Catcher In The Rye Dialectical Journal

Words: 1373
Pages: 6

Near the end of The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, Holden goes to Phoebe’s school and writes her a letter stating that he will be hitchhiking out West that afternoon. It also says when and where to met Holden, and that he was giving all of her Christmas dough back. When Holden was walking up the stairs to the principal’s office he spotted a ‘Fuck you’ written on the wall which drove him crazy. After giving the note to someone in the office he decided to walk to the Museum of Art and wait for Phoebe. Two kids asked him where the mummies were, Holden decided to make a joke with it and asked them, “What’re they” (223). After the conversation with the boys ended, Holden saw another ‘Fuck you’ written on the wall in red crayon under the glass and stones. After he came out …show more content…
He responds with a no. So she uses her Christmas dough, however, she would not go on until Holden claims that she would be riding it for him she goes on the carousel and uses her Christmas dough to pay for it. As Phoebe walked up to the carousel Holden notices the song “Smoke Gets in your Eyes” playing. When she was on the carousel Holden noticed all of the kids including Phoebe reaching for the gold ring in the middle. Holden says that you got to let them reach for it, if they fall off they fall off, but its bad if you say anything to them. When the ride on the carousel comes to a finish, Phoebe walks up to Holden telling him he is no longer mad at him and gives him a kiss. When she mentions it was raining to Holden she gives him his red hunting hat back. Holden tells Phoebe that he decided to not move out west. Then she ran up to the window bought another ticket. Even though it was pouring rain Phoebe kept riding the carousel. Holden felt true happiness in that moment. In the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, Holden decides not to move away from home and go west because he realizes that he wants to help Phoebe preserve her