Student Question
Why and how did Holden deceive Mrs. Morrow?
Quick answer:
Holden deceives Mrs. Morrow by lying about his identity, claiming he is Rudolph Schmidt. He further fabricates stories about her son, saying he is popular at Pencey and was considered for class president. Finally, Holden tells her he is returning home early due to a brain tumor requiring surgery. These lies are part of his pattern of creating false narratives to avoid genuine interactions and protect himself emotionally.
Holden deceives Mrs. Marrow in numerous ways. He begins by lying about his name, claiming to be Rudolph Schmidt. He then informs her that her son is one of the most popular kids at Pency. Additionally, he tells her that "a bunch of us wanted old Ernie to be president of the class" but because he was so modest and shy, he wouldn't let them elect him (Salinger 56 - 57). Finally, he tells Mrs. Marrow that he is going home early because he has a brain tumor and has to have an operation.
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