Chapter 17

Chapter 17:

Characters: Holden, Sally

Theme: Irrational

Symbol: Ernie- the symbol of being too good, and showing off- you become a phony.

Summary: Holden was waiting for Sally, and started to think about the girls that came back from school and how they one day will be marrying dopey guys. Sally came down the stairs and looked really pretty so Holden excused her from being late. He didn't really like her but when he saw her he had the urge to marry her. They go to the movie Lunts, and made-out in the back-seat of the taxi on the way over. Holden didn't think the movie was bad, but the actors were very talented and that made him irritated. He compared them to Ernie who is a very good pianist, and when you become great at something you become a show-off and then become a phony. During the intermission they went out to have a smoke, and then Sally saw a man she knew across the lobby. The man saw her too, came over to say hello, and the two continued to flirt with Holden standing right there. After they watched the second part of the play they hopped in the cab, and Holden was not happy. Sally then wanted to go to Radio City to ice skate. Holden thought she just wanted to go to show off her butt. They weren't good, but when they took a break Holden becomes crazy and starts to speak in different tones. He yells, and Sally asks him to quite down, but he denies ever screaming. He then asks Sally to run away with him, escape from society, and live in a cabin. Sally tells him that's ridiculous, and he starts to get more upset and calls her a "royal pain in the ass." Holden starts to apologize, but she's upset and angry with him, and then he leaves without her.