ipl-logo

Catcher In The Rye Phoebe Analysis

500 Words2 Pages

“The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the gold ring, you have to let them do it, and not say anything. If they fall off, they fall off, but it’s bad if you say anything to them. “ (pg. 232 ¶ 5). Holden thought to himself as he watched his sister Phoebe grab for the ring; realizing that you can’t stop everyone from doing what they need to do. Phoebe is the symbol, she is a symbol for untainted and unbesmirched youth. Phoebe, though we know her for only a portion of the book, changes Holden. She allows him to understand that if people need to do something that they will do that. for instance, when Phoebe is talking to Holden after he writes a note to her, she tells him that she is leaving; she says that she will be very good. she practically says she will do anything to influence Holden to let her go, but he won’t. She starts to cry, and Holden tells her they can go to the zoo and he won’t leave anymore. That is the power of youth. All this time you think you’re going to do something then some kid walks up to you; talks for a little while trying to make you stop, …show more content…

He wants to know how she is doing, and he wants to make her happy. Even though he is trying to show everyone that he doesn’t want their crap, or as he says ‘phoniness’ he still wants to make Phoebe happy. “ I dropped old Phoebe’s record. it broke into about fifty pieces. It was in a big envelope and all, but it broke anyway. i damn near cried, it made me feel so terrible, but all i did was, I took the pieces out of the envelope and put them in my coat pocket. “ (pg. 170 ¶ 2). He almost cried because he broke a record he had bought for Phoebe, and he felt terrible. he cares for his sister and this shows how much so he does and what impact she has on his life, what impact her youth and purity has on his

Show More
Related

  • Social Norms In Catcher In The Rye And Nervous Conditions

    1864 Words  | 8 Pages

    The purpose of my essay is to explore how different social backgrounds and the social norms that follow affect the personality of two fictive characters and encourage them to break out of their station to find an identity. The protagonists Holden Caulfield in J.D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye and Tambudzai in Tsitsi Dangarembga’s novel Nervous Conditions are both victims of social norms. Therefore, the foundation of this essay was to analyze the character’s social background, which has influenced their personalities, behavior and aspirations, and consequently their opposing actions against society. Holden Caulfield is an American adolescent during the period after the Second World War.

    Read More

  • How Does Holden Present Depression In Catcher In The Rye

    481 Words  | 2 Pages

    Holden view his sister as genuine and honest, not a “phony” like almost everyone else. When he arrives back in New York, one of his first thoughts is that he would like to call and speak with her. In the end of the novel, when Holden is getting ready to start his new life he decides he cannot leave without saying goodbye. Phoebe is the only character in the book who he actually cares about and sees no flaws in. He holds onto Phoebe so much because unlike everyone else surrounded by him, she still has her

    Read More

  • Hope Of Change In Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird

    708 Words  | 3 Pages

    Holden and Phoebe are at a carrousel after having an argument with one another as Holden would not allow Phoebe to come along with him when Holden said he wanted to leave. Before this quote Holden was feeling miserable and quite irritated with life and wanted to withdraw from the society by going somewhere far away. However, because of Phoebe’s obstinate personality he agrees to stay and watch her go on the carousel. While watching Phoebe on the carousel he becomes happy just simply by watching her.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Loss Of Innocence In Catcher In The Rye

    1177 Words  | 5 Pages

    Holden and Phoebe fought. Trying to make up for it, Holden took her to the zoo. Holden let Phoebe ride the carousel while he watched. It started to rain as she reached for the golden ring. Holden thought to himself, “The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the gold ring, you have to let them do it, and not say anything” (Salinger 273-274).

    Read More

  • Holden Caulfield Adulthood

    1365 Words  | 6 Pages

    Phoebe symbolises everything that Holden wishes to protect from the world, youth and innocence. He speaks fondly of her often, assuring his readers that “[they’d] like her” (67). At the end of the novel, Holden and Phoebe go for a walk and Holden suggests she ride on the carousel (210). Phoebe says she’s too big, but Holden convinces her otherwise and watches her, since he is definitely too big - another sign of how he is reluctantly growing up (211). After the ride is over and Phoebe goes to her brother again, it starts to rain and Phoebe takes Holden’s red hunting cap and places it on his head (212).

    Read More

  • The Catcher In The Rye: Was Holden Successful In His Journey

    593 Words  | 3 Pages

    Was Holden successful in his Journey This is an essay on whether or not Holden Caulfield is successful on his journey throughout the novel “The Catcher in the Rye” by Jerome David Salinger. This book shows how hard it can be for teenagers that are going from an adolescent to adulthood. Holden, who is sixteen years old, has been kicked out of several schools. Pencey Prep. was the latest.

