The Catcher in the Rye: Chapter Summaries
The Catcher in the Rye follows Holden Caulfield over three days (plus framing narration from a mental institution). The 26 chapters are organized below into 5 major sections tracking Holden's journey from Pencey Prep to his breakdown.
Novel Structure:
- • Section 1: Pencey Prep (Chapters 1-7)
- • Section 2: New York City - Saturday Night (Chapters 8-14)
- • Section 3: Sunday Morning & Afternoon (Chapters 15-20)
- • Section 4: Sunday Night with Phoebe (Chapters 21-23)
- • Section 5: Monday & Resolution (Chapters 24-26)
Section 1: Pencey Prep (Saturday)
Chapters 1-7: Holden's expulsion and departure from school
Chapters 1-2: Introduction & Mr. Spencer
Holden introduces himself from a mental institution, saying he won't tell his "whole goddam autobiography." He's been expelled from Pencey Prep for failing four subjects. Instead of watching the football game, he visits his history teacher Mr. Spencer, who lectures him about his failures and reads his terrible exam essay aloud. Holden is polite but mentally checks out, fantasizing about ducks in Central Park.
Chapter 3: Ackley & Reading
Back in his dorm, Holden is interrupted by Ackley, his socially awkward neighbor with terrible hygiene. Despite finding Ackley annoying, Holden talks with him. He reads while wearing his red hunting hat and thinks about his brother Allie's baseball mitt, covered in poems.
Chapters 4-5: Stradlater's Date with Jane
Holden's roommate Stradlater is going on a date with Jane Gallagher, Holden's childhood friend. Holden is disturbed that "sexy" Stradlater is dating innocent Jane. While Stradlater is out, Holden writes a composition about Allie's baseball mitt instead of the assigned topic. He goes to a boring movie with Mal Brossard and Ackley.
Chapters 6-7: Fight with Stradlater & Leaving
When Stradlater returns and won't say what happened with Jane, Holden attacks him and gets punched. Bloodied, Holden decides to leave Pencey that night instead of waiting until Wednesday. He yells "Sleep tight, ya morons!" to his dormmates and leaves for New York City, though he plans to stay in a hotel until Wednesday so his parents don't know he's been expelled yet.
Section 2: New York City - Saturday Night
Chapters 8-14: Holden's lonely night wandering Manhattan
Chapters 8-9: Train Ride & Hotel
On the train, Holden meets a classmate's mother and lies elaborately about her son. In Manhattan, he checks into the seedy Edmont Hotel. From his window, he watches "perverts" in other rooms. He thinks about calling Jane but doesn't. Instead, he calls Faith Cavendish, a stripper, but she refuses to meet him this late.
Chapters 10-12: Nightclubs & Ernie's
Holden goes to the hotel nightclub and dances with three tourists. He thinks about his sister Phoebe, whom he adores. He takes a cab to Ernie's jazz club, asking the driver about where ducks go in winter. At Ernie's, he sees phonies everywhere and leaves when he spots an ex-girlfriend's brother.
Chapters 13-14: Maurice the Pimp & Depression
Back at the hotel, Maurice the elevator operator offers to send a prostitute to Holden's room for $5. Holden agrees but when Sunny arrives, he can't go through with it—he's too depressed. He pays her $5, but Maurice and Sunny return demanding $10. When Holden refuses, Maurice punches him and takes the money. Afterward, Holden fantasizes about shooting Maurice and talks to Allie.
Section 3: Sunday Morning & Afternoon
Chapters 15-20: Trying to connect, failing repeatedly
Chapters 15-16: Phone Calls & Sally Hayes
Holden calls Sally Hayes and arranges a date. He meets two nuns and discusses literature with them, feeling guilty about his wealth. He buys a record for Phoebe. Walking through Central Park, he sees a family and thinks about the "catcher in the rye" song lyrics (which he mishears). He watches Phoebe's school play from outside, then goes to meet Sally at a matinee.
Chapters 17-18: Disastrous Date & Luce
The date with Sally goes badly. They see a play, then go ice skating. Holden suddenly proposes they run away together to Massachusetts. When Sally (sensibly) refuses, Holden calls her "a pain in the ass" and they part angrily. Feeling depressed, he goes to a movie, then meets his former advisor Carl Luce for drinks. Holden annoys Luce with questions about sex, and Luce leaves.
Chapters 19-20: Getting Drunk & Breaking the Record
Holden gets drunk after Luce leaves, calling Sally to apologize. He goes to Central Park looking for the ducks, drops and breaks Phoebe's record. Sitting by the lagoon, he thinks about his funeral and catches a cold. He sneaks into his parents' apartment to see Phoebe.
Section 4: Sunday Night with Phoebe
Chapters 21-23: The only genuine connection
Chapters 21-22: Talking with Phoebe
Holden finds Phoebe asleep and wakes her. She's happy to see him but quickly realizes he's been expelled again. She criticizes him: "You don't like anything that's happening." When he can't name one thing he likes, she challenges him to name what he wants to be. He describes his fantasy of being "the catcher in the rye," catching children before they fall off a cliff.
Chapter 23: Parents Come Home
Their parents come home and Holden hides in the closet. After his mother checks on Phoebe and leaves, Holden borrows money from Phoebe and gives her his red hunting hat. He calls his former English teacher Mr. Antolini, who invites him to stay at his apartment.
Section 5: Monday & Resolution
Chapters 24-26: Breakdown, acceptance, and uncertain future
Chapter 24: Mr. Antolini
At the Antolinis' apartment, Mr. Antolini gives Holden advice about his future and the dangers of dying for a cause versus living for one. Holden falls asleep, then wakes to find Mr. Antolini patting his head. Disturbed (though the touching may be innocent), Holden makes an excuse and leaves. He spends the rest of the night in Grand Central Station.
Chapter 25: Breaking Down & the Carousel
Monday morning, Holden walks around Manhattan having a breakdown—every time he crosses a street, he feels like he's disappearing. He decides to run away out West and leave a note for Phoebe at her school. She meets him with a suitcase, wanting to come. Holden refuses and gets angry, but takes her to the zoo and then the carousel. Watching her ride the carousel reaching for the gold ring, Holden experiences pure happiness and cries. This is the moment of acceptance.
Chapter 26: Epilogue
Back in the present (the mental institution), Holden wraps up. He went home, got sick, and was sent here. His brother D.B. visits. A psychoanalyst asks if he'll "apply himself" when he goes back to school in September. Holden doesn't know. He says he "sort of misses everybody" he's told us about, even the phonies. "Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody."