The Catcher in the Rye help with homework Chapter 22

What new insight about Holden’s school failure does Holden’s explanation to Phoebe about his expulsion give the reader?

Holden tries to explain to Phoebe why he was expelled from Pencey. He tries to explain to her that all the students were ‘phony’ and mean but ends up admitting that he ‘can’t explain’. Phoebe challenges him to name one thing that he likes. Holden struggles and becomes distracted. All he can think about is the two nuns, a boy from Elkton Hills, James Castle, who killed himself, and Allie.

He finally tells Phoebe that he likes Allie and also that he likes talking to Phoebe but Phoebe thinks that neither of those two things count. In response to Phoebe’s suggestion that he should become a lawyer, Holden outlines quite honestly his problems. He explains that the main problem with growing up is how you would know if you ‘weren’t being a phony? The trouble is you wouldn’t‘. Holden then tells her that he would like to be ‘the catcher in the rye’.

In what way is Phoebe’s discussion with Holden (beginning on page 168) mature and adult-like?

Phoebe is Holden’s younger sister and even though she is six years younger than him, it is obvious that Phoebe is more mature than Holden. Some people say that woman mature faster than guys do, but by six years? I think that some of the decisions that Holden has made in his life has affected her also. It is possible that seeing him get kicked out of school has made her more mature because she knows not to disappoint her parents or they get mad. She may have also learned that making bad choices does not help you in life. She exhibits great maturity and even chastises Holden for his immaturity. Like Mr. Antolini, Phoebe seems to recognize that Holden is his own worst enemy. It is remarkable that a girl of such young age is able to recognize her older brother’s level of immaturity.

How does Phoebe psychoanalyze Holden?

Phoebe realizes the extent of her brother’s misanthropy and unhappiness. Holden treats Phoebe with more respect and kindness than he treats any other character in the story. Phoebe, for her part, recognizes how tenuous Holden’s grasp on reality is. Unlike her parents, she knows he is struggling, and she simply wants to be there for him. In the end, it is her willingness to go to the ends of the earth with him that wakes Holden up to the impossibility of his self-destructive impulses. He succumbs to this reality because he cannot bear to see Phoebe suffer.

Who is more in touch with reality, Holden or Phoebe? Defend your view.

Phoebe knows that everyone has to grow up someday and she is not afraid of adulthood like Holden is. She already realizes the natural course of life and she helps Holden to grow up and to stop his immature demeanor. Phoebe is a foil character in this book because she makes Holden seem that much more immature because of her level of maturity at such a young age. She is more mature than Holden and he is six years older than her. Phoebe also knows how to save her brother at some points in the story. When her parents come home she tells her mom that she was the one smoking. She lied to her mother’s face to protect Holden. Phoebe is mature for the reason of Holden being immature. She makes him a better person. She does have some problems though. She wants to leave her whole life to go and run away with Holden and I think that this is immature of her. Phoebe should have a bright future because of her early development into a mature young girl.

What disgusts Holden about his own vision of his future?

In response to Phoebe’s suggestion that he should become a lawyer, Holden outlines quite honestly his problems. He explains that the main problem with growing up is how you would know if you ‘weren’t being a phony? The trouble is you wouldn’t‘.