RE: The Catcher in the Rye Chapter 25 Questions
- How does Holden help the two kids at the museum? What is symbolic about the meeting? What is ironic?
- Explain two examples of Holden’s accepting reality in this chapter.
- What does Phoebe wanting to go away with Holden do for him? How does Phoebe force Holden to accept responsibility?
- What is symbolic and ironic about Phoebe’s role in the school play?
- What is the significance of Phoebe’s riding the carousel and reaching for the gold ring?
- How is Holden’s hunting hat symbolic in this chapter?
What is symbolic and ironic about Phoebe’s role in the school play?
While delivering a note for Phoebe to the principal’s office of her school, he sees that someone has written “Fuck you” on the wall by the stairs. This enrages him. Holden’s own language is often salty, and Phoebe asked him to stop cursing when he visited her in the apartment, but he finds this word especially abhorrent and does not use it around his sister. It upsets him that innocent children must see such a thing.