Academic Review 2024

3 ACADEMIC REVIEW 2024

Although brief, Holden’s interactions with Sunny have a greater significance within the novel than anticipated as the impact she leaves on Holden is revealed to be unexpectedly powerful. Despite already expressing his distaste for the dishonest nature of most adults, for example ‘the big phony bastard’ Pencey alumnus Ossenburger, who is mentioned as having previously revisited Pencey Prep, it is Holden’s meeting with Sunny that is the very start not only of the downward spiral of his thoughts and wellbeing, both mentally and physically, but also of his very first experience of existing in, and grasping, the realms of adulthood. Sunny is one of the very first people that Holden interacts with upon his arrival and their interaction defines the rest of his short stay in the city. This association between Sunny’s interactions with Holden and his following deterioration suggests a more profound perspective on his development throughout the novel thus raising the question I am going to address in this essay. I think that this is worth exploring as in my research I found that most analyses and discourse on The Catcher in the Rye were centred on its representation as an authentic coming-of-age novel, and Salinger’s use of blunt, redundant language. To my knowledge, there has been less extensive discourse concerning the possibility of other characters bringing forth Holden’s development – in particular female characters. Throughout this essay, I will be primarily expressing opinions based on my close analysis of the text, whilst referring to secondary sources for contextual information and to engage in critical analysis.

Despite remaining on many “Top 100 Novels” lists, Catcher is also on its fair share of “Most Challenged Novels” lists. Due to Salinger’s frequent use of profanity and the abundance of sexual references, Catcher was the most censored book in American high schools throughout the ‘90s (Aldrich, 2021). Critics have called the reading of it as ‘almost literally a painful experience’ (Yardley, 2004), as well as describing Holden as ‘completely self-centred’, leaving the reader ‘[wearied] of Holden himself’ (Goodman, 1951). Other than Holden, one particularly interesting character in the novel is Sunny, a teenage prostitute. Holden’s first encounter with Sunny takes place as he returns to the Edmont Hotel from Ernie’s, a nightclub. As he enters the elevator to go to his room, Holden meets Sunny’s pimp, Maurice, and strikes a deal with him: ‘Five bucks a throw’ (p. 102). Sunny is then sent up to Holden’s room, and as she tries to carry out her job, Holden declines her attempts and tries to converse with her instead. Holden pays Sunny the five dollars and she leaves his room, only to return with Maurice later. Maurice accuses Holden of not having paid Sunny enough, saying that it had actually been ‘ten bucks a throw’ (p. 113), not five. Maurice then physically assaults Holden as Sunny takes five dollars from Holden’s wallet and the pair leave Holden bloodied in his room. Sunny acts as a parallel with other female characters such as Jane Gallagher, Holden’s childhood love, and Phoebe, his younger sister. Whereas Jane is Holden’s ideal relationship prospect, Holden having met her when they were both children and his nostalgic memories depicting her as pure, intelligent, and caring, Sunny represents a foreign, unintelligent girl with a dishonourable career. Whereas Phoebe is Holden’s poster child of innocence and purity, Sunny stands for everything gritty, distasteful, and depressing in adulthood. Holden wants to protect Phoebe from ever nearing Sunny’s fate. Hence it is via Sunny that we see a stark contrast to Holden’s ideal concept of what a young woman and her future should look like.

“ Despite remaining on many “Top 100

Novels” lists, Catcher is also on its fair share of “Most Challenged Novels” lists. ”