Geschke/English IV The Catcher in the Rye 46-66 The Catcher in the Rye Pages 46-66.

Geschke/English IV The Catcher in the Rye 46-66

The Catcher in the Rye

Pages 46-66


Loneliness and Depression

• “I felt so lonesome, all of a sudden. I almost wished I was dead.” (48)

• “Boy, did I feel rotten. I felt so damn lonesome.” (48)

• “It was even depressing out in the street. You couldn’t even hear any cars any more. I got feeling so lonesome and rotten, I even felt like waking Ackley up.” (50)



• “Everybody was asleep or out or home for the week end, and it was very, very quiet and depressing in the corridor.” (49)

• “It made me too sad and lonesome.” (49)



• “Almost every time somebody gives me a present, it ends up making me sad.” (52)

• Self esteem issues?• Not worthy of a gift?



• “I was sort of crying.” (52)• How can you be sort of crying?



• Predictions• Suicide?• “Every time I thought about it (Jane

and Stradlater’s date), I felt like jumping out the window.” (48)


Holden’s Mother

• “My mother gets very hysterical. She’s not too bad after she gets something thoroughly digested, though.” (49)


Holden’s Mother

• Ice Skates• Pages 51-52• Why does Holden have this

reaction?• Feels guilty?• Disappoints his mother?


Holden’s Mother

• “Mothers are all slightly insane.” (55)

• “You take somebody’s mother, all they want to hear about is what a hot-shot their son is.” (56)

• “Mother’s aren’t too sharp about that stuff.” (57)

– Stuff—knowing who their sons really are


Holden’s Nerves

• “Besides, I sort of needed a little vacation. My nerves were shot. They really were.” (51)

• What does Holden mean?• Worn out?• Frazzled?• Exhausted?


Holden’s Hat

• “My ears were nice and warm, though. That hat I bought had earlaps in it, and I put them on—I didn’t give a damn how I looked.” (53)

• Holden’s hat keeps him warm• Gives him security


The Phone Booth

• Holden spends twenty minutes in the phone booth trying to make a decision.

• Ends up not calling anyone.


The Cab Driver

• Holden asks the cab driver if he knows what happens to the ducks in the winter.

• “He turned around and looked at me like I was a madman. ‘What’re ya tryna do, bud?’ he said. ‘Kid me?’” (60)


What Does the Reaction Say About the Question?

• Not many people think about the ducks?

• It is an odd question?• Holden is playing a joke?• It is not a normal thought?• What is important to Holden is not

important to other people?


The Hotel

• Odd activities going in the rooms.• Holden considers the other people

to be perverts• “I was probably the only normal

bastard in the whole place—and that isn’t saying much.” (63)

• What does this say about Holden’s opinion of himself?

Geschke/English IV The Catcher in the Rye 46-66 The Catcher in the Rye Pages 46-66.

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Transcript of Geschke/English IV The Catcher in the Rye 46-66 The Catcher in the Rye Pages 46-66.