Contents
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Overview
Holden returns to his dorm, introduces the Ossenburger Memorial Wing, and mocks its namesake’s piety and phoniness. Settling in with his new red hunting hat and a book, he endures an intrusive visit from Robert Ackley. Ward Stradlater bursts in, borrows Holden’s jacket, and rushes to shave before meeting his date.
Summary
Holden admits he lied to Mr. Spencer about going to the gym and describes living in the Ossenburger Memorial Wing, mocking the donor’s sanctimonious chapel speech and recalling Edgar Marsalla’s disruptive fart that led to Headmaster Thurmer’s stern response.
Back in his warm, empty room, Holden relaxes, puts on his new red hunting hat, and rereads parts of Isak Dinesen’s Out of Africa. He reflects on the kinds of books and authors he loves, especially his brother D.B. and Ring Lardner, and muses about wanting writers to be close friends.
Robert Ackley barges in from the shared shower, prowls around the room, and needles Holden with questions about the fencing fiasco. Holden, annoyed, jokes by pretending to be blind with his hat, but Ackley persists, handling Stradlater’s belongings and criticizing Holden’s hat.
Ackley badgers Holden for scissors; when Holden opens the closet, Stradlater’s racket falls on his head, which sends Ackley into hysterics. Ackley clips his nails on the floor despite repeated protests. He vents about hating Ward Stradlater’s “superior” attitude, while Holden partly defends Stradlater as conceited but generous and needles Ackley by calling him “Ackley kid.”
Stradlater bursts in from the snowy game, friendly but hurried, and asks to borrow Holden’s hound’s-tooth jacket. After a brief exchange, Ackley slips out. Stradlater, shirtless and confident about his build, grabs his toilet kit and heads to shave, mentioning his date is waiting in the Annex.
Who Appears
- Holden CaulfieldNarrator; lies about the gym, critiques Ossenburger, wears a red hunting hat, tries to read, tolerates Ackley, and lends Stradlater his jacket.
- Robert AckleyHolden’s intrusive, slovenly neighbor; wanders in, handles belongings, clips nails on the floor, and complains about Stradlater.
- Ward StradlaterHolden’s confident roommate; returns from the game, borrows Holden’s hound’s-tooth jacket, and goes to shave for a date.
- OssenburgerWealthy Pencey alumnus and dorm namesake; gave a pious, phony-feeling chapel speech Holden mocks.
- Edgar MarsallaStudent who loudly farted during Ossenburger’s chapel speech, causing a scandal.
- Mr. ThurmerPencey headmaster; angered by the chapel incident and imposes compulsory study hall.