The Catcher in the Rye: Summary of Chapters 3-4

At the start of chapter three, Holden is sitting at his desk at his school Pencey Prep., and he is reading Isak Dinesen’s book Out of Africa. Holden enjoys this book very much, but his neighbor, or suite mate in this case, Ackley, rudely interrupts him. As I have stated, earlier in my writings, Ackley is an extremely irritating boy with loads of pimples and fiery red hair. He always barges into the room and acts as though he is doing you a favor by even talking to you. Holden cannot read under these annoying circumstances, so he drops tons of hints for Ackley to leave, but Ackley does not leave because he is just that annoying. Ackley even starts clipping his nasty toenails all over Holden’s floor. When Holden’s roommate Stradlater enters the room however, Ackley scurries right out. Stradlater announces that he has a date, but he first must shave. At the beginning of chapter four is when we discover Stradlater’s secret and foul hygiene habits. Holden describes him as a “secret slob.” For instance, Stradlater looks well groomed on an everyday basis, but his razor is an absolute piece of garbage. Holden is disgusted, but he watches him shave anyway. Holden pesters Stradlater long enough to reveal who his date is that night. He says that her name is Jane Gallagher. Holden obviously had and still has a huge crush on this girl, and he is disgusted that a sexually experienced thing like Stradlater is taking her out on a date. Holden is absolutely nauseated by this. Stradlater somehow convinces Holden to write him and English paper for him while he is out or something descriptive. Right after Stradlater admits that he is going out with Jane Gallagher, Holden starts daydreaming about all the good times they had together, and he tells Stradlater about them, but he does not care. He borrows Holden’s nice jacket, and then he leaves for his date.