Holden Caulfield has had a pretty rough childhood and his time at Pency was no different. Holden was failing all of his classes but one by the time Christmas vacation came around. Along with his failing grades, Holden had a very negative outlook on the world and the people around him. He hated most everyone and complained about everything. Holden being the negative young man he was, he decided to stay in his dorm one Saturday night while the rest of the school was at a football game. Ackley Holden’s roommate returns and they have a conversation in Holden’s dorm. Holden, like normal, is very annoyed and judgmental about how Ackley caries himself. After arguing back and forth for some time, Stradlater (another one of Holden’s roommates) returns to the dorm in order to shave for a date. This is the first time we learn who the true Holden Caulfield is and therefore is the most illuminating moment in The Catcher In the Rye. Holden and Stradlater make there way down to a bathroom because Stradlater needs to shave. Holden then asks Stradlater who the girl he was dating was. He replied, “Jean Gallagher.” Holden replied quite surprised, “Jane Gallagher?” Stradlater confirms her actual name is Jane. Holden then goes on to talk about how they use to know each other and play checkers together. He even remembers that she use …show more content…
This was the first time Holden showed deeper emotions. Holden up until this point was a negative downer who only talked about his terrible experiences. This interaction though showed Holden in a different light. One where he had the capability to love someone and have deeper feelings for another person. This deeper love repeats itself later in the book with his sister Phoebe. The deeper love he has for his sister is what makes The Catcher In the Rye a book not about a disgruntled teenage boy but instead a boy who has lost his way and finds his way back to the