Catcher in the Rye Holden's Taxonomy Project   Brooke Adams Brooke Hogoboom Jordan Mullins Hannah Garza Anna Farello Megan Freiburger

Thesis Although Holden is constantly pressured to grow up, he is drawn to the care-free, innocent lifestyle and natural vulnerability of female children.

Phoebe As Phoebe’s older brother, Holden feels a strong desire to protect her innocence. Holden is drawn to Phoebe’s vulnerability and her innocent outlook of the world. He wants nothing more than to keep her that way. However, Holden truly is drawn to Phoebe because she is his hero. “ ‘Because you don’t. You don’t like any schools. You don’t like a million things. You don’t.” In response Holden says, “ ‘ I like Allie and I like doing what I’m doing right now.” 

Phoebe continued  Phoebe is the one person in Holden’s life that can illuminate the truth about himself. Holden and Phoebe’s relationship is much more than a typical brother and sister bond. Because of Allie’s death, Holden feels an unyielding call to rescue Phoebe from the mature, adult world. They learn from each other, but the key to their relationship is that Holden still feels like the hero.   Themes Growing up Loss, Death and Failure

Young Jane Gallagher Holden recalls a time when he and Jane are both quite young.  They were playing checkers on her front porch when her step-dad comes out of the house and asks Jane where the cigarettes are.  Jane does not answer him or even look up from the game board.  He goes back inside, and Holden notices that Jane is upset.  "Then all of the sudden, this tear plopped down on the checkerboard...I don't know why, but it bothered hell out of me" (102). 

Young Jane Gallagher Continued Holden feels a great, fatherly protection over Jane.  He is attracted to her vulnerability and likes that he can be her hero.  Feeling as though Jane can lean on him is important to Holden.  He is satisfied with her characteristics and with the way he can act when she is around.    Holden's need to be someone's hero is paradoxical because it comes from his need for a hero.  He does not want to grow up, yet insists on acting as an adult toward younger kids.  The vulnerability of female children allows Holden to be looked up to as a hero without being connected with his true needs and faults. 

Girl at the ice skating rink               -While at Central Park, Holden meets a girl and asks about Phoebe's whereabouts. -He then helps her tie her skating shoe. -""She was having a helluva time tightening her skate. She didn't have any gloves or anything and her hands were all red and cold. I gave her a hand with it"(155).

Girl at the ice skating rink with analysis     -Situations like this bring out the best in Holden (the hero  helps the damsel in distress).   -This is why he especially likes female children, solely for their natural proclivity to rely on people for protection.   -It is a paradox that Holden loves to protect people.

Conclusion Thesis: Although Holden is contantly pressured to grow up, he is drawn to the carefree, innocent lifestyle and natural vulnerability of female children.    Main Ideas/Themes: presented in Holden's epiphone with Phoebe at the carousel Holden's relationship with female kids helps him realize that he must grow up as well; he can't be a kid forever Universal Truth: Innocence is temporary.  People must grow, develop, and face the reality of the world. Connection to America: Catcher in the Rye published in 1951.  Korean War (1950-1953). Americans just came out of WWII, a new war five years later with many men drafted. Holden is like America, in a state of confusion, doesn't know what his future will bring, wants to stop change.