Holden
Caulfield
Holden is the
protagonist teenager of the novel of 1951, The catcher in the rye. He is a
young rebel who goes against established rules and wants to change the world
with his own ideas for good. He seems to have a history of expulsion and
failure at various prep schools because of his inability to adjust to
institutional life and the world in general. He is tall, he has the ability of
detecting the qualities more ridiculous of the people, like narcissism, hypocrisy
and superficiality. Holden is a lonely person although he often tries to
approach people but because of his personality he always spoils it. He
thinks he is the only decent character in a world of fake adults. He is the
second of four children, with two brothers, D.B. and Allie, and a sister,
Phoebe. He wants to grow up and act like an adult, drinking, ordering a
prostitute, and using money are all things that grownups do but Holden yet still wants to remain
innocent.
Phoebe Caulfield
Holden’s
younger sister, whom he loves and respects completely. She is ten years old, thin
and redheaded, she likes to wear short hair in summer and long hair in winter. She sleeps in her big brother’s
room, D.B., when he is not at home because she says that she doesn’t have enough
space in her’s. Holden thinks Phoebe is the only person in the world who understands
and loves him completely. She is lovely because she manages to be everything her
brother says she is, but without losing her childhood. She has a mixture of
infantile enthusiasm and adult acuteness wich makes her an irresistible character.
Phoebe gives a lot to Holden, not like the other characters, she starts to take
care of him herself.
Allie Caulfield
Holden’s
younger brother who died of leukemia when Allie was 11 years old. The night he died
Holden broke all the windows of the garage and they sent him to the hospital. Allie
was redheaded too and left-handed, he wrote poems in his baseball glove all
over in green ink . Holden idealized Allie, according to Holden he was the most
intelligent and sweetest, with the best sense of humor that someone could ever
know. Allie was extremely close to Holden. Holden keeps the fielder’s mitt with
him wherever he goes. Jane is the only person whom he has ever shown Allie's
baseball mitt.
D.B. Caulfield
Holden’s
older brother, he used to write really good
stories that Holden used to say that he was
has favorite writer, he once published a collection called ‘The Secret
Goldfish’. D.B. is now employed as a scriptwriter in Hollywood. Holden doesn’t agree
with that because he says that it’s the same to prostitution.
Jane Gallagher
Holden’s childhood friend. Though they never actually dated, they used to hold
hands. She is never actually present in a scene, but is constantly in Holden’s
thoughts and memories. Holden seems to feel tremendous respect and affection
for Jane, and holds her up as a pure and spotless friend . Sometimes
she is a summer girlfriend of Holden's. Jane is one of
the few people of whom Holden speaks fondly. In fact, he idealizes her so much
that he makes her sound perfect.
Mr. antolini
Holden's
former English teacher, but then an instructor at New York University. Mr.
Antolini is one of the few adults Holden respects. He warns Holden that Holden
is headed for a "terrible fall."
According to
Holden he has a wife that is much older than Mr. Antolini , that she’s unattractive,
and that she has a lot of money.
Holden and
Mr. Antolini have been friends a long time, and they are very close to each
other. They used to play tennis together, Mr. Antolini hangs with Holden's
parents. Maybe "handsome" was just a compliment.
