The Catcher in the Rye - Holdens favourite teachers

You get in contact with two teachers whilst reading the novel. One is Mr Spencer, the history teacher at Pencey prep. school. The other is Mr Antolini, Holden’s English teacher at his old school, Elkton Hills. Both are highly significant to the novel in the way that his relationships with them are about the only good ones he has to any adults in the book.

Mr Spencer is, as I have written earlier, Holden’s old History teacher. He cares about Holden and sympathizes with him in his situation. He gives him advice and tries to make him realize how important school is. Mr Spencer was one of the few adults that Holden really respected, despite his age and position as a teacher.
Holden comes to him to say good bye before he takes off from the school. At that time, Mr Spencer tries to make Holden fully understand the importance of education.
“I’d like to put some sense in that head of yours, boy. I’m trying to help you. I’m trying to help you, if I can.” page. 13
Holden ignores all of his attempts to shake some sense in him and lies to him, just to calm him down. He leaves Mr Spencer just as ignorant as he was before he came, and that is the last time he is mentioned in the novel.

Mr Antolini is an old English teacher of Holdens. Holden likes him because he is clever, young and sympathetic. Their relationship goes way back in time and they often meet up to play tennis together.
In the novel, Holden goes to Mr Antolini to have somewhere too spend the night and for guidance and advice. Holden arrives in the middle of the night and has a coffee together with his old teacher. During the conversation, Mr Antolini attempts to convince Holden of the value of an intellectual mind. He argues that without an education you are not able to contribute something valuable and lasting to the world. He gives Holden a note which says:
“The mark of immature man is that he wants to die nobly fore a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.” page. 169
Holden disregards all endeavors Mr Antolini makes to persuade him. Their relation ends abruptly when Holden is woken by Mr Antolinis hand, gently stroking his head. He sees this as a sexual approach and quickly leaves the apartment, feeling disgusted and uncomfortable.
“Boy, I was shaking like a madman. I was sweating too. When something perverty like that happens, I start sweating like a bastard.” page. 174

The parallels between Mr Spencer and Mr Antolini are distinct throughout the novel. They are both former teachers of Holdens, which he has a special relationship to. He respects and admires them both, but in different ways. Holden’s relation with Mr Spencer is more cultured and adult while the one he has to Mr Antolini is more of a friend to friend relation. In both cases they care about Holden and wish him the best. They try to teach him about adulthood and the fact that Holden needs to find his place in the society. Holden ignores most of their arguments but at some level, he still appreciates their concerns and devotion.

Throughout the novel, these characters play an important role in Holden’s life and the way he behaves. They have both affected Holden’s view of life and though it is uncertain if he will ever meet any of them again, they will always have a certain place in his memory.

By Joel & Jonathan