1. STRADLATER Holden’s personally touching composition about Allie’s baseball glove is not appreciated; he is instead made fun of and censured STRADLATER IS AN INNOCENT BYSTANDER OF HOLDEN’S ANGER; HE DOESN’T KNOW ANY BETTER AND DOESN’T REALLY CARE DEVASTATED, HE LOSES TRUST IN A PERSON HE ALMOST THOUGHT WAS HIS FRIEND 2. STRADLATER Holden attempts to talk about how important Jane is to him but his feelings are overlooked. Stradlater further crushes Holden by disrespecting Jane, first thinking her name is “Jean” and then taking her on a “parked” date in Ed Banky’s car STRADLATER IS AN INNOCENT BYSTANDER OF HOLDEN’S ANGER; HE DOESN’T KNOW ANY BETTER AND DOESN’T REALLY CARE DEVASTATED, HE LOSES TRUST IN A PERSON HE ALMOST THOUGHT WAS HIS FRIEND 3. JANE An unanswered question lingers with the reader: does a possible rejection from the past haunt Holden; Jane seems to be the girl he cannot have JANE HAS SO MANY ISSUES OF HER OWN, SHE IS UNINTERESTED IN HOLDEN AS A ROMANTIC PARTNER AND NEVER REALLY HAS A CHANCE TO ALLOW A RELATIONSHIP TO BLOSSOM HE FEELS INSECURE AND NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR HER 4. MRS. MARROW (EARNEST’S MOTHER) Holden asks her to have a drink with him on the train but she turns the offer down HOLDEN IS TOO YOUNG FOR HER,ON A TRAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT (OBVIOUSLY A KID WITH ISSUES), AND HIS NOSE IS SEVERELY BLEEDING STILL WHICH FORCES HER TO FEEL MORE “MATERNAL” THAN “SEXY” HE GETS TURNED DOWN BY A WOMAN HE IS ATTRACTED TO WHICH CAUSES HIM TO FEEL 5. CAB DRIVER #1 Holden asks if driver wants to have a drink with him but is refused. He then asks “where the ducks go”. CAB DRIVER IS ON THE JOB AND REALISTICALLY DOESN’T HAVE TIME. PLUS, HE DOESN’T KNOW HOLDEN HOLDEN WAS JUST TRYING TO MAKE A FRIEND; HIS ATTEMPT LEAVES HIM LONELY AND REJECTED AGAIN 6. FAITH CAVENDISH Holden asks her out but is refused because the date is too last minute. She tries to reschedule but Holden is uninterested. HOLDEN OBVIOUSLY SOUNDS TOO YOUNG FOR HER AND INEXPERIENCED; SHE TELLS HIM IT’S TOO ANOTHER FAILED ATTEMPT AT FEMAL COMPANY FOR HOLDEN; HE IS LEFT DISAPPOINTED IN
LATE AND IS PARTIALLY TELLING THE TRUTH HIMSELF AND IN WOMEN IN GENERAL 7. 3 WOMEN AT THE LAVENDER ROOM All three women allow Holden to buy them drinks and they briefly dance with him, but are indifferent about his company HOLDEN IS TOO YOUNG AND NOT FAMOUS THIS IS ANOTHER REASON FOR HOLDEN TO LOOSE FAITH IN WOMEN AND HUMAN DECENCY AS WELL 8. CAB DRIVER #2 Holden asks if driver wants to have a drink with him but is refused. He then asks “where the ducks go” and the offended driver replies with the “fish” metaphor. CAB DRIVER IS ON THE JOB AND REALISTICALLY DOESN’T HAVE TIME. PLUS, HE DOESN’T KNOW HOLDEN HOLDEN WAS JUST TRYING TO MAKE A FRIEND; HIS ATTEMPT LEAVES HIM LONELY AND REJECTED AGAIN 9. THE PIANO PLAYER Holden asks the waiter to ask Ernie if he’d join Holden for a drink but figures the waiter never delivered the message when Ernie doesn’t show. HOLDEN IS JUST A KID AND NO ONE TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO IN THE CROWDED CLUB HOLDEN LIKES AND RESPECTS ERNIE BUT IS STILL ANNOYED BY THE FACT THAT A)ERNIE PLAYS TO APPEAL TO A PHONY CROWD AND B)ERNIE WON’T GIVE HIM THE TIME OF DAY 10. SUNNY THE PROSTITUTE Holden tries