- Phoebe Caulfield: Holden's smart kid sister, the only person that Holden can relate to. Holden visits her while in Manhattan, and while with her he decides that he would like to save children like her from becoming phonies. She also later convinces Holden to return home.
-D.B. Caulfield: Holden's brother who used to be a serious writer, but is now in Hollywood where he is writing for television programs. Holden views his brother as being a phony since he had "sold out" and given up his principles in return for money.
-Allie Caulfield: Holden's younger brother. Holden saw him as a symbol of innocence. Allie died of Leukemia.
-Ward Stradlater: Holden's roommate at Pency. Holden strongly disliked him as he saw him as the quintessential phony, because Stradlater often put up an act in order to keep his image as a "jock" and to impress girls.
-Robert Ackley: Holden's dirty dorm mate at Pency. He is described as being grotesque and odd looking. Also disliked by Holden, the two at least tolerated each other as both were isolated from the other students.
-Jane Gallagher: Holden's great love and almost girlfriend. Holden did not view her as a phony, perhaps because he knew her when she was younger. He was very upset that she was to go out with Stradlater. He believed Stradlater would make her a phony too.
-Mr. Spencer: Holden's history teacher at Pency Prep school. Holden visited him just before he left for Manhattan.
-Sally Hayes: Holden's attractive ex-girlfriend. He goes on a date with her while he is in Manhattan. This is most likely to illustrate to himself that he was able to carry on an adult relationship. It is obvious, though, that he is not.
-Two Nuns: Holden meets these two at the train station where they are collecting money. Holden decides that they are only the only adults that have not become phony and therefore can retain their innocence.
- Ernie: Owner and piano player at the Wicker Bar. He was friendly with Holden's older brother, D.B., and is a perfect example of a phony.
-Sunny: A prostitute that Holden hires. While in his room, Holden just talks to her, as he is uncomfortable with the idea of sexual intercourse with her.
-Maurice: Sunny's pimp, who also runs the elevator at the hotel Holden was staying in. He takes advantage of Holden's immaturity to con him out of his money.
-Mr. Antolini: Holden's teacher at Elkton Hills. Holden visited
him while in Manhattan and stayed at his apartment. (There he made sexual
advances on Holden.)
One Saturday night, after an unpleasant experience with his history teacher "Old Spencer," his roommate Stradlater and the boy next door, Robert Ackley, Holden decides to leave Pencey four days early for Christmas break. He knows that he cannot return to his parents because they are not aware that he has been expelled again. Holden spends the next three days wandering aimlessly around New York City. He stays at a cheap hotel for one night, goes to two night clubs, dances with older women, often talks and thinks about sex, even has a prostitute come up to his room. The next day, he talks with some nuns about literature and has a date with his former girlfriend Sally Woodruff. They go to the theater and also go ice-skating. When he asks her to run away with him, she gets mad and they part. He is "depressed," at this time Holden thinks and even talks to his deceased brother Allie. To Holden, Allie represented innocence. With nobody else around, Holden turns to the only person he can relate to, his sister Phoebe. He sneaks into his parent's apartment at night to talk to his sister. He tells her about his dream to be a "catcher in the rye," and that he wants to run away.
He then leaves to meet his former teacher, Mr. Antolini. They have a good talk, but Holden leaves in a hurry when he thinks his host makes a sexual advance on him. He spends the night in a train station, then runs around town. Finally, he meets his sister, who tells him she wants to run away with him and that she will never go back to school. Holden sees himself in her, finally changes his mind and decides to go back to his parents. We are able to conclude that Holden then is sent to a mental hospital for treatment.
Another conflict we come across is Holden vs. society. Everyone is a
"phony" to him and he never realizes the good in anyone. This is due to
Holden's strong opposition to material wealth, which is a dominating characteristic
of the society which he could not accept. He can't communicate with anyone
and feels that the only person he can even relate to is his sister Phoebe.
Holden cannot function as a normal part of society because of his hatred
towards all "phonies", which he believes everyone to be.
Rebellion From Society- Holden throughout the whole novel, differs from society which results in his rebellious nature. Holden does not have any friends and cannot keep relationships. This is because he finds and exaggerates any negative aspect of all the people he knows or meets. This can be seen when Holden cannot keep his relationship with his girlfriend Sally. Holden also rebels because he feels that all adults are phonies. Holden believes that these phonies are people who try to be something that they are not. Usually the mark of a phony is the desire for material goods. This is because people usually want these possessions in order to impress others and become something they are not. This is why Holden can only connect with his younger sister Phoebe. On the other hand his older brother D.B. is a prime example of a phony. This is because D.B. was a writer, who became a playwright in order to gain more public recognition.
Mental Instability-Holden's instability has derived from various events and personality traits. Early in his life his brother Allie died. This had many negative effects on Holden. He also disliked his parents. He believes they are phonies and that they neglected him. This is because they send him to many different private schools and do not supply him with the love and affection he needs. Holden has either been expelled from or has run away from these schools. This is seen in Pencey where he cannot stand his roommate, Stradlater. His incapability of living in society has led to his admission into a mental institution. It is from this point that Holden narrates the story.
Death - Death is a major issue in this novel because of the death of his brother Allie. It is the death of his brother which fuels his desire to save children from growing up and becoming corrupt. Holden uses his brother as a model for innocence.
Dealing with Others - Holden has a very hard time dealing with people that are not known to him. He feels that most people are phonies and finds it hard to open himself up to others. He is very insecure as well as being very immature.
Immaturity in sexual relationships - Holden's immaturity is shown when he invites the prostitute, Sunny, up to his hotel room for sex. When she arrives he cannot go through with it. Holden also rarely had a girlfriend for an extended period of time because of his fear of commitment.
Resentment towards parents - Holden disliked his parents because they sent him away to a private school. He thinks that they feel he is useless and give up on him and send him away. He also wouldn't face his parents until the very end of the novel.
Holden's Hypocrisy - Holden calls other's phonies but in actuality, Holden is the biggest phony in the novel. He despises those who value material things but he himself prides his possessions.