Famous Catcher in the Rye Quotes with Analysis

Use these famous quotes from The Catcher within the Rye to talk about the novel knowledgeably and acquire the novel's major themes.
Quote: "What I really felt like, though, was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out your window. I probably would've used it, too, if I'd been sure somebody'd cover me up as soon as I landed. I didn't need a bunch of stupid rubbernecks investigating me when I was all gory" (104).
Analysis: Shortly after Holden is assaulted by Maurice, the elevator pimp, he has a bath, travels to bed, and confesses he'd have rather killed himself than get to sleep. His reason for not performing it gives the reader a glimpse into his contradictory nature. He claims he desires to be isolated, yet is overly worried about what everyone else thinks about him. He desires to die because most people are a "phony" yet would like to live as they doesn't want the "phonies" to gauge him.




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Quote: "Real ugly girls contain it tough. I feel so sorry for the children sometimes" (85).
Analysis: Holden shows another portion of his personality: to be able to empathize with others' suffering. The problem, however, is that Holden assumes everybody is suffering. His feeling sorry for ugly Dating girls also highlights the inner struggle she has with sexual attraction.
Quote: "It's less than bad if the sun's out, but it only comes out when it seems like coming out" (156).
Analysis: Holden says this in reference to Allie. He feels upset that anybody can go in if it rains, but not Allie. On another level, it shows Holden's helplessness in controlling what's around him. He feels he has no treatments for how he feels, that things just happen.
Quote: "What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff...That's all I'd do all day. I'd try to be the catcher inside the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that is the only thing I'd love to be" (173).
Analysis: Holden strives with all his might to preserve childhood innocence. What he doesn't understand is that part of we were young is losing that innocence, that he's the one headed to the fall, knowning that there's nobody there to trap him.
Quote: "Game, my ass. Some game. If you get privately where every one of the hot-shots are, then its a game, all right'I'll admit that. But if you will get on the other side, and then there aren't any hot-shots, then what's a sport about it? Nothing. No game" (8).
Analysis: Holden comments about the "game of life," considering it only a game for your privileged. The fact that Holden feels isolated and unfortunate contradicts his charmed upbringing, being the son of a very wealthy lawyer. Despite having use of a great education and immense wealth, Holden feels isolated and appearance upon the rich kids at his schools as a couple of "phonies."
Quote: "The trouble was, that kind of junk is sort of fascinating to watch, although you may don't want it to be" (62).
Analysis: Holden comments around the perverts he sees while staying at the Edmont Hotel. He believes there's wrong in what they are doing, yet feels strangely attracted. This is another instance where Holden feels helpless to manipulate what is going on around him.
Quote: The guy I like best in the Bible, beside Jesus, was that lunatic and all sorts of, that lived inside the tombs and kept cutting himself with stones. I like him ten times as much as the disciples" (99).
Analysis: Here we find, again, Holden favoring the outcast rather than the "chosen" ones. What he fails to understand is the lunatic is eventually healed. Will Holden be?
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