Catcher in the Rye Chapter 15 Summary By Joe Freedberg

Summary In this chapter Holden calls a girl named Sally Hayes and they decide to meet and see a movie at 2 o’clock. He then leaves the hotel and goes to Grand Central Station to get breakfast. He then tells us that his mother hasn’t been healthy since Allie died this could be why Holden is afraid to go home. While he was eating his breakfast two nuns walk up and sit beside him. He tells us that their suitcases were very bad and he tells us that he hates it when people have cheap suitcases.

Summary Continued He then tells us about an old roommate that he had at Elkton Hills who had very cheap suitcases and this made Holden feel sorry fr him. After he explains this he tells us that he started talking to the nuns, he sees that one of the nuns has a basket that is usually used to collect money for charity. It turns out the nuns are not collecting money but Holden donates ten dollars anyways.

Summary Continued He keeps talking to the nuns and learns that they are school teachers. He then tells the nuns that English is his best subject, he starts talking about books with the nuns particularly Romeo and Juliet. He tells us that he didn’t like Romeo and Juliet the characters but rather he liked Mercutio more and felt worse when he died then when Romeo and Juliet died. He says that he thinks it was Romeo’s fault Mercutio was killed.

Summary Continued He then tells us that he thinks Catholic people are always trying to figure out if you are Catholic. He goes on to tell us about Louis Shaney and that he had a good conversation about him with tennis but then Louis “ruined” the conversation by asking Holden if he was Catholic and it drives Holden crazy when people do that. The Nuns then leave to get on their train he says that he wishes he gave them more money.

What I learned about Holden I learned that Holden hates the fact that he has higher class suitcases then most people this shows how he can find anything to complain about even if it makes no difference. We also learn how Holden hates it when people ask his religion and he thinks it “ruins” conversations. This could be because Holden is ashamed that he is Atheist and thinks it ruins his friendships We also learn that Holden's mom hasn't been healthy since Allie died.

Quotes “Grand if there’s one word I hate is Grand” Page 118 “She hasn’t been too healthy since my brother Allie died” Page 120 “It’s one of the reason I roomed with stupid bastards like Stradlater at least his suitcases were as good as mine” Page 122 “I felt much sorrier when old Mercutio got killed than when Romeo and Juliet did” Page 124

Questions What do you think it says about Holden when he says he was sad when Mercutio got killed and not Romeo and Juliet Why do you think Holden gets so mad when people have worse suit cases then him

The End Thanks for listening