A Review of Important Role Models in J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye

Role Models

In J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield has few role models in his life. Holden Caulfield, the protagonist, finds faults in everyone. His excuse for getting expelled was that there were too many “phonies”, superficial people. He then decided to go to New York City as a getaway where he can meet up with old friends and see his sister, Phoebe. Holden finds more “phony” people in New York, we begin to realize that Holden’s thinking is flawed.

Holden encounters three people who particularly leave a negative impression on him. Mr. Spencer, Ackley, and Mr. Antolini are the three who people who serve as examples for who not to be like.

Holden Caulfield attended Pencey Prep high school; it is there he came into contact with Mr. Spencer, a sickly old man who taught history and served as a par role model. Holden disliked Mr. Spencer because he failed him. He also was frustrated by Mr.

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Spencer's continuous dictating form of education, when he often told him that “life is a game and that he should play it according to the rules” (11). He was never impressed with Mr. Spencer because he saw how the man acted to impress his own superiors. Holden felt Mr. Spencer’s actions were "phony” (11).

Mr. Antolini was Holden's teacher at Elkton Hills. Holden admired him for many reasons. He was kind, smart, and he cared about others. But Holden's attitude about him changed one day when Mr. Antolini invited him to stay at his house.

During that visit, Mr. Antolini was acting

strangely and was under the influence of alcohol. Holden fell asleep and when he awoke, Mr. Antolini was stroking his head inappropriately. Holden woke up and “felt something on [his] head, some guy’s hand” (211). He ran from him, his view changed forever. Holden thinks that Mr. Antolini’s drunken ways were “perverty” (213). From that time onward, Holden disliked him.

According to Holden, Ackley was, “one of those very, very tall, round shouldered guys” (23). Holden came into contact with Ackley because they lived in dorms next to each other at Pencey Prep. Holden, like many other people, did not like him. The reasons were obvious. He had terrible personal hygiene, did not take showers, and did not brush his teeth. Ackley had uncombed hair and “lousy teeth” (23). Because Holden was a nice guy, he actually felt sorry for Ackley.

The three people who serve as negative examples for Holden are: Mr. Spencer, Ackley, and Mr. Antolini. In some cases, Holden used to admire these people until recent incidents in which he called them “phonies”. Most teenagers today, have people in their lives who serve as negative examples. This helps them discover themselves more and who they want to become. Holden having three particular people who serve as subpar examples gives us insight into his character and who he wants to be like or not be like.