Checker pieces (king checker piece)
In the novel the Catcher in the Rye, Holden is a very intelligent teen. Although he has the ability to succeed in all aspects of life, he choses to keep all of his kings in the back row; he has the personality to form decent relationships with the people in his life but fails by sabotaging himself with his negative view on life; He is smart enough to succeed in school, especially when it comes to English, but again, he sabotages himself by not doing the assignments and refusing to do things by the rules. As he reflects back on memories he shares with Jane Gallagher, he remembers playing checkers with her and how “she wouldn’t move any of her kings.... she just liked the way they looked when they were all in the back row”
(Salinger 32).While this quote focuses on his memories with Jane, Holden is really describing himself and how he leaves all his positive traits hidden in the back, impacting how he is viewed by others and his place in life.
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People: Holden could form friendships but he holds himself back from certain people, emotions, events etc.
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Ackley
Although Holden is known to have a negative perspective on life, you start to think he may actually not hate people as much as he lets on. With already made plans, Holden convinces his friend to let Ackley come. While you would generally think Holden may be making an effort to be friends with Ackley, someone who shares a decent amount of personality traits with Holden, he instead made it seem like he felt bad for Ackley and decided to do him a favor, saying, “The reason I asked was because Ackley never did anything on Saturday night, except stay in his room and squeeze his pimples or something”(Salinger 36). While the original act of asking Ackley is kind and thoughtful, Holden can’t admit or be open to the fact that he may have wanted Ackley to come.
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In the Catcher and the Rye Holden introduces the book as an outsider looking in on the football game. While the whole school was at the game, including his roommate, Holden chose to stay on the outskirts and exclude himself explaining, “the whole school except me was there”(Salinger 2). While Holden may have his reasons, he once again retreats back to the back row of the chess table. Holden, even acknowledging the fact the he is one of the few opting out of the football game, holds himself back from turning Pencey into a permenant school rather than a school he can’t wait to leave.