The Catcher in the Rye Characters Analysis
Holden Caulfield: Protagonist and narrator, age 16 (during events being related from previous December).
Phoebe Caulfield: Holden’s sister, age 10, Holden’s best friend and confidante.
Allie Caulfield: Holden’s younger brother, who died three years prior. Holden sometimes speaks to him.
D.B. Caulfield: Holden’s older brother, a writer living in Hollywood, California.
Charlene: The Caulfield’s maid.
Mr. Antolini: Holden’s former, and favorite, teacher from a previous school Holden had attended, who later disgusts Holden.
Mrs. Antolini: Older, wealthy spouse of Mr. Antolini
Mr. Spencer: History teacher at Pencey Preparatory School.
Mrs. Spencer: Wife of Mr. Spencer.
Mr. Vinson: Speech teacher at Pencey Preparatory School.
Sally Hayes: Holden’s date. Pretty, but vapid and shallow.
Ward Stradlater: Holden’s roommate at Pencey Preparatory School.
Jane Gallagher: Friend of Holden’s, Ward Stradlater’s date. In Holden’s mind, she is an example of purity and innocence, likely to be easily victimized.
Robert Ackley: Dormitory neighbor to Holden at Pencey Preparatory School.
Mr. Ossenburger: A wealthy alumnus of Pencey Preparatory School. Made his fortune in the mortician business.
James Castle: Former schoolmate of Holden, who committed suicide due to bullying.
Mrs. Morrow: The mother of an unliked classmate of Holden’s
Maurice: Sunny’s pimp, also working as an elevator operator in the hotel Holden is staying at.
Bernice/ Marty/ LaVerne: Three tourists from Seattle, women in their early 30’s
Sunny: A teenage prostitute at Holden’s hotel. In spite of her profession, Holden is unable to defile her with the act of sex.
Ernie: A pianist who owns a nightclub in Greenwich Village. Holden sees him as once being a great artist, but now a shallow showman.
Lillian Simmons: A woman on a date at Ernie’s nightclub, who asks Holden to sit with them.
Horwitz: A cab driver with an interesting knowledge of fish and birds.
Faith Cavendish: A girl who rejects Holden’s request for a date
