"The Catcher in the Rye" Section 4

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

In chapter 22, Holden finally gets to see his sister Phoebe. We truly get to know Holden in depth through his conversation and relationship with his younger sister. The fact that he is able to relate to her most reveals his innocence and youthful spirit. Moreover, Phoebe is able to help Holden evaluate how he sees the world. The world is far from perfect, and it will always be filled with “phonies.” Holden focuses only on the negative side of things instead of finding something he wants to be or something he likes. He responds through this excerpt, “I’m standing on the edge of some cliff—I mean if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That’s all I’d do all day. I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all,” (Salinger, 173). This reveals Holden’s fantasy and the disconnect he has with the world around him. He does not want to deal with the hardships and the imperfect ways of the world because they are far from simple. Phoebe helps him come to the realization that the only way to live in this world is to accept the fact that the world is not simple.