The Catcher in the Rye Ch. 15.2: Holden Talks Romeo and Juliet with a Nun | Banned Books Podcast

The Catcher in the Rye Ch. 15.2 | Banned Books Comedy Podcast

Holden finishes his conversation with the two nuns at the lunch counter, gives them ten dollars he can't really afford, discusses Romeo and Juliet with an English teacher in iron-rimmed glasses, accidentally blows smoke in their faces, and then watches them leave. It's one of the warmest scenes in the book, and it ends with one of Salinger's most devastating lines.

Banned Camp is a comedy podcast where we read banned books chapter by chapter—we don't read ahead, so you're discovering the story with us.

Things To Listen For:

• Holden's take on Romeo and Juliet: he cared more about Mercutio dying than Romeo or Juliet, because it was somebody else's fault
• Robot's history of how nuns had their cultural moment in the 1960s, complete with Vatican Two described as "ComicCon for bishops"
• Holden connecting the Catholic identity thing to the suitcases from last episode — the invisible walls between people who were getting along fine
• Dan calling the chapter a dud and Jennifer pushing back with one of the sharpest observations of the season

Why was The Catcher in the Rye banned? This chapter is about a teenager having a kind, honest conversation with two nuns about literature. He gives them money. He feels guilty he didn't give more. And then he connects religion to class — the labels people carry that end good conversations before they should. That's the threat: a kid learning to see the invisible walls that divide people, and questioning whether they need to be there at all.

If this is your first episode, you're fine starting here. Our fact-checking Robot catches you up fast, then we read the next chapter (spoilers).

Banworthy to Bingeworthy:
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Featured Clips:
This episode includes a short clip from The Blues Brothers (1980). All rights belong to their respective owners and are used here under fair use for the purpose of cultural commentary and education.

Disclaimer:
Banned Camp features readings and discussions of banned books for the purpose of criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment, in accordance with fair use guidelines.

The material used from the book The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is shared under these principles, with the intent of provoking thought and discussion about literature, censorship, and societal issues. The original work remains fully owned by its copyright holders, and we strongly encourage listeners to purchase a copy here to experience the book in its entirety.

This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to J.D. Salinger, their estate, or the publishers of The Catcher in the Rye. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed.

Topics Covered: The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger, Chapter 15, Holden Caulfield, Mercutio, Romeo and Juliet, nuns, religion, class identity, suitcases, Thomas Hardy, Eustacia Vye, banned books, banned books podcast, book banning, censorship, literary analysis, comedy podcast