The Catcher in the Rye: Summary of Chapters 1-2

For my summaries, I feel that it is necessary to say why I chose such random chapters to summarize. Honestly, these chapters in the book were the most influential to Holden and the book as a whole that I could think of while writing. Anyway, as Chapter One and the book open, the reader knows that Holden is speaking from some sort of rest home where he has been placed for psychoanalysis. Holden does not say much of anything of substance at the beginning except for that he has a brother, D.B., who has moved to Hollywood and in his opinion sold out to be a big shot movie writer. However, what Holden does say at the very beginning is important. He skips all of his setting information in a snarky way, which sets the whole tone for the book. He also states that he attends a boarding school called Pencey Prep. However, he will not attend it for much longer because he has failed four out of five classes. He simply does try at anything in school except for English, which is the subject he passed. He is failing, and he will not be allowed to return to school after Christmas break. Holden starts telling his story when he is looking on to the big school football game. Of course, he did not attend because he forgot the fencing team’s equipment in New York City, so he had to go back and get it. He would not have gone to the football game anyhow. At this moment, he is thinking of a way to say goodbye to old Pencey Prep., so he decides to pay a visit to one of his old teachers named Mr. Spencer. We also learn that Holden is a heavy smoker. Mr. Spencer greets him warmly, but he instantly starts to lecture him about his failures at school and how he must play by the rules in life. Holden is by no means amused, so he interrupts Mr. Spencer and leaves for his dorm room.