Full Answer
Holden's father is a former Catholic and stopped going to mass after he married Holden’s mother. He is also a deep sleeper and would never wake up in the middle the night.
They're quite touchy about anything like that, especially my father. They're nice and all—I'm not saying that—but they're also touchy as hell. The parents are also very much upset over Allie 's death. One of the reasons Holden doesn't want to kill himself is that he knows how much it would upset his parents, especially after losing one son.
Holden states: my parents would have about two hemorrhages apiece if I told anything pretty personal about them. They're quite touchy about anything like that, especially my father. They're nice and all—I'm not saying that—but they're also touchy as hell. The parents are also very much upset over Allie 's death.
Although Holden doesn't get on very well with his mother, he nonetheless expresses guilt over adding to her worries by constantly getting kicked out of one school after another. He describes her initial reaction in such cases as hysterical but claims that she isn't so bad when she finally digests the bad news.
Holden's father is a lawyer and therefore he considers him "phony" because he views his father's occupation unswervingly as a parallel of his father's personality.
How do we know that Holden's father is wealthy? Holden's father is a corporate lawyer and he invests money in Broadway shows that always fail.
Holden's father is a corporation lawyer. He invests his money in Broadway shows.
Holden does not want to become a lawyer because he wants to help save people, but lawyers only make a lot of "dough" to "play golf and play bridge and buy cars and drink Martinis and look like a hot-shot." This shows that Holden does not have the best relationship with his father because of his purpose of being a ...
Holden is emotionally distant from his mother, as the loss of Allie is traumatic for not just him but his mother as well. Holden's distrust in her is made quite apparent when he hides in the closet while his mother scolds Phoebe.
The names, "Sunny" and "Jim Steele," are ironic; neither name fits the person. Freudian critics delight in analyzing their significance. Remember that Salinger's boyhood nickname was "Sonny." What kind of Freudian slip has Salinger made by naming the prostitute "Sunny"?
D.B. is Holden's older brother is a screenwriter in Hollywood. He used to write great stories—so great, in fact, that Holden credits him (twice) with being his favorite writer. D.B. is the height of phoniness in Holden's mind because he's sacrificed his art (writing stories) for money (writing screenplays).
Holden tries to refuse, but Maurice pins him against a wall while Sunny takes the money from his wallet. Maurice snaps his finger into Holden's groin, and Holden starts to insult him in response.
Holden does not want to deal with his parents because they have never helped him through his tough times which hurts Holden.
Antolini was Holden's favorite teacher at Elkton Hills. Holden admires and respects him because Antolini is not only intellectual and perceptive, but he has a heart. When James Castle committed suicide, it was Antolini who carried his bloody, broken body all the way to the infirmary.
Surprisingly given its status in American literature, The Catcher in the Rye has never been made into a movie. Many major Hollywood producers and directors have tried to secure the film rights, but none of them has succeeded in earning the trust of J. D. Salinger or his estate.
The problem is that he was BOTH, a good teacher and a creep. Thats what betrayal trauma is all about. When Holden freaks out, Antolini SHAMES him by telling him that he is strange, instead of showing compassion in a moment when Holden is feeling confused and scared.