Catcher In The Rye Holden's Suitcases

In J.D Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye, the main character, Holden Caulfield, provides his own definite opinions of society throughout the story. Holden is written to be critical of each person’s appearance and careers and the lives they live. In a specific passage in The Catcher in the Rye, Holden makes internal comments on the suitcases that nuns carry. He describes them as “very inexpensive-looking suitcases” and not made of “genuine leather”. Although Holden states “it isn't important” what suitcases one carries, Holden can begin to “hate somebody” based on the type of suitcase they have. Rather than to leave a grudge unexplained, Holden continues, connecting this idea to his roommate, “Dick Sagle”. Dick Sagle carried suitcases that Holden would call “inexpensive” while he carried suitcases costing a “pretty penny”. And as Dick and Holden lived together, Dick kept his suitcases under “the bed, instead of on the rack, so that nobody'd see them standing next to mine”. However, when Holden places his suitcases under his bed, Dick took the suitcases back out and placed them on the rack because “he wanted people to think my bags were his”. Dick also did some other things that Holden describes as “funny”. Dick called Holden’s suitcases “too new and bourgeois”. Holden also describes his fountain pen, “He borrowed it off me all the time, but it was bourgeois anyway.”. The two boys request to be moved and Holden admits that he misses …show more content…
Salinger brings a message of social class and prejudice through the symbolism of a suitcase. Illustrated in the actions of Dick Sagle, he comments on what Holden has as “bourgeois”. but in the end he desires what Holden has. J. D. Salinger brings out a flaw in Holden’s character, which is prejudice based on the amount wealth one person which equals to their social ranking. Salinger also shows that those of lower social class can be prejudiced toward those of a higher social class through Dick