Holden Caulfield Adulthood

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.

Based on his judgement, Caulfield doesn’t judge something based on how it looks, or how he wants to be like everyone else. He wants to be unique and different. Caulfield also made a statement on how he said, “I took my red hunting hat out of my pocket and put it on-I didn’t give a damn on how I looked” (88). Holden shows that he does not care if he looks like a moron or a strange person, he wants to be the one and only Holden Caulfield in the entire universe. This phrase gave evidence that Caulfield’s red hunting hat represents his individuality.

she said right away. She put her arms around my neck and all, she’s very affectionate, for a child…” (Salinger, 161) this shows that Phoebe is genuinely happy to see Holden she's the only one that didn't push him away, adding to his mental illness making him feel like no one wanted him, no one in his family saw the signs of depression in Holden so they couldn't treat the young boy so it wouldn't lead to where he is, right now Holden is currently abusing drugs and alcohol and he's even tried to solicit a

As a teenager facing adulthood, everyone longs for their childhood back. With all the stress of high school, getting into the right college, and just starting to understand romantic relationships, sometimes teenagers just want life to go back to what it was like in elementary school. In the novel, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden experiences these feelings throughout the novel. Holden refuses to accept the fact that he is growing up forcing him to be kicked out of multiple schools and running away to live in New York City. Holden refuses to accept becoming an adult which causes him to become depressed.

Holden tries to prevent the inevitable, but one must move on with their life, and that is, contributed to the loss of innocence. His hat keeps him safe from the societal horrors that steal one's innocence. So when he has finally comes to grips with the fact that he must become older, and make grown up decisions, he gives his hat to Phoebe when, she takes it out of his pocket and offers it to him, since it was raining, but he says “You can wear it awhile” (Salinger 233), he does this because he wants to protect her now and stop running away from his

Moreover, there is conflict in Holden’s transition from his teenage years to adulthood. Exhausted of this life, Holden wants to skip town and “get a job at a filling station somewhere”(Salinger 198). Just like a child, Holden literally wanted to run away from his problems, his only notion was to say goodbye to his younger sister, Phoebe. As he is with her, she tells Holden that she wants to accompany him, she even packed her bags. Admittedly, Holden then has an epiphany and realizes that he cannot leave.

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’.

The ending chapter of the novel Holden finds the loss of innocence he’s been searching for. When Phoebe is riding the carousel and she reaches for the ring, it represents maturing. Phoebe is a symbol for youth and innocence, and she is reaching for maturity. Holden’s struggles during the novel, “The Catcher In The Rye,” he figures out the true loss of innocence lost in becoming an adult and the struggle to be one and Holden struggling to be the catcher in the rye to catch kids from losing adulthood. His relationship struggles are his key factors which makes Holden who he truly

Phoebe and Holden have a really close relationship in that they are very understanding of each other and know what each of them likes or dislikes. For her age, Phoebe is actually very mature and knows the troubles that her brother goes through such as getting kicked out of school again. Holden always speaks good things about her and has confidence in what she does. Holden states that Phoebe is really smart and “if you tell old Phoebe something, she knows exactly what the hell you’re talking about” (Salinger 67). This represents how Phoebe is able to understand her surroundings and any situation that she may come across, which is also the same with Holden because he is always able to relate with people in a different form, even if it is through his lies.

When the hat is pulled to the front, he cannot “see a goddam thing” and says he’s “going blind” (21). The pain from Allie’s death pushes Holden to seclude himself from a world he sees as cold and ominous. More importantly, it prevents him from looking at his own mind and realizing Allie is the reason he is lonely. As if losing own brother wasn’t enough, Holden also loses the presence of his older brother D.B.. The conflict begins when he leaves Holden by moving to Hollywood, and Holden says D.B. will only “maybe” drive him home after his therapy ends (1).

“ 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....

He feels very protective of his little sister Phoebe because she reminds Holden of Allie since they are both younger than Holden and have red hair. For example, when visiting Phoebe’s school, Holden becomes infuriated by the profanity written on the wall and is concerned that other kids, including Phoebe, may see the writing (Salinger 221). Not only does Holden want to prevent other kids from growing up, he wants to keep his own innocence so he does not forget about Allie. Holden notes that “the best thing [about museums] was that everything always stayed right where it was… The only thing that would be different

In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden demonstrates the struggle of transitioning between childhood and adulthood by revealing his hassle to grow up. Maturity comes through being an adult and growing up is all about becoming more mature. Throughout the book, Holden goes through numerous conflicts and problems. In the beginning of the book, Holden is gives information about himself.

Holden responded with “Like hell it is... This is a people shooting hat” (Page 22). Holden, by saying it is a ‘people shooting hat’, symbolizes how the hat protects him from others and separates him from others by ‘shooting them down’ and detaching himself from others. While staying in New York, Holden would wear that same red hunting cap in order to feel fearless. He states that “I took my red hunting hat out of my pocket and put it on - I didn’t even give a damn how it looked” (Page 88).

She didn't want to take it, but I made her. I'll bet she slept with it on. She really likes those kind of hats..." (180). Holden gives Phoebe his red hunting hat because he thinks the hat will protect her from the outside world and keep her innocence and purity intact as he believes it has done for him. Not only does Holden wear the hat all the time but he also talks about wearing the hat all time this showing that he’s a bit more self conscious about the hat than he lets