The Catcher in the Rye Journal

Discuss the relationship between Holden and Mr. Spencer. Is it a personal, caring relationship or simply a professional relationship between teacher and student?


I think the relationship between Holden and Mr. Spencer is a personal, caring relationship between a teacher and a student. Because Mr. Spencer is the only person who really cares and worries about Holden. He worries about Holden that he feels absolutely no concern for his future and that he is not going to end up anywhere in his future. He cares about Holden because he wants Holden to be good and en up in good places in his futures.

After Holden gets kicked out of Pencey, he goes to see Mr. Spencer, because Mr. Spencer wanted to talk to him, but actually he goes to see Mr. Spencer because he thinks Mr. Spencer is not phony. When he goes to see Mr. Spencer, they talk about his future, and other things about Holden doesn't care about anything. Mr. Spencer was trying to understand why Holden wasn't caring about school and why doesn't he do things that he is suppose to do. Mr. Spencer was trying to help Holden but Holden doesn't even listen him. He was thinking about the lagoon and the ducks in Central Park, and where would the ducks go when the lake is frozen.

Mr. Spencer had a grippe, he was wearing his bathrobes, and the room smelled like Vicks Nose Drops. Instead of trying to listen Mr. Spencer, Holden was thinking that how depressing it was to see old guy's bumpy chest and their white and unhairy legs, also the smell of Vicks Nose Drops and to sit on a bed that is hard as a rock. Holden wasn't listening to Mr. Spencer because he didn't care about his future. But Mr. Spencer care for him.