Holden Caulfield (born circa 1933) is a teenager from New York who narrates the events in The Catcher in the Rye.
Biography[]
Holden is the second child of Mr. and Mrs. Caulfield. He has an older brother named D.B., a war veteran turned writer; a younger brother named Allie, who died of leukemia at age 11; and the youngest Phoebe, who is about seven years younger than Holden. Holden mentions that their parents have different religions, thus he and his siblings are "sort of atheists".[1] He generally describes his childhood as "lousy".[2]
Before attending Pencey Preparatory School, Holden either quit or was expelled from three other schools, including Elkton Hills and Whooton School.[2]
Description[]
During his final year at Pencey, Holden is 6'2'' tall and has gray hairs visible on his crew cut.[3] When the prostitute Sunny was describing Holden, she likened his appearance to the child actor Freddie Bartholomew.
Character analysis[]
As one of the most enduring characters in American literature, Holden has become a modern icon of coming-of-age stories and teenage rebellion, and is perhaps most recognized by the red hunting cap he wears.
Gallery[]
Quotes[]
"Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody". (Holden Caulfied, chapter 26, at the end of the story)
"[...] I'm not going to tell you my whole goddam autobiography or anything." (Holden Caulfield, chapter 1, at the beginning of the story)