Very smart and perceptive girl. Roller-skate skinny with red hair. She likes to write girl books that she never finishes. Affectionate and emotional (59).

Carl Luce Classmate of Holden's at the Whooton School. He meets Holden at Ernie's for drinks. Very mature. Dates a Chinese woman in her late thirties. Knows a lot about perverts (59).

First Cabbie Takes Holden to the Edmont Hotel. Holden asks him about where the Central Park ducks go in the winter. (60).

Edmont Bellboy Depressing, very old guy who combed his hair in a sweep to cover his baldness. (61).

Edmont Hotel Perverts The transvestite dressing up in front of the mirror (61). The girl who was getting water squirtted all over her face (62).

Ann Louise Sherman A girl that Holden once necked with all night even though she was a big phoney (63).

Faith Cavendish A former burlesque stripper or something. Holden calls her from the Edmont to try to set up a date. But it's too late. She calls him "Mr. Cawffle" (64).

Eddie Birdsell A Princeton guy that Holden met at a party. He gave Holden Faith Cavindish's number for a "good time" (64).

Chapter 10
Marty, Laverne, and Bernice Crabs or Krebs Three girls that Holden meets in the Lanender Room. Tourists from Seattle. He dances with Bernice Crabs or Krebs. They spend their time looking for movie stars (like Peter Lorre) and then stick Holden with the check (69).

Chapter 11
Mr. Cudahy Jane Gallagher's mother's husband. A hint of abuse. He was a "booze-hound" (78). Ernie Piano player and owner of Ernie's nightclub. Good player but a big phony (80).>

Chapter 12

Horwitz (Second Cabbie) Drives Holden from the Lavender Room to Ernie's. Holden asks him where the Central Park ducks go in the winter (81). Lillian Simmons Former girlfriend of D.B., Holden runs into her at Ernie's. Marvellous! (86).

Commander Blop Navy guy with Lillian Simmons. He breaks four of your fingers just shaking hands (87).

Chapter 13
Raymond Goldfarb Holden's friend at the Whooton School. They got drunk together once in chapel. Raymond got very drunk but Holden only got very cool and nonchalant. He did puke, but he forced himself to (90). Maurice Edmont elevator operator/pimp. Sends "a girl" up to Holden's room for "a good time". After agreeing upon a price, Maurice wants more. Holden has a fist-fight with him but he doesn't stand a chance (90).

Sunny Young prostitute sent to Holden's room. Shallow, uneducated, and all-business. Holden and Sunny only talk. This is five. It costs ten. Holden assumes the alias of Jim Steele with Sunny. She calls him "crum-bum" (93).

Chapter 14
Bobby Fallon Holden's friend in Maine when he was younger. One day, Holden refused to take Allie with him to Bobby Fallon's house because Allie was just a child (98). Arthur Childs Classmate at the Whooton School. Quaker. He and Holden talked about the Bible. They disagreed (99).

Chapter 15
Sally Hayes Holden's old girlfiend. Sally is very interested in the theater. Very affected. They go on a date to see a play and then go skating at Radio City. Holden asks her to run away with him and then calls her names. She has a Christmas tree in need of trimming (105). Dick Slagle Holden's roomate at Elkton Hills School. They shared a room with their suitcases. Holden's were bourgeois(108).

The Two Nuns

Holden meets them in the sandwich bar. One is an English teacher. They discuss "Romeo and Juliet" over eggs. Holden gives them ten dollars as a contribution (109).

Chapter 16
Mrs. Hayes Sally Hayes' crazy mother. Holden talks to her on the phone when he's drunk. She likes her ass kissed (114). Estelle Fletcher Singer of "Little Shirley Beans" (114).

The Family on Broadway Poor looking family walking up Broadway. Father, mother and six-year old boy who was skipping from the curb into the street and back again. The boy's parents ignored him. The traffic didn't. He was singing "If a body catch a body coming through the rye" (115).

