Chapter 9

Holden reaches Penn Station in New York and decides to call someone. He thinks of calling his Phoebe, but realizes that it is too late to call her. He also decides against calling his elder brother D.B. He thinks of calling Sally Hayes, but dismisses the idea since their mothers might run into each other. Eventually, he does not call anybody.

He hails a cab and gives the driver his home address. Midway, he realizes that he doesn’t want to go home. He asks the driver if he would turn the cab around. Holden then asks the driver if he knows what happens to the ducks in Central Park during winter. Holden comes across as a troubled and volatile boy to the driver. He decides to check in at the Edmont Hotel, and also invites the driver for a drink, who refuses. Holden soon discovers that the Edmont Hotel is a seedy place. From his room, he witnesses strange activities taking place in the rooms of a neighboring hotel. He sees a couple spitting drinks at each other’s face. He is aroused by this sight and decides to call Faith Cavendish, who, according to one of his friends, is a notoriously promiscuous person. The woman is annoyed at being woken up, but does talk to him. When he asks her to come over, she refuses.

In this chapter, Holden comes across as a lonely boy, desperate for human company. It is telling that he decides against calling Jane when he is aroused. He still thinks of Jane as pure and innocent, and calls Faith Cavendish instead. Though Holden seeks to preserve the innocent image of Jane in his mind, he is not very respectful of women in general.