The Catcher in the Rye: Ackley

Ackley lives in the dorm next to Holden at Pencey Prep. He would be described as a pimply teenager who does not know when to take a hint that he is very annoying. Holden uses his favorite word phony many times when he talks about Ackley. Ackley always barges into Holden’s room and does annoying and gross things such as clipping his toenails all over Holden’s floor. I think Ackley is one nasty kid. Holden mentions that he has never seen him brush his teeth, which makes me think that he is even more disgusting than I thought he was. Another thing about Ackley is that he lies a lot. He lies especially about his sexual escapades. Holden definitely knows this, and he calls Ackley a bigger phony for it. Holden does like to have a little fun with Ackley by angering him. For instance, he calls him “Ackley Kid” when he will not leave the room. He also calls him a moron multiple times. I think it is hilarious because Ackley hates it so much, and moron is not even a good insult. I am really not a fan of Ackley because he is so annoying to Holden and gross. However, later in the novel, Holden confesses that he misses everybody he thought he once hated including old Ackley Kid. I can see how this could happen though. Even though Holden did not like Ackley, he still had memories with him. I have had this happen to me many times. For instance, this summer I worked with a guy that I really did not like. I thought he was super annoying just like Holden with Ackley, but now I miss him a lot. I do not know what it is, but I feel like he is now my friend way more than he was when I was with him. Overall, I would not want Ackley as my suite mate because he is so ridiculously annoying.