Important Quote in Catcher in the Rye

I think the passage where Phoebe asked Holden why he got kicked out of the school Pencey was really important.

“Oh, God, Phoebe, don’t ask me. I’m sick of everybody asking me that. A million reasons why. It was one of the worst schools I ever went to. It was full of phonies. And mean guys. You never saw so many mean guys in your life. For instance, if you were having a bull session in somebody’s room, and somebody wanted to come in, nobody’d let them in if they were some dopey, imply guy. Everybody was always locking their door when somebody wanted to come in. And they had this goddam secret fraternity that I was too yellow not to join, and they wouldn’t let me in. I don’t even feel like talking about it. It was a stinking school take my word” (Salinger 167).

I found this quote very interesting. After he said this, Phoebe did not reply. I assume she had nothing to say. I would not know what to say to this, either. I would feel sorry for Holden and realize that maybe this school was not the best for him. Maybe he needed something else in his life. Maybe traveling was a good idea for him. I think that Phoebe understands, too. I do not think she did until this quote. But now I think she does and she feels bad for getting mad at him. Hopefully his parents can realize that a private and preppy school is not the best idea for Holden.

With this quote Holden shows he does not like people and he thinks he is better than everyone. He needs to realize he will always have to put up with people. He should learn that soon because the longer he just messes up his life to get away from his problems, he will not succeed. When Phoebe says, “You don’t like anything that’s happening,” I realized that she thinks the same thing I do. With this she will hopefully talk some sense into Holden’s head.

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown, 2001. Print.