What is your impression of Holden's father?

Answer 1

Very hard to say. Holden seems to dismiss his mother as almost an abstract. He has no complaints about her, and he also has no praise for her. The reader gets the impression that he does think she is an excellent mother to Phoebe, and Holden is genuinely concerned about what his mother's reaction will be when she finds out he "got the axe again". The most specific thing Holden tells us about his mother is that she is very nervous, "half the time she's up all night smoking cigarettes".

Answer 2

Holden's father is portrayed as distant and disconnected in the novel "The Catcher in the Rye." Holden often feels neglected by his father, who is more focused on his career and expectations for Holden's future rather than understanding his son's struggles and emotions. This lack of emotional connection contributes to Holden's feelings of isolation and alienation.