Summary: Chapter Six

Stradlater comes home from his date with Jane, reads through the composition written for him by Holden and is clearly frustated with how irrelevant the piece is to the set assignment.

-"No wonder you're flunking the hell out of here," he said. "You don't do one damn thing the way you're supposed to. Not one damn thing."

Agitated by Stradlaters response to his work- most likely due to it's close link with a fond memory of his brother, Allie- Holden rips the paper to pieces. This can indicate his regret at sharing what can be seen as something truly important to him, and only have it be criticized, and worse- rejected; specially by a person who he finds worthless. Holden throwing the pieces in the wastebasket symbolizes his insecurity with both the composition and himself.

Holden then questions Stradlater in regards to his date with Jane. When Stradlater nonchalantly refuses to tell Holden any details, Holden attacks him physically. Holden's sudden desperation for at least the most miniscule sort of contact with Jane can indicate his desire to feel connected with someone else.

Holden ceaselessly insults Stradlater;

-"Why should I?" I said - I was practically yelling. 'Thats just the trouble with all you morons. You never want to discuss anything. That's the way you can always tell a moron. They never want to discuss anything intellig-"

After which Stradlater breaks Holdens nose. When Stradlater exists the room, Holden expresses his fascination at the bloodied mess which is his nose.
"
-It partly scared me and it partly fascinated me. All that sort of made me look tough. I'm not too tough. I'm a pacifist, if you want to know the truth.

This statement is, juxtaposed with Holden initiating the fight between himself and Stradlater and also shows Holden's inner conflict with his own identity at this period of time.

The chapter ends with Holden escaping into Ackley's room.

-"It always had a funny stink in it, because he was so crumby in his personal habits."

Holden's continuous foray into and out of Ackleys room can indicate his discomfort with his insecurities and he therefore interacts with someone he pities (Chapter 5, last 3 lines. That guy had just about everything... you had to feel a little sorry for the crazy sonuvabitch.) in order to assert some superiority and remind himself that he is, indeed, still worth more than someone else.


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Am I meant to put this here? If not, sorry? Hehehe...
Excuse any english-ey errors or sentences that make no sense.