    Read More

  • Catcher In The Rye Rite Of Passage Analysis

    1142 Words  | 5 Pages

    Phoebe is a child and she is innocent. Holden wants to keep Phoebe innocent because his older brother prostituted himself to Hollywood, the place full of phonies. Holden does not want children to lose their innocence so soon, but he realizes that he cannot save them

    Read More

  • Examples Of Ambition In Catcher In The Rye

    931 Words  | 4 Pages

    As a small child, the chances are still against her, but since Phoebe desires to play it, Holden figures he should allow her. The force pushing Phoebe to become older and Holden to become an adult, is inevitable. This realization makes Holden cry. But rather being tears

    Read More

  • Holden Caulfield Lies In Catcher In The Rye

    1378 Words  | 6 Pages

    The only motivator that Holden has to continue living is his younger sister, Phoebe, who is extraordinarily intelligent for her age. After he gets kicked out of Pencey, Holden is lost in life. He speaks to many people, seeking advice and comfort, but they are not able to help him find a human connection. Holden’s depression increases throughout the novel, almost to the point of suicide. He criticizes many people and ideas, labeling them as ‘phony’.

    Read More

  • Catcher In The Rye Holden's Struggles Essay

    830 Words  | 4 Pages

    Holden’s Struggle To Find Himself: Throughout the novel, The Catcher In The Rye, by J.D. Salinger, Holden struggles to find himself and who he truly is in order to be happy. His struggles relate to many things that he does or say in particular. Holden lacks with a social status with women and his family, whether it’s a relationship or being antisocial. Throughout The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield experiences the complexities and struggles involved with both physical and emotional relationships.

    Read More

  • Acceptance In Catcher In The Rye

    777 Words  | 4 Pages

    Teenagers often attempt to find happiness through the acceptance of others, as they believe it will make their life whole. In the novel The Catcher In The Rye, written by J.D. Salinger, the protagonist and narrator of the novel is a sixteen year old junior who is expelled from his school Pencey Prep for failing 4 out of 5 classes. Holden Caulfield seeks acceptance from the people surrounding him, which affects him both positively and negatively. In the novel The Catcher In The Rye, the main character, Holden Caulfield, seeks acceptance from those around him when he goes home to look for Phoebe, when he goes to his old teacher expecting pity, and when he visits the nuns because he heard what good people they are. The first example of Holden yearning acceptance from the people surrounding him is when he goes home to look for Phoebe, his sister, after his expulsion.

    Read More

  • Catcher In The Rye Holden's Innocence

    404 Words  | 2 Pages

    Holden prefers to stay as a kid rather than “grow up”. When Holden talks about phonies they were most of the time adults and never kids. He dislikes the idea of growing up and becoming a phony himself. He even says this when he talks about his cabin, “ I might come home when I was about thirty-five. ”(pg.213)

    Read More

  • Examples Of How Holden Mature In Catcher In The Rye

    1268 Words  | 6 Pages

    “ you have to go back to school, you want to be in this play, no I want to stay here, no you don't you're going back to school”(269). This is sort of contradictory to holden earlier in the novel, because he left school and now he is telling phoebe to go back to school. This shows a reformation from earlier in the novel, because he wants what’s best for phoebe not that he wants to see her but wants her to have a better life. In the carousel scene holden wants to help phoebe not fall off but comes to the realization that she is going to grow up hence when he says if they fall let them fall. Holden wants to be the catcher in the rye and now he wants to let them fall....

    Read More

  • Catcher In The Rye Internal Conflict

    1032 Words  | 5 Pages

    In The Catcher in the Rye, that decision is when Holden decides to have Phoebe meet him at lunch during her school day. This decision sets up the story for the climax, which happens directly after that. If he did not choose to meet with Phoebe, he would have probably gone through with his crazy plan to hitchhike out west to California. As a result of this choice, Phoebe causes Holden to have an epiphany about the fact that he should not be worrying about trying to grow up super fast and do things he is not ready for. This signifies the end of his emotional hardships, which can be observed through the quote “I was damn near bawling, I felt so damn happy, if you want to know the truth” (Salinger

    Read More

  • Catcher In The Rye Analysis

    1308 Words  | 6 Pages

    Holden Caulfield lives his life as an outsider to his society, because of this any we (as a reader) find normal is a phony to him. Basically, every breathing thing in The Catcher in the Rye is a phony expect a select few, like Jane Gallagher. What is a phony to Holden and why is he obsessed with them? A phony is anyone who Holden feels is that living their authentic life, like D.B. (his older brother). Or simply anyone who fits into society norms, for example, Sally Hayes.

    Read More

More about Catcher In The Rye Phoebe Analysis

Open Document