Narrative Technique
The narrative technique in these two chapters is consistent with that of the rest of the book; however there is significantly more dialogue. Holden’s thoughts of the phoniness of the world and such are not, in these chapters, reserved for the reader. In these chapters we finally see him voicing his anger and frustration with the adult world to his younger sister Phoebe. There is less monologue, and what monologue there is usually describes the surrounding or Phoebe.
The narrative tone is much more vulnerable and open, as Holden feels he can be himself with Phoebe. This shift in tone leads to a change in mood for the chapters. While in the apartment there is a sense of familiarity and safety. Holden says, when he enters Phoebe’s room; “I felt swell, for a change. I didn’t even feel like I was getting pneumonia or anything anymore. I just felt good, for a change.” For a short while, Holden has some outlet for his endless musings.
Character
There is much learnt about Holden, and particularly his family, in these chapters;
- Holden’s mother has the capacity to take care of the superficial; it still matters that Phoebe is dressed well.
- Phoebe and Holden actually are very close, and he doesn’t pretend as much with her. She knows him well.
- D.B. is getting sucked further into Hollywood
- When he was at Elkton Hills School, a boy, James Castle, died. He refused to take back something he said, and to escape harassment, jumped out a window and fell to his death.
- The only thing he really likes is Allie. And he is a long way from accepting Allie’s death
- He wants to be the catcher in the rye, the saviour and protector of all innocence.
It is important to note that we gain some insight from Phoebe’s relationship with Holden. She is able to predict why he was kicked out, and accurately observes he doesn’t seem to like anything. He can open up to people, but he chooses not to. Phoebe is his link back to childhood, his way of escaping from all the phoniness. She is the embodiment of what Holden thinks needs to be protected, a symbol of what he wants to return to.
There is another contradiction in Holden’s character, in that, while he forms superficial relationships with people he refuses to try and make a deeper connection. However, he is always searching for someone to talk to. This is much like his attitude to sex, in that while he physically wants it, his fear of growing up and rejection holds him back.
His father is perfectly summarized in his sleeping habits. Absent and unreachable; “you can hit my father over the head with a chair and he wont wake up,”
Death has come to people who were not phony. Holden maintains that Allie was near perfect, and not at all phony. James Castle, his classmate, died refusing to take back his opinion. It is also significant that both characters who die were not adults. Death is not the enemy, the world and aging are.
