Holden sleeps on the bench in the station. He, once again, feels like disappearing when he crosses the street. He calls Allie and begs him not to take him to the other side. Holden decides to leave New York and starts a life without talking to anybody. He writes a note to Phoebe to meet at the Museum. As he wanders around the school, he finds the words "F*** you" on the wall and becomes depressed. Holden tells two kids the position of the mummies where he sees another "F*** you" on the wall. He speculates that people will probably write the same words on his gravestone. Phoebe arrives with a suitcase and begs to go with Holden. Phoebe gets angry and returns his hat when Holden asks her to go back to school. Phoebe and Holden then go to the to the zoo. After that, they go to the carousel where Holden watches Phoebe go around and around, he feels so happy. Holden refuses to talk what happened after that day. He goes home and is sent the rest home where he tells his story now. He doesn't want to talk too much about his story because he is going to miss everybody.
Relate:
I have some similar experiences as Holden has. Middle school students are quite mature compared to elementary school students. They seemed to know more about the dirty words. One day, my little brother came to my school to visit me. When he passed by the school gate, he saw some carvings with simple pictures on the gate. Then he asked me the meaning of them. I went there and had a look at them. Far beyond my imagination, the phony words " F*** you" are written clearly but in Chinese. The pictures were about two people having sex in a bed. All of a sudden, I was shocked and didn't even know how to explain to my little innocent brother. I kind of hated all the seniors at that moment. I understand why Holden is so depressed when he sees the dirty words on the wall of school. "If you had a million years to do it in, you couldn't rub out even half the 'Fuck you' signs in the world. It's impossible" (202). There are so many dirty words carved like this that will affect young kids when they them. The ugliness of the adult world is influencing young children's innocence.
Reflect:
Holden's mental breakdown reaches the climax. When Holden sees the dirty words on the wall of the school, he is so afraid of young children being affected by the ugliness and phoniness in adult world. Holden's feeling of loneliness grows deeply in his heart when he prays to Allie not let him disappear. His interacting with Phoebe reveals his alienation and inability dealing with the challenges in adult world. His view on the world is critical and cynical, which makes him want to leave. Holden shows the first sign that he is becoming mature when he cares about Phoebe's worries and decides to stay. Holden starts to across the boundary that he builds to protect himself from the world. He starts to concern about his family and is willing to love people around him. Phoebe plays an important role in Holden life by helping him regain his innocence. Holden doesn't want to discuss more about his story, but he seems to find the direction of his life and is willing to starts over. Holden's cynical voice continues, however, the changing of his personality is clearly viewed by us. The ending is quite ambiguous, but Holden's tone is no longer bitter when he says, "missing everybody".
Interesting Questions:
1: What does Holden feel when he sees Phoebe go around the carousel, and why?
Holden feels so happy at that moment because all he sees is a little kid trying to grab the gold ring without thinking anything. Grabbing the golding ring represents the innocence of kids. Holden thinks that he is participating in a childhood joy and innocence and that's what Holden is trying to get throughout the novel.
2: Why does Holden write "missing everybody" to end his novel?
It shows a significant turn in Holden's life. At this time, Holden no longer despises others but starts to love and miss everybody he has mentioned in the novel. Holden leaves a blank, but we can all see that Holden is not bitter anymore and he turns softer and mature as an adult.
Predict:
Holden starts to open his heart and try to communicate and love people around him. At the end of the novel, Holden writes "missing everybody", which means he in no longer critical about people like Stradlater, Mr. Spencer and Mr. Antolini, etc. He becomes mature and starts to live like an adult.
Media component:
Obviously, this picture shows the growth of a plant. I think it also represent Holden's growing throughout the chapters. We are appreciating that Holden finally steps into the adult world, like a plant seed finally grows up to become a plant. The dirty soil represents the cruel adult world that Holden has experienced. The roots have to be deep inside the soil to absorb the water and nutrients in order to grow. Holden's maturity comes from the his pain of growing up.
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