Catcher In The Rye Chapters 8 - 10

Chapter 8 Train Journey Conversation with Mrs Morrow Lies Smokes Invites for cocktail What does this interaction tell us about Holden? Trying to be sophisticated / older / acting adult Contradiction with his opinion on ‘phonies’

Chapter 9 Wants to phone ‘someone’ Who? D, Phoebe, Jane, Sally Hayes, Carl Luce Tries to engage taxi driver in conversation Reference to ducks in Central Park Checks into hotel – ref to hat What does Holden see out of his window? Man dressing up Couple spurting water at each other Sexual connotations

Chapter 9 What does this tell us about his character? Not yet an adult for all his attempts at sophistication Has set ideas of how one ‘should’ behave with a woman What does Holden tell us he feels about sex? Pg 56 Thinks about phoning Jane again Instead phone burlesque stripper and invites her for a drink Feels very depressed when she turns him down

Chapter 10 Wants to call Phoebe – we learn about her love of movies and that she’s smart Goes to The Lavender rooms – nightclub in hotel Asks for a scotch but is refused Tries to engage three girls at next table in conversation and dances with them What response does he get? How does this make him feel? We again see a contradiction between Holden’s thoughts and what he says

Characterisation What have we learnt about Holden from these chapters? Desperate to connect with someone Lonely Not as sophisticated as he thinks he is Think about all the characters he has tried to engage in conversation Have any of them been successful? Has he succeeded in making himself feel better?