The student who committed suicide at Holden’s former school, Elkton Hills, was James Castle.
Holden remembers Castle as a small, quiet student who refused to take back an insult about another boy, Phil Stabile. After Castle stood by what he had said, Stabile and several other students confronted him. Castle eventually fell from a dormitory window wearing Holden’s turtleneck sweater.
The incident deeply affects Holden because Mr. Antolini, a former teacher Holden respected, was the only adult who approached Castle’s body. Holden interprets Antolini’s action as evidence of genuine courage and compassion, qualities he rarely sees in the adults around him.
James Castle is sometimes confused with Stradlater, Carl Luce, or Robert Ackley, but those students occupy different roles at Pencey Prep. Castle attended Elkton Hills, the earlier school Holden discusses while visiting Mr. Antolini.