Character of Catcher in the Rye

Holden Caulfield Holden is the protagonist and the narrator of the novel. He is a 16-year-old junior who has been expelled from Pencey Prep for academic failure. Holden is very intelligent, and sensitive, but he narrated the novel in a cynical and jaded tone. He thinks everyone is phony, and believes that he looks much older than he his. Ackley Ackley is Holden’s next-door neighbor in the dormitory at Pencey Prep. Ackley often barges …

…and has a great deal of sexual experience. Mr. Antolini Mr. Antolini is Holden’s former English teacher at the Elkton Hills School. He is young, clever, sympathetic, and Holden respects him. Maurice Maurice is the elevator operator at the Edmont Hotel who produces a prostitute for Holden. Sunny Sunny is the prostitute Holden hires through Maurice. She is one of a number of women in the book that Holden clumsily attempts to connect with.