“One word frees us… Love.” - Sophocles

(Hey Guys! I wanted to try something new. Rather than giving an analysis on the novel, I’m going to go a little overboard and offer a deep analysis of how three significant characters in the novel influence the protagonist: Holden Caulfield!)

The Greek playwright Sophocles once wrote, “One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love.” With the power of love, friendship, and family, the overwhelming obstructions one encounters in life can become nonexistent, if allowing these problems to get in their way. Love, in its many forms, allows individuals to express fulfillment and acceptance in life, which connects to the fictional character, Holden Caulfield, from the novel, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. There is no denying that the three characters who demonstrate their influence and love to Holden are Allie Caulfield, Phoebe Caulfield, and Jane Gallagher.

In particular, Allie Caulfield, Holden’s younger brother who dies from Leukemia, influences him in a truly impactful manner. Just as Allie passed away, Holden goes through a stage in his life where living is not meaningful, because he does not have his warm-hearted brother to share his life with. This grievous trauma causes him to possess a tremendous amount of pain. For instance, after finding out that his brother becomes another victim of a fatal disease known as Leukemia, Holden goes on a tirade by damaging items, making his family live in a state of worry. As Holden recalls the disastrous aftermath that he creates following Allie’s death, he ponders, “I was only thirteen, and they were going to have me psychoanalyzed and all, because I broke all the windows in the garage. I don't blame them. I really don't. I slept in the garage the night he died, and I broke all the goddam windows with my fist, just for the hell of it.” Losing a loved one, primarily somebody who is from the same bloodline, can result in individuals acting with destructive behavior. Holden appears to blame himself for not defending Allie from his death; he feels as if he could have prevented his brother’s death when in reality he could not. Allie’s death negatively affects him throughout his daily life. He always reminds himself of Allie wherever he is. At some point in his life, Holden envisions that Allie is beside him. As he wanders up and down Fifth Avenue, in New York City, observing the children with an agitated demeanor, he recounts to himself, “Every time I'd get to the end of a block I'd make believe I was talking to my brother Allie. I'd say to him, ‘Allie, don't let me disappear. Allie, don't let me disappear. Allie, don't let me disappear. Please, Allie.’ And then when I'd reach the other side of the street without disappearing, I'd thank him.” Holden needs Allie to guide him through life. Holden’s vigilant ways toward Allie are symbolic throughout the novel when it comes to the protection of children and their innocence. He is probably dealing with a form of PTSD. He realizes that he will never get his brother Allie back, which is why he is very overprotective when it comes to his sister, Phoebe. Allie’s death certainly influences Holden into the man he is becoming.

Certainly, Phoebe Caulfield, Holden’s younger sister, exceedingly impacts him when he comes to the realization that she is growing up. After Allie dies, Holden believes that Phoebe needs his protection. Holden always admires Phoebe's personality. He deeply loves his sister because she keeps him alive. Although he loves his sister immensely and always thinks positively about her, Holden has this great fear digging inside his stomach that Phoebe will grow up and have to deal with the wicked world. He does not want Phoebe to be exposed to the negative realities of adulthood; he wants to protect her. In one scene, Holden imagines and claims, “I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all…And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff…I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff…That's all I do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be. I know it's crazy." This quote clarifies Holden’s overprotective nature towards Phoebe. He does not want his sister to see the world as he recognizes it. Holden believes that Phoebe is not at that certain point in her life to encounter the real world like their brother Allie did. He pictures himself rescuing and protecting every child, including Phoebe. He does not want Phoebe to develop into a boring and depressed adult. Whereas Holden influences Phoebe, Phoebe winds up influencing Holden. As Phoebe witnesses Holden’s bitter and negative point of view towards the world, she realizes that it is not the world he is infuriated with; it is himself. Holden is an insecure, pessimistic, and lonesome young man who needs comfort and support in his life. The one person who can give comfort and support to him is Phoebe. Phoebe wants to be there for Holden when life becomes challenging. In a later scene and climax of the novel, Phoebe demands that Holden should take her with him wherever he goes, and when he disapproves of her plan, she states, “‘I said I'm not going back to school. You can do what you want to do, but I'm not going back to school,’ she said. ‘So shut up.’ It was the first time she ever told me to shut up. It sounded terrible. God, it sounded terrible. It sounded worse than swearing.” The ungracious but powerful choice of words that Phoebe abruptly says to Holden signifies that she indeed cares and loves him. However, she wants him to snap out of his despair and anger. Phoebe does not want Holden to assume that nobody cares for him. She wants Holden to understand that she will forever stand beside him and that he desperately needs her. Phoebe’s positive motivation undeniably influences Holden as he continues his journey through life.

Notably, Jane Gallagher, Holden’s friend whom he genuinely cares for, influences Holden emotionally and sensuously. When discovering that his roommate, Ward Stradlater, is taking Jane out on a date, Holden reminisces about his past relationship with Jane. Having Jane in his mind, allows Holden to recollect the good times he had when he was younger. Jane makes Holden feel special compared to anyone else; even if it is portrayed in the slightest of ways. Holden recalls one small but cherishing moment with Jane, “One time, in this movie, Jane did something that just about knocked me out. The newsreel was on or something, and all of a sudden I felt this hand on the back of my neck, and it was Jane's… I do it to my kid sister Phoebe once in a while, for instance. But if a girl's quite young and all and she does it, it's so pretty it just about kills you.” Jane is one of the only girls whom Holden seems to respect and admire. When Holden develops into a full-grown man, he will need a woman like Jane who can make him feel content and whole. Jane gives hope that there are people out there who he can connect to. Jane is one of the only girls, he talks about with fondness and admiration. In an earlier scene, Holden states, “All of a sudden, on my way out to the lobby, I got old Jane Gallagher on the brain again. I got her on, and I couldn't get her off… I know old Jane like a book--I still couldn't get her off my brain.” This quote exhibits Jane’s influence on Holden’s behavior. There is no other girl, besides Phoebe, who has this impact on him.

There is no question that the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Sallinger, is considered a masterpiece of American literature. The characters and the storyline make this book a classic. As Holden progresses into adulthood, Allie Caulfield, Phoebe Caulfield, and Jane Gallagher influence and impact him. These three characters change Holden socially, emotionally, and help Holden accept the reality of growing up. As the great James Baldwin wrote, “Love takes off the masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.”