The Catcher in the Rye Group

Question:

al1cein-wl
al1cein-wl
Student
High School - 11th Grade

In Chapter 1 of The Catcher in the Rye, where is  'out here' and what happens to Holden?

In Chapter 1, Holden says "I'll tell you about this madman stuff that happened to me around last Christmas just before I got pretty run down and had to come out here and take it easy."

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Posted by al1cein-wl on Thursday February 26, 2009 at 11:14 AM and tagged with chapter 1, characters, holden, quotes, the catcher in the rye.

Answers:

  1. pmiranda2857
    pmiranda2857 Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    At the beginning of the novel, the "out here," that Holden refers to is a mental institution in California.  He is in treatment for his nervous breakdown which occurred at the end of the book.

    This book is told in flashback by Holden as he is recovering in a mental institution receiving therapy.  He tells us that he was both physically and mentally exhausted.  And, therefore, his parents must have committed him to a mental hospital.

    The reader knows that it is located in California because of Holden's own words.

    "I mean that's all I told D.B. about, and he's my brother and all.  He's in Hollywood.  That isn't too far from this crumby place and he comes over and visits me practically every week." (Salinger)

    At the end of the book, Holden tells us that he is in a place where there are psychoanalysts.   

    "A lot of people, especially this one psychoanalyst guy they have here, keeps asking me if I'm going to apply myself when I go back to school next September." (Salinger) 

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/catcher/summary

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    Posted by pmiranda2857 on Thursday February 26, 2009 at 1:08 PM