Blog #44 Character Analysis: Phoebe (The Catcher in the Rye)

My second favorite character in the story is Holden’s sister Phoebe. Phoebe is much younger than Holden. She is still at going to school while Holden is away at school and their other brother is in Hollywood. She has a brother Allie, who died, and Holden and her care a lot about him and think about him throughout the story (Salinger 198). Phoebe is very mind set. When she wants something, she really wants something. When she is angry with someone, she is really angry with them. For example, Holden told her that he was going to head out west and get a job out there. He wanted to do that so he did not have to face his family, but he loves his little sister so much and he respects her, so the least he could do was come say goodbye. When she met Holden at the museum, she walked up with a suitcase in her hand and she was ready to go (Salinger 208). She did not want her brother to leave her again. At that point nothing else mattered to her; she did not even want to be in the play anymore. Phoebe helped Holden discover who he was in a way. She helped him find happiness in the little things without even knowing she was doing so. She is a very inspiring character in the story because of how focused she is. She can make up her own mind and when she does she is very powerful and has enough power to change people. She changed Holden’s mind, which is a very difficult thing to do. Phoebe and Holden share the same trait, independence. She is very independent for a little kid. She is very mature for her age, compared to the other kids who skip school (Salinger 203) or spend their time down at the ice skating rink. She was very neat too. She always kept her clothes and schoolwork very organized (Salinger 159). Overall, she was a very happy person. She was so excited when Holden came to visit her in the middle of the night. She was really surprised when he asked her if she would like to dance with him. It was very late in the night, and here her brother comes to see her because he loves her so much and he could not wait (Salinger 175). She is also a very quick person. She is quick to become mad at someone if they say or do something she thinks is wrong. For example when Holden could not tell her what he really likes she became very mad at him. The reader can tell that Phoebe is very close with her brother. In this book she was a huge character simply because she helped Holden realize it is the littlest things that can bring happiness and smiles.

Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Little, Brown and Company. 1951.