Holden’s ‘Phonies’ vs. Phoebe’s Truth
Holden has a habit of deeming almost everyone as “phonies” and, in doing so, gradually destroys most of his relationships. This trait leaves Holden incredibly lonely—ironic for a guy with so many connections. He pushes people away the moment he senses an ounce of insincerity, like when he casually cuts off Sally Hayes, or when he basically disowns his own brother, D.B., for selling out to Hollywood. That’s right: he’s so allergic to “phoniness” that he can’t stomach someone—even his brother—writing scripts for movies. As Holden famously states, “If there’s one thing I hate, it’s the movies. Don’t even mention them to me.” However Holden has a golden trio of people he genuinely respects and even idolized: Allie, Jane, and Phoebe. Out of these three, however, Holden only maintains regular contact with Phoebe. For Holden, their relationship is both refreshing and necessary. Holden sees Phoebe as incredibly smart, funny, and respectable, and unlike Holden's opinions on most characters,...