Holden's Character Timeline by JOHN HINES

Pages #1-50

jhines0006 — 2025-04-09 16:44:20 UTC

"I didn't want to hurt his feelings. He was mad about history. You glanced through it, eh? he said -- very sarcastic." (15) This quote suggests that Holden is feeling Alienated because he could clearly see that Mr. Spencer was being sarcastic to him. This could make Holden feel alone because he wanted to make Mr. Spencer feel better and not to worry about how he will do later on. "I was getting sort of nervous, all of a sudden. I'm quite a nervous guy. Listen where ya going on your date with her? I asked him. Ya know yet?"(44) This quote suggests that Holden's curiosity my originate from him being worried about being isolated because we later learned he was depressed. This might mean he felt alienated because he didn't have any girl he talked to other than Jane, who is talking to Stradlater and dating him.

Pages #51-100

jhines0006 — 2025-04-09 16:46:19 UTC

"the band was putrid. Buddy Singer. Very brassy, but not good brassy -- corny brassy."(90) This quote suggests that Holden was saying this person was a phony because the singer was corny brassy. Also Holden said that it was good which doesn't make since, because he said it was corny which usually means someone doesn't like it. "I was probably the only normal bastard in the whole place -- and that isn't saying much."(81) Holden is saying that he is the only person in that location that wasn't phony. Also, Holden is explaining that everyone in the building are bastards which usually means he doesn't like them.

Pages #101-150

jhines0006 — 2025-04-09 16:46:42 UTC

"It was getting daylight outside. Boy, I felt miserable. I felt so depressed, you can't Imagine. What I did, I started talking, sort of out loud, to Allie."(129) This quote suggests that Holden's depression started to take a toll because he couldn't talk to someone to distract himself since he was alone. This is the reason that Holden started to talk out loud, to distract himself from his thoughts. "Dick Slagle, that had these very inexpensive suitcases. He used to keep them under the bed, instead of on the rack, so that nobody'd see them standing next to mine. It depressed holly hell out of me, and I kept wanting to throw mine out or something, or even trade with him."(141) This quote suggests that Holden felt alienated because he had gooding looking luggage compared to all his peers bad luggage.

Pages #151-200

jhines0006 — 2025-04-09 16:46:51 UTC

“Maybe I’ll go to China. My sex life is lousy, I said. Naturally. Your mind is immature.”(191) This shows that Holden was still trying to find out what he wanted to do in life. He said that he might go to China and his sex life is lousy, which shows he doesn't know what to do now. "Anyway, I'm sort of glad they've got the atomic bomb invented. If there's ever another war, I'm going to sit right the hell on top of it."(183) This quote suggests that Holden wants to have a purpose or have a meaning even if he has to ride a nuke to his death. Holden wants to do anything to get fame or popularity to feel good about himself.