Holden lied to Mrs. Morrow because he liked to lie.
Holden found Mrs. Morrow very attractive, but he knew her son to be a very creepy kid no one liked. However, to entertain Mrs. Morrow, Holden spun a tall tale about what a terrific kid he was, etc, etc.
Leg
Holden's parents' servant in "The Catcher in the Rye" is named Mrs. Morrow. She is the mother of Ernest Morrow, a boy Holden meets on the train.
Mrs. Morrow recognizes Holden's school blazer and ties him to Pencey Prep based on their conversation about her son, Ernest. She assumes that Holden is also a Pencey student because of his knowledge of the school and his familiarity with her son.
Holden tells Mrs. Morrow that he has a brain tumor and that he is the number one bassoon player in all of New York. He also tells her that he has a lot of other worries and it would be a disadvantage for him to have to stop and sort them all out right then.
Holden finds Mrs. Morrow to be naive and somewhat gullible, as she seems to easily believe his false claims about her son. He feels guilty for lying to her about Ernie, but also finds her to be kind and pleasant to talk to.
He lied about his name, and why he was not at schhol. (He said he was going home to get an operation to get a tiny tumor off the side of his brain.)
In "The Catcher in the Rye," Holden Caulfield lies to Mrs. Morrow by crafting an elaborate story about her son, Ernest, claiming he is a popular and well-liked student, which is the opposite of the truth. He also fabricates details about his own life, saying he has a tragic family background to gain her sympathy. While Holden expresses concern for Mrs. Morrow’s feelings, his lies reveal a deeper sense of isolation and a desire to connect, suggesting that he may not genuinely feel sorry for her but is instead manipulating the situation to avoid confronting his own pain. Ultimately, his dishonesty reflects his struggle with authenticity and his complex emotional state.
Holden Caulfield D.B. Caulfield Mr. Spenser Mr. and Mrs. Caulfield Robert Ackley Walt Stradlater Jane Gallagher Allie Caulfield Mrs. Morrow Phoebe Caulfield Faith Cavendish Bernice, Marty, Laverne Horwitz Lillian Simmons Maurice Sunny Sally Hayes Mr. Antolini
Holden met the group of nuns, one of whom, was an old English teacher, and they spent some time talking about romeo and Juliet. Holden was nervous about talking about romeo and Juliet with the nun because of the racey aspects of the play, however he was suprised to discover that the nun had a great interest and love for romeo and Juliet. Holden gave them a donation before they left.
Holden tells Ernest Morrow's mom that his name is Rudolf Schmidt because he wants to impress her with a false identity. He feels guilty about spending time with her son and lying to him, so he gives her a fictitious name to distance himself from the situation. This reflects Holden's pattern of lying to avoid connection and intimacy with others.
Holden meets the mother of one of his classmates, Ernest Morrow, on the train to New York. He lies to her about knowing her son and their conversation makes him feel even more alienated.