Phoebe's Schoolmate Holden finds her sitting by herself. Asks if she knows who and where Phoebe is. She has trouble with her skate key. Holden doesn't (118).

Miss Aigletinger Holden's grammar school teacher in New York. She often took the class to the Museum of Natural History. "She never got sore" (120).

Gertrude Levine Holden's partner during excursions to the Museum of Natural History. She liked to hold sweaty hands (120).

Chapter 17
Harris Macklin Holden roomed with him for two months at Elkton Hills. He was a bore with a very raspy voice. But he could whistle great. Holden never told him he thought he was a great whistler (123). George "Something" Phony Andover snob who Sally Hayes knew. She spotted him during her date with Holden. Thought the Lunts were "Angels". Big soul kisses (127).

Chaptr 18

Al Pike Some guy that Jane Gallagher once dated. Wore white Latex swimming trunks. "Show-off bastard" (135). Wolf Lady & Her Son Pair that Holden sees in the movie theater. She cries all through the movie but won't let her little boy go to the bathroom. "Kindhearted as a goddam wolf" (139).

Chapter 19
Tina and Janine Two French babes who performed at the Wicker Bar. One played piano and the other sang in half English and half "Vooly Voo Fransay" (141).

Chapter 20
Valencia Performer at the Wicker Bar. Opening act for Tina and Janine. Holden gives her the eye and instructs the headwaiter to ask Velencia to join him for a drink. He doesn't (149). Flitty Guy at the Wicker Bar Holden mocks him to Carl Luce. Later, in the men's room he advises Holden to go home because Holden is so drunk.

Chapter 21
The Dicksteins The Caulfields' neighbors. Holden pretends to be their nephew to the new elevator boy in order to sneak into his parent's apartment (157).

Chapter 22
Veteran's Day Visitor Old Pency alumnus who knocked on the door of Holden's dorm to ask for directions to the bathroom. Holden and Stradlater walked him there so that he could check for his initials that he carved ninety years ago. The Ghost of Christmas Future (168). James Castle Classmate at Elkton Hills. His name was next to Holden's at roll call. He refused to take back something that he said. Jumped out of a window (?) and died. Holden heard him land and saw him dead (170).

Stabile Elkton Hills boy who was insulted by James Castle. He and six of his friends tried to force James Castle to take back what he has said (170).

Mr. Antolini Former English teacher at Elkton Hills. He was the one who finally picked up the body of James Castle. Holden retreats to his house and recieves a long lecture. Plans to stay there until Tuesday, but while Holden is sleeping Mr. Antolini begins to pet him. Flitty. Likes to drink (173).

Chapter 24
Lillian Antolini Mr. Antolini's wife. Lots of money. About sixty years older than Mr. Antolini. Likes to kiss in public. Never in the same room as Mr. Antolini (180). Richard Kinsella Holden's classmate at Pencey They took Oral Expression together. Shy boy. easily flustered. Got a "D" in the class because they kept on yelling "Digression!" at him (183).

Mr. Vinson Taught Oral Expression at Pencey. "Kept telling you to unify and simplify all the time" (185).

Chapter 25
Two Bruddas Two boys Holden meets in the Metropolitan Museum. They're skipping school. They ask Holden where the mummies are kept. They go together, sticking close to Holden. One does all of the talking, the other "don't feel like it". They leave Holden in the tomb (202).

Chapter 26
Psychoanalyst Guy A Psychoanalyst at the California hospital. Keeps on asking Holden if he's going to apply himself. "It's a stupid question" (213). English Babe Actress who comes with D.B. to visit Holden. "She's pretty affected" (213). As Holden Caulfield narrates The Catcher in the Rye, he introduces us to a variety of characters, a mixture of lives that survey the human condition. Their traits construct a panorama. They are tragic and humorous, loathsome and admirable, vapid and wise, phony and genuine. Two categories of characters populate Holdens presentation: the players who are physically encountered through his tale to shape events, and those called upon by Holden's memory - the characters who have moulded his outlook on life. Both are equally important to the story he tells and equally real to the teller.