Secondary Characters in The Catcher in the Rye
Key Secondary Characters and Their Significance
Phoebe Caulfield
- Holden's 10-year-old sister, represents innocence and wisdom
- Serves as Holden's emotional anchor and voice of reason
- Her maturity despite her young age provides a stark contrast to Holden's struggles
Allie Caulfield
- Holden's deceased younger brother
- Though physically absent, his presence haunts the narrative
- Represents pure innocence and the past Holden can't let go of
Mr. Antolini
- Former teacher and attempted mentor figure
- Represents a failed attempt at adult guidance
- His ambiguous actions during Holden's visit create complexity in the narrative
Stradlater and Ackley
- Holden's schoolmates at Pencey Prep
- Serve as foils to highlight different aspects of Holden's character:
- Stradlater: superficial charm and sexuality
- Ackley: social awkwardness and isolation
Impact on Themes and Plot Development
Theme of Innocence vs. Experience
- Secondary characters help illustrate Holden's obsession with preserving innocence:
- Phoebe represents the innocence he wants to protect
- Stradlater represents the adult world he fears
- Allie symbolizes permanent innocence through death
Social Criticism
Secondary characters serve as representatives of what Holden sees as society's flaws:
- Sally Hayes: superficiality and conformity
- Carl Luce: intellectual pretension
- Maurice and Sunny: corruption and exploitation
