Minor Characters in "The Catcher in the Rye".

Minor Characters with Major Influences

The Catcher in the Rye - J. D. Salinger 

The Catcher in the Rye written by J.D. falls under the category of educational novel and is generally about the coming of age or growing up of the main character. While educational novels feature very well described and developed main characters, Salinger manages to describe Holden, not through direct description, but through those that surround him. There are several minor characters that make it easier for Salinger to describe Holden to the reader because of his interactions with those characters. The reader gets to see both sides of Holden, because Holden often says one thing but does another; one of his sides is related to what he says and thinks, and the other side is related to his actions which often differ from his thoughts. The meetings with the minor characters, which at first seem insignificant, bring out his actions and thoughts at the same time give the reader the opportunity to judge his progress toward maturity. The two more important minor characters that are associated with Holden’s maturity are Sunny the prostitute, and Mr. Antolini one of Holden’s ex-teachers.

        The Prostitute is clearly an example of a desire of Holden’s to be a grown up. In today’s world sex is generally associated with growing up, and Holden is trying to prove through his actions that he can grow up. Naturally he calls upon a prostitute to speed up the process of growing up through sex. The prostitute herself is about his age which shows that even though their ages are similar, their personalities differ, and already through her being a prostitute this shows that she is much more mature than he is. She is willing to go through with his initial plan and the contrast between her and Holden gives the reader a good idea of what Holden thinks he wants and what he really is. ““Don’t you feel like talking for a while?” I asked her. It was a childish thing to say, but I was feeling so damn peculiar.” (pg. 95). Holden tells the reader that he thinks that his reaction to the prostitute was childish, but he stops himself from admitting that he has a real problem, and motivates it by saying he was feeling peculiar. His observation about the prostitute seeming nervous again is an example that Holden tries to blame his problems on others. His operation excuse symbolically explains why he can’t have sex with the prostitute; “I thought I’d be feeling a lot better than I do. I was a little premature in my calculations.”Par 12, p 97. He is indeed off with his calculations but these calculations rather than symbolizing whether he would be able to have sex after an operation, symbolize whether he was ready to become an adult. Holden’s association of becoming an adult with being better at sex than he is at the moment; “Anyway, while I was putting on another clean shirt, I sort of figured this was my big chance, in a way. I figured if she was a prostitute and all, I could get in some practice on her, in case I ever get married or anything.”(pg. 92), shows him again excusing the fact that he wants to become an adult, by saying he wants to get better at sex with her for later, when he is married. Holden blows off the fact that he couldn’t take advantage of the situation, but it shows the reader that Holden is indeed not ready, and it also shows that he really doesn’t want to be an adult he just feels the need to be one because of his misguided perception of the world. This is where Mr. Antolini becomes important, because he is the character who really introduces this doubt to Holden. He is able to show Holden that becoming an adult or trying to become an adult may not be the solution Holden wants or needs.