How old is holden in catcher

One of the reasons we like Holden is that he is so candid about how he feels. Previous Chapters Next Holden Caulfield. Removing book from your Reading List will also remove any bookmarked pages associated with this title. Are you sure you want to remove bookConfirmation and any corresponding bookmarks?

My Preferences My Reading List. The Catcher in the Rye J. Antolini Character Map J. Character Analysis Holden Caulfield. Adam Bede has been added to your Reading List!

Archived Questions Goto Qn. How old is Holden in "The Catcher in the Rye"? Currently voted the best answer. Holden Caulfield is 16 or 17 years old depending on where in the book you are talking about.

He is narrating as a 17 year old about when he was Page 9: "I was sixteen then, and I'm seventeen now, and sometimes I act like I'm about thirteen. Thirty or so years later, my children read it as part of theirs.

He is a sixteen-year-old boy having what we would call an adult mid-life crisis. Most often, Catcher in the Rye is associated with the difficulties of moving from childhood into the mature, sexual adult world. Holden is rich, urban, intelligent, talented, bouncing from prep school to prep school, from multiple ethnic and religious backgrounds, somewhat sexually ambiguous, and on the verge of a nervous breakdown. We understand that much of this pain stems from the early death of his brother, Allie, from Leukemia.

A suicide at one of his schools also is traumatic for him. But is Holden Caulfield really sixteen? In the book, Holden is presented as very tall with, some prematurely gray hair. Allie Holden's younger brother died on July 18, , when he was 11 and Holden was When he needs help, Holden sometimes speaks to Allie. Holden feels that his older brother, once a terrific short-story writer, has now sold out to Hollywood by writing screenplays.

Mother Holden's mother appears briefly in Chapter 23 to check on Phoebe during Holden's secret visit. His behavior at the Antolinis' apartment disturbs Holden. Lillian Antolini Serious, older, asthmatic, intellectual, and wealthy, Antolini's wife is a somewhat enigmatic partner for the popular young instructor.

Spencer An elderly history teacher at Pencey Prep, he may mean well but has a tendency toward pontificating. Spencer The history professor's wife is known for her forbearance, kindness, and hot chocolate.

Vinson Holden's speech teacher at Pencey wants his students to unify and simplify their speeches but never digress.