The Catcher in the Rye

by

J. D. Salinger

Ernest’s Mother (Mrs. Morrow) Character Analysis

Ernest Morrow’s mother is an attractive middle-aged woman whom Holden meets on the train to New York after leaving Pencey Prep. Mrs. Morrow instantly recognizes the Pencey seal on Holden’s suitcases, so Holden gives her a fake name and then speaks fondly of her son, whom he actually hates. Nonetheless, he finds Mrs. Morrow quite pleasant and even flirtatiously invites her to have a cocktail with him, though she politely declines.
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Ernest’s Mother (Mrs. Morrow) Character Timeline in The Catcher in the Rye

The timeline below shows where the character Ernest’s Mother (Mrs. Morrow) appears in The Catcher in the Rye. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 8
Phoniness Theme Icon
Alienation and Meltdown Theme Icon
Women and Sex Theme Icon
Childhood and Growing Up Theme Icon
Flirting with Ernest’s mother, Holden invites her to have a drink with him in the train’s bar, explaining that... (full context)