The Catcher In The Rye By J. D. Salinger: Chapter Analysis

In the 15th chapter of the novel “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger, the author exposes the main character, Holden’s hidden personalities and social challenges when he is confronted with the nuns. While this is not the Holden we have come to know, he puts himself in the nun's shoes and he demonstrates the effect of a more caring Holden, also the discussion reveals that Holden constantly puts himself down and he portrays to us how he perceives society and how it can create barriers for us. The scene when Holden meets the nuns illustrates a more caring Holden by his tone and how he seems to be ‘putting himself in their shoes’. The author uses diction to demonstrate Holden’s thoughts. When Holden helps with the nun’s suitcases, the author choses the adjective 'in-expensive' to describe the suitcases. Holden then pities the nuns when he sees that while he is eating they are only eating toast and coffee. and he explains to us that he hates that he "hate[s] it if [he's] eating bacon and eggs or something and somebody else is only eating toast and coffee"(143). This demonstrates, even if Holden doesn't admit it he cares and we can sense his care even after the nuns leave Holden thinks …show more content…
In many instances we can see Holden blocked by social barriers preventing him to fit in. In the instance of money Holden doesn’t feel comfortable with the nuns because of his monetary situation compared to theirs, he is constantly trying to fit in but is reminded by their food and his thoughts about how he is different and distances himself from them, he even fells bad for them as if they are less happy since they don’t have as much money as him, anyways money “always ends up making you blue as hell”. Money is not the only barrier Holden is faced with, religion is another distinguishable challenge in his social