Graham Preston wrote: >On Mr. Antolini, I've always thought that he was the Catcher. That's a very interesting idea, and I think you've definitely hit on something. I don't think Mr. Antolini is the Catcher, but I think he, like Holden, is a failed Catcher. I take this idea directly from the text, that Mr. Antolini is a failed Catcher. If you'll recall, Mr. Antolini arrived on the scene soon after James Castle hit the pavement, having jumped out a window, and Mr. Antolini was the one to take care of James once he got there...But what's important to note here is that ANTOLINI WAS TOO LATE TO CATCH JAMES CASTLE. (I only use caps because there's not italics here...) I think that Mr. Antolini was too late to catch Holden, since I believe that Holden really began his fall earlier in that evening--specifically when he starts to get drunk. He's been trying to get drunk during the whole story--but he's TOO YOUNG to order drinks...when he finally breaks that AGE BARRIER, and gets drunk, he has entered into adulthood and thus fallen. I still hold that Allie is the Catcher, but the concensus here seems to be that it was God. There's not definite answer, of course. You could be right about Antolini. It's a very interesting observation. Brendan Free web-based email, Forever, From anywhere! http://www.mailexcite.com