Solomon, Olivia

Period 5
1.06.09

The Catcher in the Rye: Winter Break Assignment

Theme #1: Phoniness in our society

Theme Statement: Throughout the book the main character Holden Caulfield expresses
his dislike and pet-peeve of all the phony people which dominate our society.
Supporting Quotes:
1. “Grand. There’s a word I really hate. It’s a phony. I could puke every time I
hear it” (9).
This quote relates to the theme since Holden is able to see the fakeness behind
the word ‘grand’ in general. He understands that when the word is used it had no
real meaning and the speaker is being phony and trying to impress.
2. “He [Ossenburger] said he talked to Jesus all the time. Even when he was driving
his car. That killed me. I can just see that big phony bastard shifting into first
gear and asking Jesus to send him a few more stiffs” (17).
This quote describes how people will be false enough to make up stories for
attention. Ossenburger formulates stories which fascinate those gullible enough
to overlook his truly phony words. Holden is able to see through him and despise
his invented personality.
3. “I didn’t want to hang around in that stupid atmosphere any more. I stopped on
the way, though, and picked up Ackley’s hand, and gave him a big, phony
handshake” (50).
This quote shows Holden being phony himself. He wants to be appreciative
so he stoops low enough to give Ackley a grateful handshake when his desire
would be to walk straight out of the room. Phoniness can come at any moment
from anybody.
4. “That killed me. Then he [George] and Sally started talking about a lot of people
they both knew. It was the phoniest conversation you ever heard in your life.
They both kept thinking of places as fast as they could, then they’d think of
somebody that lives there and mention their name. I was all set to puke when it
was time to go sit down again” (127-128).
This quote shows how two people can be phony to each other face to face.
George and Sally barely know each other and they fake a conversation with no
real basis. It is all heartless and phony.
5. “After a while, he’d be sitting back there and he’d start interrupting what old
Spencer was saying to crack a lot of corny jokes. Old Spencer’d practically kill
himself chuckling and smiling and all, like as if Thurmer was a g-ddam prince or
something” (168).
This quote shows how someone is willing to be phony to impress someone
more prestigious than themselves. Old Spencer fakes laughs to humble his boss
and make a good impression in order to keep his job. It is all a phony mask.
Theme #2: Lack of Communication
Theme Statement: Throughout the novel, Holden finds difficulty with successfully
communicating with others; whether it be the inability to portray his desired attitude or
speak on a mature topic.
Supporting Quotes:
1. “ ‘Don’t shout, please,’ old Sally said. Which was very funny, because I wasn’t
even shouting” (130).
This quote shows Holden’s inability to communicate correctly. Holden
begins to shout at Sally and he doesn’t realize it. This proves his lack of
communication skills and his incapability to keep calm in a conversation.
2. “ I started toying with the idea, while I kept standing there, of giving old Jane a
buzz--I mean calling her long distance at B.M., where she went, instead of calling
up her mother to find out when she was coming home. You weren't supposed to
call students up late at night, but I had it all figured out. I was going to tell
whoever answered the phone that I was her uncle. I was going to say her aunt had
just got killed in a car accident and I had to speak to her immediately. It would've
worked, too. The only reason I didn't do it was because I wasn't in the mood. If
you're not in the mood, you can't do that stuff right” (63).
This quote also shows Holden’s immaturity with communication. He
expresses that he must be in the mood to speak with people sometimes. Maturity
would enable him to hold a conversation at any time under pressured
circumstances.
3. ““No, sir, I haven’t communicated with them, because I’ll probably see them
Wednesday night when I get home” (9).
This quote is one of the first examples showing Holden has problems with
communication. Holden is not ready to speak to his parents about being kicked
out of Pency. He is going to wait until he is forced into the communication. He
won’t make the decision to say something on his own.
4. “ ‘How’s your sex life?’ I asked him. He hated you to ask him stuff like that.
‘Relax,’ he said. ‘Just sit back and relax, for Chrisake.’ ” (144).
This quote shows how Holden's lack of communication with others affects
him when he does choose to communicate. Holden opens a conversation with an
overly personal question and causes quick offense. He doesn’t understand how to
hold a simple small talk conversation with a friend.
5. “Then I thought of calling up this guy that went to the Whooton School when I
was there, Carl Luce, but I didn't like him much. So I ended up not calling
anybody. I came out of the booth, after about twenty minutes or so, and got my
bags and walked over to that tunnel where the cabs are and got a cab” (59).
This quote shows Holden’s inability to communicate in that he could not find
a single person to call on a regular night. He was able to find up with an excuse
for almost everyone he could think of calling and a reason not to speak to
communicate with them.
Theme #3: Dealing with change
Theme Statement: Holden cannot deal with change in his life because he is afraid of
how change will affect him so he does not give new things a chance and when he is
forced to deal with change, he reacts negatively to the situation.
Supporting Quotes:
1. “When I was all set to go, when I had my bags and all, I stood for a while next to
the stairs and took a last look down that g-ddam corridor. I was sort of crying. I
don’t know why. . . .and then I yelled at the top of my g-ddam voice, ‘Sleep tight,
ya morons!’” (52).
This quote shows Holden’s difficulty with change. He is crying since he is
being forced to leave the school which he has grown accustomed to over time and
is not ready for the differences that are to come.
2. “ ‘Promise me you’ll let your hair grow. Crew cuts are getting corny. And your
hair’s so lovely.’ Lovely my ass” (125).
This quote shows Holden’s hostility to a change as simple as his hair being
grown. It has always been one way and he wants it to stay as is. He is addicted to
the uniformity of his current haircut and wants no discussion of a possible change.
3. “The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right
where it was. Nobody’d move... Nobody’d be different. The only thing that would
be different would be you” (121).
This quote shows Holden’s love for consistency. The museum is a place of
comfort for Holden since he can expect the same thing every time he enters.
There is no change to deal with.
4. “Ask her if she still keeps all her kings in the back row” (34).
This quote shows Holden's obsession with things staying the same. The one
thing Holden cares most about when it comes to Jane is if she still has the same
style when playing checkers. He doesn’t want this habit of hers to change since
he wants everything about her to be the same.
5. “I’m always saying “Glad to’ve met you” to somebody I’m not at all glad I met. If
you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though” (67).
This quote shows Holden’s stubbornness towards new things, such as meeting
new people. This causes a change in his life and therefore makes it unwanted. He
isn’t glad to meet new people and for this reason finds it dull to say so. If Holden
welcomed change he would be more prompt to accept new people into his life
with open arms.