Phoebe is Holden's Relatble Peer

    After discussing the notebook prompt “What would you say to Holden Caulfield?” during class, I find myself agreeing with everyone who thought that Holden needed a peer who could relate to him rather than another person who would just lecture him. So I was reminded of this discussion when I read the pivotal scene between Holden and Phoebe, where Holden decides he will go home instead of running away as he had previously planned. Phoebe arguably plays the role of a relatable peer during this scene, and not only relates to Holden but also scares him. It is jarring for Holden to see Phoebe mirror his own jaded views of the world, so seeing someone that he really cared about “becoming him” seems to be frightening enough that Holden starts to question his own concerning actions and outlook for the first time. 

    It is interesting that Holden’s first reaction to Phoebe's new attitude is shock, even though her plan was the exact same as Holden’s: to run away. He is not only shocked at Phoebe’s determination to run away with him, but also that this is his kid sister who he views as untouched by societal problems that plague him throughout the novel. Then, he develops anger toward the situation when he tells the reader: “I was almost set to hit her” and “I wanted her to cry till her eyes practically dropped out” (267-268). This reminds me of the concern directed towards Holden as a consequence of his actions when people attempt to shake some sense into him, and all ultimately fail. Phoebe’s flippant attitude toward her own life, specifically about the play and going back to school, really alarms Holden as well. He really doesn’t want to see his “kid sister” turn out like he did, and it was strange to watch Holden have the same concerns about Phoebe as others had for him throughout the novel. His discussion with Phoebe ultimately helps Holden realize how his actions affect the people in his life, especially Phoebe and also hopefully how they affect him. 

    All of this led me to think about the significance of the title, The Catcher in The Rye, during this scene. Holden states earlier in the book that he wishes he could be a catcher in the rye when he grows up, which is obviously up for interpretation, but to me it signifies Holden’s obsession with preserving childhood (and particularly its innocence). So during this pivotal conversation between Phoebe and Holden, Holden is metaphorically catching Phoebe, in a struggle to preserve her innocence and therefore her joy. Holden does have a habit of equating the two during his adventures in New York, a child’s joy and innocence. Take for example the child that Holden observes walking and singing, and thinks

He was just singing for the hell of it, you could tell. The cars zoomed by, brakes screeched all over the place, his parents paid no attention to him, and he kept on walking next to the curb and singing 'If a body catch a body coming through the rye'(150).

In particular Holden romanticizes Phoebe’s innocence throughout the novel, especially this idea that she is able to “get him” enough that he feels able to confide in her, and yet also is able to find joy where Holden can see none. For example, he says that “if you tell old Phoebe something, she knows exactly what the hell you're talking about”, and then affectionately says “[the movie] killed her… She knows the whole goddam movie by heart”, even though Holden later talks about how boring and uninspiring movies are for him (89). So in a sense, Holden’s struggle during this conversation between him and Phoebe is to make sure that Phoebe does not become his relatable peer, at least not yet.