Catcher in the Rye 1-9

Question 2d
This passage shows how much Holden cares for Jane. He thinks Stradlater doesn’t deserve an amazing girl like Jane. Jane triggers nostalgia for Holden, he misses all the times they spent together over the summer. He remembers all the little things about Jane and he feels like Stradlater wouldn’t appreciate them the way he does. I think Holden personally feels like he has to protect Jane and reserve the image of “a girl he can play checkers with.” She’s like a trophy in a case and Holden doesn’t want any smudges or fingerprints. I imagine Jane to be the saddest girl with the most beautiful smile when I read Holden’s descriptions of her. How she put all the kings in the back row signifies a barrier to protect her from something. In this case, this something is her stepfather. But now Jane is going on a date with a guy who Holden vividly remember taking advantage of another girl in the backseat. Stradlater was only interested in conversation about Jane’s stepfather walking around naked. Holden was annoyed that Stradlater took it as some kind of perverted joke. I think the reason why Holden was so nervous was because Stradlater knew how to get his way with girls. He knew the ugly side of Stradlater while Jane does not. He also knows that a lot of girls are interested in Stradlater’s good looks and he’s worried that Jane might fall for them as well. That’s why he used the term “sexy bastard”. Sexy is used as a compliment but bastard most of the time is used as a negative connotation. Stradlater has a dual personality. He has an ugly side who is a secret slob, and a charming side he shows to girls. This is passage also is a real world application, when you know someone does not deserve another person.