Catcher in the Rye Chapter 1

Catcher in the Rye starts off in the present with the main character being in a hospital reminiscing about what happened a few months ago. Holden Caulfield is a privileged high school student who goes to Pencey Prep, a prep school for the elite. However, our protagonist is very much unlike his elite and pretentious classmates. He is failing 4 out of 5 subjects and lost his fencing clubs equipment on their way to a competition causing him to be ostracized by his team the whole way back from New York City. Unsurprisingly, he is kicked out of Pencey Prep after several warnings to "apply" himself to school.

Holden gets a lot of pressure from his parents to do well in prep school and eventually graduate and become part of the top 1% of the country. Holden's parents paid for him to go to many different prep schools in hope that he will succeed in them. I can relate to it in that I am also expected to do well in school, graduate and eventually have a job that pays well. In the chapter Holden describes that he wasn't at the school football game because he had to visit Mr. Spencer, however, it could be true that he doesn't feel like he belongs where everyone else is. Especially after the fencing incident, he feels like he is an outsider. I can relate to this feeling of non-existence. There are times where I feel like I'm disappearing and no longer part of anything significant.

In only the first chapter of the novel, Holden's character is already very well developed. He is described as a sarcastic, smart-mouthed rebel who simply does what he wants and thinks how he wants. His attitude towards school is quite negative since he thinks that most of the teachers and students are "phonies". On the contrary, he also seems to be a very sentimental person. Even after leaving many schools and institutions, he still looks for a memory or experience that would make him feel sad about leaving. For example, he says,"I was trying to feel some kind of a good-by."

Is Holden a cold/heartless person?
No, Holden is actually a sentimental person who has strong values. For example, when he was on the hill looking down at the game, he was trying to find a strong feeling that would make him sad and miss Pencey Prep. He also went to visit his sick history teacher Mr. Spencer which shows that he actually cares for other people.

Does Holden regret having failed 4 subjects and being kicked out?
Even though Holden seems indifferent about leaving another school, he seems to be frustrated and tired of changing schools. While he was trying to find a sentimental feeling from leaving, he expresses that he hates leaving without acknowledging that he was leaving. He hates the feeling of leaving a place without being involved in the first place. Even though he might not completely regret being kicked out, he is upset about having to leave a place he's not connected to again.

I predict that in the next few chapters, he will be lectured by Mr. Spencer and he will be finishing his goodbyes at his school.

This poster is referenced to in the first chapter as an example of the phony Pencey Preparatory School. Holden explains that there wasn't a single horse on the grounds and few of his classmates were clear-thinkers.