Summary of The Catcher in the Rye
Holden Caulfield narrates his story from a rest home, recounting events that took place shortly before Christmas. His tale begins at Pencey Prep, a prestigious boarding school from which he’s being expelled for failing four subjects. On the day of the school’s big football game, Holden visits his elderly history teacher, Mr. Spencer, who tries to impart some wisdom by telling Holden that life is a game that must be played by the rules. Holden, though polite on the surface, internally dismisses Mr. Spencer as a “phony” and leaves feeling resentful.
Back in his dorm room, Holden encounters his annoying neighbor, Ackley, and later his roommate, Ward Stradlater, who is charismatic and self-centered. When Stradlater mentions he has a date with Jane Gallagher, a girl Holden once knew well, Holden becomes anxious. He is concerned that Stradlater, whom he sees as superficial, will treat Jane poorly. Holden agrees to write an English essay for Stradlater, choosing to describe his deceased brother Allie’s baseball glove, which is covered in poems Allie wrote.
When Stradlater returns from his date, he dismisses Holden’s essay, criticizing it for not following the assignment. This leads to a confrontation between the two, with Holden demanding details about the date. Stradlater’s evasiveness only fuels Holden’s anger, and their argument escalates into a physical fight. After Stradlater pins Holden down, Holden decides to leave Pencey early and head to New York City.
On the train to New York, Holden has a brief encounter with a middle-aged woman, whom he lies to about his reasons for leaving school. Upon arriving in the city, Holden checks into the Edmont Hotel, where he feels increasingly lonely and depressed. At the hotel’s nightclub, he dances with a woman but quickly grows disillusioned with her, labeling her a “phony.”
Holden’s loneliness leads him to accept an offer from the elevator operator, Maurice, to send a prostitute to his room. However, when the prostitute, Sunny, arrives, Holden becomes uncomfortable and backs out, claiming he’s recovering from surgery. When Sunny demands more money than agreed upon, Holden refuses, prompting Maurice to return and assault him.
The next day, Holden arranges a date with Sally Hayes, a girl he doesn’t particularly like but calls out of loneliness. Despite planning to call Jane Gallagher, Holden never does, as he feels unprepared to talk to her.
While wandering the city, Holden hears a child singing, “If a body catch a body coming through the rye.” The innocence of the child’s voice strikes a chord with him, making him momentarily feel less lonely. Later, Holden sneaks home to visit his younger sister, Phoebe, whom he deeply cares for. He confides in her that he plans to leave home and live on a farm in Colorado. When Phoebe asks what he wants to do with his life, Holden reveals his dream of being a “catcher in the rye,” where he would stand in a field of rye, catching children before they fall off a cliff, symbolizing his desire to protect the innocence of childhood.
This dream reflects Holden’s deep-seated fear of the adult world and his desire to shield others, particularly children, from the loss of innocence he associates with growing up.