Phoebe Caulfield As A Symbol Of Innocence And Childlike Energy In J.D Salinger's Novel Catcher In The Rye

In J.D Salinger’s novel Catcher In The Rye, Phoebe Caulfield is the sister to Holden. She can be considered a round character in the way that Holden depicts her, and a true symbol of innocence and childlike energy. This essay will prove through the encounters in the novel that Phoebe maintains innocence and maturity through her detailed characteristics.

Holden represents Phoebe as an incredibly smart but still youthful, and proves this in his unwavering admiration of children’s uncorrupted and unpreserved goodness. This is built and symbolized in the detailed representation of Phoebe who is extremely complex and round. Within the first encounter with Phoebe, she reveals a sense of youthfulness after expressing her excitement for the Christmas Pageant, in which she will play the part of Benedict Arnold. This symbolizes her inner childhood wonder and is a reflection of her innocence and hope. Furthermore, upon finding out that Holden got expelled she expresses great disappointment . She finally opens up and says, “You don’t like that’s happening… You don’t like any schools. You don’t like a million things.” This reveals that she is wise beyond her years, and recognizes the changes in her brothers emotions and actions after the death of Allie, although she still maintains childlike features through a simplified tone.

Holden’ description of his sister in the beginning by telling us how smart and great of dancer she is “she knows exactly what you’re talking about, I mean you can take her anywhere” through this brief description it is evident how much he believes in her and how high he holds her and makes the reader impressed of this teenage girl. During the second encounter, as Holden hides from his parents, Phoebe takes ownership for the cigarette smoke this shows how Phoebe behaves on her own accord. She then goes on to offer Holden her Christmas money, which reveals her giving and sensitive nature. Unlike the normal children at her age who are usually self-centered when it comes to receiving things Phoebe cares for her brother, which highlights her mature outlook on relationships and the importance of giving. She is a very smart but still youthful child which is not common amongst 10 year old school girls, who are usually seen as obnoxious or self-centered where they believe the world revolves around them. Her decision to leave everything and run away with Holden is the third encounter, when Holden sends Phoebe a good-bye note.

Phoebe arrives to go with her older brother with a packed suitcase. However, Holden declines to take her with and she cries. This encounter displays her strong sense of individual beliefs, ability to sympathize and a wise yet complex young girl because her reason for leaving with Holden was to take care of him on his journey which is yet another indication of her caring but is also something that can be viewed as immature and unrealistic for a minor, this type of action is however also normal for a 10 year old who adores their sibling as they would also whine and want to leave to wherever their older sibling goes. However her round character comes full circle as she and Holden rides the carousel and she forgives him for leaving her. She is mature enough to forgive Holden, yet the carousel ride symbolizes the childhood innocence. Phoebe has developed into being a child-adult at such a young age which Holden starts noticing through her riding the carousel as he says its makes him “so damn happy”. This shift between being an adult while being a child is what makes Phoebe more than regular and in essence is the reason for her character being so complex.

Phoebe’s character is much complex due to her age, and she therefore a round character in this novel due to her not fitting in the norm but also having such a large influence on the main character Holden who is a person that is frustrated with dealing with fake people as he describes them as “phoney”. She behaves and speaks in a real life manner and only extends her complexity throughout the chapters as she develops traits such as understanding (when not able to go with Holden). She is also realistic in that age doesn’t define maturity, and is an example of yet another smart child who has immense potential to grow and develop already knowing so much for her age.