to have a civilized and interesting conversation with Sunny but she doesn’t respond to his social courtesy. SUNNY HAS A JOB TO DO AND SHE’S WORKING TRYING TO MAKE MONEY HOLDEN DOESN’T JUST WANT SEX; HE WANTS COMPANIONSHIP AND WHEN HE REALIZES THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION—THAT SUNNY WON’T BE HIS “FRIEND”—IT DEPRESSES HIM AND MAKES HIM FEEL LONELY 11. JANE Holden calls Jane. When her mother answers the phone, he quickly hangs up. JANE DOESN’T REJECT HOLDEN, SHE JUST WASN’T AVAILABLE AT THAT POINT IN TIME HOLDEN DOESN’T REALIZE THIS IS NOT HER FAULT. HE HAD FINALLY GATHERED ENOUGH COURAGE CALL HER AND AFTER ALL OF THE SHE DIDN’T ANSWER THE PHONE. HE FEELS LIKE HIS EFFORTS WERE
WASTED AND, HE DOESN’T REALLY LIKE HER MOM 12. ICE SKATING LITTLE GIRL Holden asks the little girl to have hot chocolate with him; she refuses, responding by saying “[she has] to meet her friend.” SHE IS SPOOKED BY HIM BECAUSE HE IS A STRANGER HE SEES CHILDREN AS BEAUTIFUL, LOVING, INNOCENT, AND HARMLESS. HE REJECTED BY THE BEAUTIFUL, LOVING, INNOCENT, AND HARMLESS CHILD WHO MAKES HIM UNWORTHY 13. SALLY Holden tries to talk to Sally about how depressed he is. She doesn’t comprehend his feelings. When he admits that something is wrong with him, instead of caring, she simply agrees. KNOWS HOLDEN HAS ISSUES. SHE DOESN’T CARE ABOUT HIS PERSONAL STRUGGLES, SHE JUST WANTS HIM TO TAKE HER ON A DATE AND LIKE HER HOLDEN FEELS COMPLETELY MISUNDERSTOOD DEVASTATED THAT SALLY DOES NOT ABOUT HIS TROUBLES How many people have accepted Holden’s “cry for help” but it ended badly? Completed chart below. PERSON SITUATION: HOW DID HE/SHE “ACCEPT” HOLDEN SITUATION: HOW DID. POSSIBLE REASONS WHY THE EXPERIENCE TURNED OUT NEGATIVE EFFECT ON 14. NUNS They accept his donation, chat with and have breakfast with him. He enjoys their company and brief conversation. HOLDEN BLOWS SMOKE IN THEIR FACE BY ACCIDENT HE FEELS TERRIBLE, UNETHICAL, AND CONSIDERS GIVING THEM MORE MONEY TO MAKE UP FOR SHORTCOMINGS 15. SALLY Sally goes on a date with Holden even though she is phony and clearly not too interested in him. HOLDEN IS NOT INTERESTED IN SALLY, AS A MATTER OF FACT, SHE GETS ON HIS NERVES AND HE FINALLY TELLS HER THIS ON THE DATE HE IS DISAPPOINTED NOT ONLY IN SALLY, BUT IN HUMANKIND IN GENERAL. HE IS COMING FACE TO FACE WITH AT ITS WORST SALLY HAYES. How many people have recognized Holden’s problems and attempted to reach out to him, yet, it he rejected their help? Completed chart below
PERSON SITUATION: HOW DID HE/SHE “REACH OUT” TO HOLDEN SITUATION: HOW DID HOLDEN “REJECT” THIS HIS/HER HEP? WHY DOES HE “REJECT” THIS 16. MR. SPENCER Has a talk with Holden and him a dose of reality while trying to explain to him that the “Game of Life” has rules that must be followed. HOLDEN DECIDES TO MENTALLY TUNE OUT THE MESSAGE AND THEN LIE ABOUT HAVING SOMEWHERE TO GO HOLDEN IS TOO IMMATURE TO HEAR THE TRUTH FROM SOMEONE WHOSE ADVISE IS TOO CLOSE TO HIS OWN INNER CONCIENCE. HE DOESN’T WANT TO HEAR THAT HE IS “WRONG” 17. LILLIAN SIMMONS Asks Holden to join her and her date for a drink at Ernie’s. HOLDEN LIES ABOUT HAVING SOMEWHERE TO GO RATHER THAN SHARE A DRINK WITH HER ON HER INVITE HE TRUE COMPANIONSHIP AND FIRENDSHIP; HE DOESN’T THINK LILLIAN IS WORTH SPENDING TIME WITH BECAUSE HE KNOWS SHE IS “PHONY”