In The Catcher in the Rye, why does Holden like Mercutio (from Romeo and Juliet) so much? What does this reveal about Holden? What other character...

Another reason Holden may admire Mercutio so much is because Mercutio exemplifies everything Holden longs to be (but is not).

In Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio is courageous, unpredictable, outspoken, and supremely confident. He's the kind of man Holden wishes to be. When Romeo becomes depressed about being rejected by Rosaline, Mercutio advises him to have more sex. Mercutio may be matter-of-fact about love (he can take it or leave it), but he's sexually experienced,...

Another reason Holden may admire Mercutio so much is because Mercutio exemplifies everything Holden longs to be (but is not).

In Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio is courageous, unpredictable, outspoken, and supremely confident. He's the kind of man Holden wishes to be. When Romeo becomes depressed about being rejected by Rosaline, Mercutio advises him to have more sex. Mercutio may be matter-of-fact about love (he can take it or leave it), but he's sexually experienced, something Holden is not. In The Catcher In The Rye, Holden gets cold feet about bedding Sunny, the prostitute. He behaves awkwardly and is downright frightened about the prospect of embarrassing himself. He wishes he was a "rake" (like Monsieur Blanchard), but he fails miserably when he's faced with the need to take action.

Mercutio is "smart" and "entertaining." He's both adept at love-making as well as sword-fighting. Above all, Mercutio knows how to take the battle to the enemy when the occasion demands it. It is Mercutio who takes up Romeo's challenge to fight Tybalt. Because of his loyalty and courage, Mercutio dies at Tybalt's hands. Holden implies that Romeo's cowardice is responsible for Mercutio's death, and he believes that Mercutio is a more worthy character than either Romeo or Juliet.

Holden's thoughts about Mercutio show that he values a particular set of masculine virtues, the kind that Mercutio possesses in abundance. Mercutio represents Holden's idea of the perfect man, someone who's suave, courageous, and confident. In the book, Stradlater is the closest thing to Mercutio. Like Mercutio, Stradlater is obsessed with sex, and he's certainly what one would consider a "rake." He's good with the ladies, and he's a charmer. However, he's also mercurial (like Mercutio).

When Holden asks Stradlater about his date with Jane Gallagher, Stradlater becomes visibly irritated. He refuses to provide Holden with any details about the date. Holden resorts to antagonizing his friend, and this leads Stradlater to retaliate physically. Holden fights back but finds himself powerless against his friend's dexterity. Holden muses that he's only been in two fights in his life, and he lost both of them. He comforts himself that, at the very least, the presence of blood on his person makes him look "tough."

So, even though Stradlater isn't a very good friend, Holden finds himself engaged in a dysfunctional  relationship with him. Holden detests Stradlater's selfishness, but he's fascinated with his friend's sexual confidence and physical prowess. This is also the reason that Holden likes Mercutio so much; both Mercutio and Stradlater are very similar in temperament and character.