In this blog I will talk about Holden Caulfield’s little
sister Phoebe, and the effect she had on his life. Phoebe was a unique child. At only ten years old she demonstrated amazing
maturity and understanding of what others are feeling and saying. Her personality was bubbling and lively most
of the time. She loved to dance and was
very smart and loving. “’Holden!’ she
said right away. She put her arms around
my neck and all. She’s very
affectionate. I mean she’s quite
affectionate, for a child Sometimes she’s even too affectionate. I sort of gave her a kiss, and she said,
‘Whenja get home?’ She was glad as
h--- to see me. You could tell.” (Salinger161). Phoebe demonstrated time and time again her
love of Holden. She even went as far as
trying to go with him when he was trying to run away. In the end she was also responsible for
Holden’s choice to stay. Phoebe was just
one of those people who are always fun to be around. Phoebe also shows remarkable wisdom for being
only ten years old. She understands that
Holden needs to grow up, a fact that he keeps denying. Her understanding of Holden is quiet funny at
times. She seems to see all his problems
and tries to get him to address them. “Although she never explicitly states it, Phoebe seems to realize
that Holden’s bitterness toward the rest of the world is really bitterness
toward himself. She sees that he is a deeply sad, insecure young man who needs
love and support. At the end of the book, when she shows up at the museum and
demands to come with him, she seems not so much to need Holden as to understand
that he needs her.” (Sparknotes 1). Even though she has the understanding of an
adult, Salinger used excellent writing abilities to make Phoebe into a
convincing ten year old. Her character
development made her into a believable and relatable identity.
"The Catcher in the Rye." SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 13 Aug. 2012. http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/catcher/context.html.Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown and, 1991. Print.
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