Chapter 11

Summary

Holden leaves the club and sits in the deserted lobby thinking about Jane and Stradlater. He is still concerned about what might have happened between them. He remembers how he met Jane and thinks about why he likes her so much. He remembers that she always keeps her kings in the back row while playing checkers and closes her eyes while striking a shot in golf. Holden also recalls a particularly touching moment when the mere presence of her stepfather reduced poor Jane to tears, which she tried to hide. He can still see her wiping the tears from the checkerboard.

Holden then starts thinking about his brother D. B. and remembers a bar he used to take him to. Holden leaves the hotel, calls a cab, and heads to the bar.

Notes

In this section, more is learned about Jane Gallagher, the girl for whom Holden obviously feels so much. Jane comes across as a highly insecure girl who is shy, non-assertive, and cries easily. The bond that Holden shares with Jane is an interesting one. Though they never kissed, they held hands often, which gave Holden a comfortable feeling of companionship that helped to disperse his insecurities. Given the tender feelings Holden has toward Jane, it drives him crazy to think of her in Ed BankyÂ’s car with Stradlater.

Holden is not sufficiently comforted by his fond memories of Jane. He still desperately needs to connect in person with humanity. When he remembers the bar that D. B. has taken him to visit, he calls a cab and heads there, hoping to find some human interaction.

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