The Characters
All of The Catcher in the Rye focuses on the slow unraveling of Holden Caulfield’s mental state. Even though Holden continues to try to connect with people on a deep, personal level, he feels continually rebuffed, even though his own actions are largely to blame for others’ reactions to him.
Select five interactions that Holden has with people during the novel, describe how Holden acts, and the result of the interactions. Look for a pattern amongst the interactions and write a few sentences summarizing them.
| Person Holden Interacts With | How Holden Acts | Result of the Interaction |
Summarize Holden’s Interactions with others: resent!
Represent:
Choice 1: What Happens Next?
The novel concludes with Holden in a mental hospital after suffering some type of breakdown. While Holden seems hopeful of recovery, he gives no evidence to support that he or his outlook has changed in any way.
Write a sequel to The Catcher in the Rye. Include what you believe happens to Holden after he leaves the hospital. By the way, numerous people asked J.D. Salinger to write a sequel to The Catcher in the Rye, but he refused to do so.
