Catcher in the Rye Litblog Ch. 21-22

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
5/9/13

Chapters 21-22

 

Summary: Holden gets to the apartment building and tells the elevator boy that he is here to see his aunt and uncle. Holden sneaks into Phoebe's room and reads her school journals for awhile until he decides to wake her up. Holden's parents are away and Phoebe is happy to see Holden but is mad once she finds out that he was expelled from Pencey and then decides to ignore him. In chapter 22, Phoebe asks Holden why he got expelled and Phoebe claims that Holden doesn't like anyone or anything. Holden says he likes Allie and he likes James Castle, who stood up against school bullies. Holden also says he if he could be anything he would be a catcher in the rye.

Quotation: "You don't like anything that's happening...You don't like any schools. You don't like a million things. You don't"(169).

Quotation Significance: Phoebe claims that Holden doesn't like anything. Phoebe is right because Holden believes almost everyone is phony and he hates school and many other places. Holden is lonely because he won't open up and see that he is the phony and the fact that the reason he is lonely is because he won't except anything for what it is.

Reflection: Holden goes to his house because he is lonely and wants to chat with Phoebe. Phoebe is really disappointed that Holden gets expelled from Pencey and ignores him for a little way and is mad at him. Phoebe also claims that Holden doesn't like anyone or anything at all. This isn't totally true but Holden doesn't like most people except for Allie, Jane, and Phoebe.  Phoebe is right because Holden believes almost everyone is phony and he hates school and many other places. Holden is lonely because he won't open up and see that he is the phony and the fact that the reason he is lonely is because he won't except anything for what it is. Holden does say that if he could do anything he would be the catcher in the rye. This idea comes from a dream he has when kids are playing in a field of rye and he has to catch the kids when they accidentally fall off the cliff. This seems symbolic in the book and this passage earned the book it's name "Catcher in the Rye". I think this is symbolizing that when someone falls or becomes sad that someone will always be there to lift them back up and help them enjoy life again. I think this is the kind of person that Holden needs. Holden needs someone to catch him from falling off his cliff.

Discussion Question: What do you think the "catcher in the rye" symbolizes?