Holden & Pheobe Caulfield: a Real Relationship
Alyssa Palumbo
Miss Pasqual
March 28, 2009
CITR Constructed Response: Chapter 23
Holden Caulfield, the main character from J.D. Salinger’s book The Catcher in
the Rye, holds a different relationship with his sister Phoebe than any other character in
the book. With his cynical perspective on life, Holden finds it hard to connect with
people. Throughout the novel, one can see that Holden is desperately trying to find
someone who can understand him. He sees Phoebe as the only person he can go to that
will not judge him; one could say that she’s his rock. She’s the only person that he
doesn’t think is “phony,” either. For example, at the beginning of Chapter 23, there is a
scene where Holden asks his sister to dance. “‘C’mon,’ I said. ‘You feel like dancing?’ I
taught her how to dance and all when she was a tiny little kid. She’s a very good dancer. I
mean I just taught her a few things. She learned it mostly by herself. You can’t teach
somebody how to really dance.” (175) From reading that excerpt, one can see that
Holden thinks highly of his little sister. He goes on to say that even though little kids look
terrible when they dance, but with Phoebe it’s different. She’s honest about everything,
and she’s never fake with him, or with anyone, for that matter. However, with society,
Holden seems to think that everyone is phony, or fake. They do not accept him, most
likely because they do not understand his cynical view on things, but because Phoebe
does understand him, she is the only one he can maintain a stable relationship with.
Therefore, Holden’s relationship with Phoebe is much more real than
Miss Pasqual
March 28, 2009
CITR Constructed Response: Chapter 23
Holden Caulfield, the main character from J.D. Salinger’s book The Catcher in
the Rye, holds a different relationship with his sister Phoebe than any other character in
the book. With his cynical perspective on life, Holden finds it hard to connect with
people. Throughout the novel, one can see that Holden is desperately trying to find
someone who can understand him. He sees Phoebe as the only person he can go to that
will not judge him; one could say that she’s his rock. She’s the only person that he
doesn’t think is “phony,” either. For example, at the beginning of Chapter 23, there is a
scene where Holden asks his sister to dance. “‘C’mon,’ I said. ‘You feel like dancing?’ I
taught her how to dance and all when she was a tiny little kid. She’s a very good dancer. I
mean I just taught her a few things. She learned it mostly by herself. You can’t teach
somebody how to really dance.” (175) From reading that excerpt, one can see that
Holden thinks highly of his little sister. He goes on to say that even though little kids look
terrible when they dance, but with Phoebe it’s different. She’s honest about everything,
and she’s never fake with him, or with anyone, for that matter. However, with society,
Holden seems to think that everyone is phony, or fake. They do not accept him, most
likely because they do not understand his cynical view on things, but because Phoebe
does understand him, she is the only one he can maintain a stable relationship with.
Therefore, Holden’s relationship with Phoebe is much more real than