Holden Caulfield is the main character or protagonist, as well as the narrator, who tells us his story from a sanatorium. Throughout the novel, he struggles with depression over the death of his younger brother, Allie. He is lonely and wants to find someone to connect to, reaching out to many different people as he travels through New York. Unfortunately, his depression and his social awkwardness make each attempt a failure.
Stradlater is Holden's school roommate. He is handsome, popular, and very comfortable with women - all the things that Holden wishes he could be. Early in the novel, Stradlater asks Holden to write a composition for his English class. Holden agrees and writes about his brother Allie's baseball glove. However, Stradlater criticizes the essay and eventually the two boys get into a fistfight over a date Stradlater had with Holden's friend Jane. The fight with Stradlater is part of Holden's motivation to leave Pencey and begin a new journey.
Sunny is a young prostitute who comes to Holden's hotel room. In spite of the fact that he wants to connect to someone and is obviously interested in sex, Holden feels awkward and confused in her presence. He tells Sunny that he doesn't want to have sex with her; he just wants to talk. Sunny is irritated with him and leaves but returns later with her pimp who punches Holden and robs him.
Sally Hayes is a girl that Holden has been on several dates with in the past. When he's in New York, he calls her and invites her to go out with him. They go to see a Broadway show and then go skating. Holden thinks Sally is a phony and annoying, but impulsively, he still asks Sally to run away with him. He tells her that they can live in a cabin far away from everyone else. Sally refuses, and Holden gets angry and curses at her.
Jane Gallagher is an unusual character in that she never actually shows up in the book in person. She is a girl from Holden's past that he is still somewhat obsessed with. He remembers how he used to play checkers with her and is upset when he learns Stradlater is going out on a date with her. Jane represents yet another person that Holden would like to connect with yet is unable to because he is depressed.
Phoebe is Holden's younger sister. She is the one person that he feels he can really connect to, even though she's only in the 4th grade. She is smart, witty, and genuinely concerned about Holden. Phoebe is the only one who sees through Holden's awkwardness and still tries to connect with him. When Holden tells her about his plan to run off and live in a cabin in the woods, she immediately wants to come with him.
https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-catcher-in-the-rye-characters-themes-symbols.html
