Re: I luv Holden
Cheryl Cline (ccline@uclink4.berkeley.edu)
Wed, 01 Jul 1998 14:56:52 -0700
J J R wrote:
> Thank God for Phoebe, the little Sun :)
>
> Jim
I always thought that Phoebe sort of betrays Holden, or doesn't quite
live up to his praise of her, at the end of the novel-punching him in
the arm and criticizing him for leaving school and so on. At a time
when Holden needs the most comfort, this criticism on the part of Phoebe
must really have hurt him. I figured this is part of what makes Holden
stop wanting to be the catcher, as he starts to realize that little
children aren't the greatest people in the whole world. Up to that
point, I think all little kids, and childhood itself, represented Allie
to Holden, and this belief starts to break down during this conversation
with Phoebe and after. She also fights with him about a little boy that
she pushes down the stairs or something-and Holden gets a little upset
because he thinks that Phoebe doesn't understand the little boy. Phoebe
IS a cool kid, but she kind of gives Holden a reality check, one that
probably makes him feel a bit betrayed.
Hey, if you don't agree with me about the betrayal part, she does
mention to Holden that she's going to be Benedict Arnold in the school
play.
Cheryl