Phoebe Caulfield Analysis

Phoebe Caulfield

Phoebe Caulfield is Holden's little sister. She is a clever and comprehensive ten year-old girl. Phoebe along with Holden's mother and Jane Gallagher is one of the girls who Holden really cares for. She's cheerful and lively; she is a total sunshine.

Most of time Holden relies on her because he knows that she won't judge him and will never let him down. Holden constantly talks about how able is Phoebe to understand him so well even if he doesn't shows all his inner feelings. Although she is a very young girl, she has somehow a mature view toward problems and worries about her brother. Unlike Holden, she understands that growing up and leaving childhood behind is a part of life's cycle. Sometimes she gets upset because she wants Holden to be conscious about this and take a mature step to become a  responsible young man .  

Phoebe is a guide to Holden as she tells him honestly what she thinks about his different issues to help him take a right path. Also she advises him in what he should do to avoid getting into trouble and make his parents angry. Phoebe understands the loneliness and bitterness Holden feels all the time. She also knows Holden is a stubborn and insecure person. She can easily noticed through Holden's rebelliousness he secretly asks a cry for help, like if he is drowning himself with all the hatred he has toward the world.

Holden and Phoebe have a mutual affection, they both know they will always have each other. Holden really thinks Phoebe is the best and smartest little girl and you can tell he would almost do anything for her. Phoebe is like Holden's psychologist and the person that he seeks when he is lost or wants to go home.

Jane Gallagher Analysis

                          Jane Gallagher 

Jane Gallagher is a Holden's childhood friend. When they were young children they used to spend time together. Jane's and Holden's relationship goes beyond sexual feelings, is a relationship of friendship and tenderness. They used to spend a lot of time together, held hands , Jane used to placed her hand on Holden's neck , they sat around, played board games and talked.

Jane is a sweet ,smart, funny, athletic and clever girl . Not the kind of woman that Holden is used to look for in bars (air heads, stupid and slutty girls). She is different; sincere , transparent and not a phony person . She is perfect from Holden's point of view and that is because he actually likes her . He really appreciates her for her person. Jane is a mixture of sweetness and bitterness; as it can be inferred from the book she is beautiful girl in a physical and interior way, but also she is insecure and has issues with herself and her family. Although this she is a strong girl because of the fact that she holds her emotions and she doesn't like people see her crying.

For Holden, Jane is beautiful and deserves the best because she is far from the usual. She deserves someone who treats her with affection and respect due that she is not a “one-nigh-stand”. So this is why Holden is upset when Stradlater goes out on a date with her and says he will try to have some kind of sexual encounter with her. Holden gets jealous, really bothered and concern that Stradlater hurts Jane.

By Jane's and Stradlater's date it can be say that despite Jane being a good girl she may feels a need to seek for affection in empty relationships. Since her family relationship is not the best and she is likely to be afraid of her stepfather for a possible sexual incident Holden deduce, Jane struggles trying not to let that situation break her down .

Holden loves Jane in a loving way in which he had never loved anyone before , she's like a light for him. She makes him see that there are good and honest people in life and whenever he feels lonely he remembers her and that somehow motivates him. Holden's sexual desires disappear somewhat when he thinks about Jane, the simple fact of her memory pleases Holden in a sweet way. Despite all this innocent feelings Holden has for Jane , he had never formally said what he really feels about her. And throughout the book in different occasions Holden wants to call Jane and communicate with her, perhaps because she give him a sense of compliance and safety when he feels lost, but regard this he never dares to speak with her. Throughout Jane, it is realize how hesitant Holden is and how most of time he fails to make a connection even so with people he really cares about.

Holden Caulfield Analysis

                                         Holden Caulfield

Holden Caulfield is the main character of the catcher in the rye, he is a sixteen year old guy. Holden isn't the typical stereotype of a teenager that society is used to set. His personality stands out as a troublemaker mostly because of the time the book takes place. His “main” believe or thought is based, as the title itself, that he is the one who has to catch kids from the rye of entering to the adulthood world. He is determine to help and protect kids from the cruel world, he wants them to keep their innocence For Holden, innocence of little kids means a real or pure virtue and not a hypocritical thing. Holden is characterized by his unusual points of views about the world and how his visions of society affected his decisions and feelings. He is constantly contradicting himself with topics as sexuality, growth and people he surrounds with. Holden's cleverness of being an observant person has made him become a critical, judgmental and analyzer person. One's Holden most significant feature through the book is the fact that he always is judging and criticizing people. He constantly uses the term “phony” to describe people who are hypocrite, mainstream, boring, insincere or that simply follows behavior society imposes. He also is an unreliable person due to the fact that he is used to lying and somehow this made him unable to interact or establish a relationship bond with people.

As said in the book Holden Caulfield has gone trough two traumatizing experiences; the suicide of a classmate and the dead of his little brother, Allie. This experiences may have contribute to his way of seeing the world and his identity of person himself. He feels he has the duty of protect little kids, something that he would have done if Allie wasn't gone. Sometimes Holden feels like talking to Allie, this brings him hollowness and melancholy. Holden protects himself from insecurity and harm with a red cap he owns. Although this cap makes him feel safe he only wears it when he is alone.

Holden's rebellious attitude has gotten him into several problems. He has failed four out of five schools and his lack of interest for his future has lead him to wander around without a home and spending money away in alcohol, cigarettes and women. Holden has an urge of acting as an adult, going to bars, drinking and smoking regard his own believe of keeping childhood and innocence.

As he tries so hard of being and adult he has a sexual desire that as a virgin he wants to satisfy. Most of time he is thinking about women, it is notable how bad he wants to lose his virginity. Holden really believes that sexual relations should happen only between two people who really care for each other, who have a tender love and feelings that go beyond the physical activity. That's why, he is disturb by being arose by woman he don't even know, the thought of causal and kinky sex bothers him.

Holden Caulfield is a very complex character, he has a mixture of rebellion, insecurity, depression,cowardice and conceit. He is a loner by choice but also seeks company. His constant battle of trying to not be part of society system but that mades him a phony person. He lies but at the same time he has some very strong values. He tries to face situations like someone rough and rebel but deep inside he only covers himself, because he is afraid. All these contradictions are what make Holden as a person and have built his outstanding essence and personality all throughout the book .