What is the significance of phoebe in catcher in the rye

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Everything you need for every book you read. The way the content is organized and presented is seamlessly smooth, innovative, and comprehensive. Phoebe is Holden 's younger sister. Though only 10 years old, she is considerably more mature than Holden, though Holden actually covets her because of her youthful innocence.

She is a voice of reason throughout the novel, both in Holden's thoughts and in the advice she gives to him in person. For example, when he sneaks home in the middle of the night to talk to her, she gently admonishes him for failing out of Pencey before encouraging him to drop his relentless cynicism and figure out what, exactly, he wants to do with his life.

Indeed, Phoebe is unusually perceptive, and her insight into Holden's misanthropy—his hatred of almost everything—forces him to introspectively examine the way he views the world. In keeping with this, it is because of Phoebe that he finally decides to assume a sense of responsibility. On another note, it's no coincidence that perhaps the most even-keeled and intelligent character in the novel is a child, since Holden idealizes childhood and values children's opinions more than those of adults.

Phoebe's intelligence and wise counsel therefore offer a strong contrast to the lectures he receives from his various teachers and headmasters, whom he resents. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:. Chapter 16 Quotes. Related Themes: Phoniness. Page Number and Citation : Cite this Quote. Explanation and Analysis:. Related Themes: Childhood and Growing Up.

Chapter 22 Quotes. One thing I like? Related Symbols: The Catcher in the Rye. Chapter 25 Quotes. Related Themes: Alienation and Meltdown. She is successful in school, her best course being spelling. She is the one who corrects Holden concerning the words to the Robert Burns poem that is the source of the novel's title.

In her spare time, she writes fiction featuring a girl detective, an orphan named Hazle Weatherfield. Phoebe later adopts "Weatherfield" as her own middle name. She likes elephants and has red ones on her blue pajamas. She studies belching with a friend named Phyllis; her best friend, Alice, is teaching Phoebe to induce a fever artificially by crossing her legs, holding her breath, and thinking of something very hot.

She conscientiously promises not to burn Holden while demonstrating her trick. Holden's adolescence and his confusion complicate the relationship with Phoebe. While she sometimes seems to be his best friend, at other times he is acutely aware of her sexuality or need for independence.

Twice Chapters 10 and 21 he says that she can sometimes be too affectionate. Although he is capable of giving her "a pinch on the behind," which is "sticking way out in the breeze," he knows better than to put his hand on her shoulder at the wrong time. He chooses to not because he thinks of himself as not being in the mood for it. Holden constantly wants to call different characters throughout the book, yet does not ever follow up on these thoughts.

Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Press ESC to cancel. Ben Davis May 29, What does Phoebe symbolize in The Catcher in the Rye? What does the carousel symbolize in Catcher in the Rye?

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