We first meet Phoebe the
bottom of page 161. She displays some qualities and idiosyncrasies that
otherwise Holden has found despicable in others such as interest in the new
types of gadgets in cars, wanting to direct the conversation without regards to
the needs of the person listening, naming people as a conversation, watches and
criticizes movies, etc. Why do you believe Holden doesn’t draw the same
conclusions about Phoebe that the does about the others he interacts with and
accuses of phoniness?
Holden seems to finally be calmed in a conversation, when he
isn’t thinking, “ that is phony”, “he is a moron” or in other of the multiple
negative aspects that somehow he can find in everyone, from the text we can see
how he really appreciates that Phoebe is always listening to him so that she
can help him, and she seem to get it all and know exactly what is happening.
“ Old phoebe didn’t say anything, but she was listening. I could tell
from the
back of her neck that she was listening. She always listens when you
tell her something. And the funny part is she knows half the time what the hell
you’re talking about.” (Salinger 167)
Phoebe seems to be the only character that we have met so
far that really cares about Holden and completely understands him, we can sense
that Phoebe knows a lot about Holden and his problems, that’s why she was able
to leave him speechless for a lot of time, not even one of his common used
excuses could get him out from that situation. Phoebe shares with Holden the
passion for dancing and as Holden said he taught her how to dance so that could
have give them a deeper connection.
Phoebe is very mature for her age; Holden likes listening to
her advice. If we didn’t know the background content that says that Holden is
older than Phoebe we would think she’s his older sister instead of his younger
sister.
I think that Holden really appreciates that Phoebe is always
there for him and that she will listen to him or help him with out any interest
behind. For example when she lends her Christmas dough to him, she just does it
because she likes him, wants to help him and she is worried abut him. This is
something that he rely appreciates therefore he doesn’t call her a phony as he
always do.
I agree that there is a very close bond between Pheobe and Holden unlike we have seen in any of the other characters thus far. I believe that Holden does not want to see the negative aspects he sees in others so he does not think about her being phony or a moron like you said the he always calls others. I also think a reason for not being so critical with he is because she and Holden are so much a like and Holden has a hard time seeing phoniness in himself. I think that these are some of the reasons Holden does not see Pheobe as phony like he sees in almost everyone else he meets.
ResponderEliminarI agree on the point you made about their bond being really close. I think that they are really close siblings and that Phoebe does care a lot about Holden. It is impossible for us to know if Phoebe was listening to what HOlden was saying or if she was understanding what he was saying, but Holden really knows her, he knows her better than the reader, and he really feels like she is listening to him and that she is actually understanding what he is going through. This shows their close connection and how they seem to understand each other and care for each other.
ResponderEliminarDespite arguably having a streak of cruelty (making the shoe salesman arduously lace up boot after boot for her own enjoyment) and her materialism (interest in cars and parties) or even her narcissism (writing her name over and over in creative reinvention), Holden holds Phoebe apart from others. And as you say, for good reason. She cares and is loyal. What could be less phony than truly caring about someone. Great insight. Be mindful of MLA format when citing, please.
ResponderEliminar