Catcher in the Rye: Phoebe

        Holden’s love for Phoebe is demonstrated throughout the novel, and she is one of the few people Holden doesn’t criticize. Holden especially liked kids and in the novel, he never called a kid “phony.” When he saw the “fuck you” signs on the school wall, he immediately accused anybody except for children. He thought that children would never write that, and thought that they were pure. Holden enjoyed listening to Phoebe talking about random things and liked her for her innocence. When he watched Phoebe sleeping, he says, “You take adults, they look lousy when they’re asleep and they have their mouths way open, but kids don’t. Kids look all right.” (159) Holden seemed to dislike adults and thought they were evil. Although kids also had spit all over their pillow, Holden thought that it was okay for kids. Phoebe was always an exception for him. Also, he enjoyed talking to Phoebe about anything because she always listened to him. Phoebe didn’t judge Holden for anything, and understood everything he said. Although Phoebe is child-like, she was also mature at times. When Holden was about to leave, Phoebe gave him her money even though it was her “Christmas dough.” Also, when Holden was about to leave, she wanted to leave with him to take care of him. Phoebe was probably the reason why Holden didn’t leave New York. In the last scene, Holden takes Phoebe to ride the carrousel. This scene had significance because the carrousel represented something that would never change. He watched Phoebe ride it, and started to cry. He was touched by her child-like innocence. Phoebe was exactly the sort of child he wanted to “catch in the rye.” Phoebe was also the only one that knew about Holden’s dream of wanting to be a catcher in the rye. This shows the trust he had in Phoebe.