The Catcher in The Rye Questions

1.- "How does Holden change when he visits Mr. Spencer? Do you think Holden is being fake?"
R: Holden keeps changing in what he thinks to what he actually says. In most sentences Holden says COMPLETELY the opposite of what he is thinking, mainly to look nice and don't give a bad image about himself to Mr. Spencer.

2.- What is significant about Dr. Thurmer's comment: "Life is a game that one plays according to the rules" What is Holden's opinion to this statement?
R: Holden has kind of a 2-faced opinion in this, in his opinion it can be a "game", but ONLY under special conditions. If not it is complete bullshit.

4.-Why does Holden leave Elkton hills?
R: He leaves Elkton hills because he was surrounded by Phonies(Like the headmaster). Making him uncomfortable.

5.-Holden says: "I am quite young for my age." and "I told him I was a real moron and all the stuff". What do these statements tell you about Holden?
R: You can't really know if he was serious about it. If he was though, you would know he looks/acts younger than he actually is, he looks like a moron and that he tells a lot of lies.

6.-Why do you think Holden characterizes himself as a liar at the beggining of chapter 3? What does he lie about? Why do you think he lies?
R:Because he actualy does lie a lot, and he is just assuming the truth about him. He lies about personal things envolving him and things he talks, having nothing to do with what he actually thinks.

7.-What is ironic about Holden's statement, "I'm quite illiterate but I read a lot".
R: He's mainly saying he doesn't like much about books and literature but he reads a lot(possibly story-like books).

8.-What is Holden's attitude / how does he feel about Ackley?
R: He basically doesn't bother too much with Ackley, he just wanted him to get out of his room so that he could continue reading, telling him rude words using sarcasm.

9.-How is Stradlater characterized according to Holden and Ackley?
R: He was friendly but a bit "arrogant" in some situations.

10.-Is feeling sorry for something the same as caring?
R: It could but not necessarily. For example... Holden felt sorry about Mr. Spencer,  but it didn't look like he cared about him.

11.-What do you make of all the "phoniness"? Are Holden's claims valid or is he being phony?
R: You can't really tell if his claims are valid unless you are giving an opinion about the statement. In my opinion he is being valid in some of his statements but sometimes he is just being phony.