In the book "The Catcher in the Rye," by JD Salinger, protagonist Holden Caulfield meets a variety of different female characters. Holden does not respect women as much as he should, and there are many examples of this throughout the novel. The rebellious teenager has a different type of relationship with nearly every woman he meets. There are two mainly categories which Holden divides the women who surround him: the women who he is close to emotionally, and the ones who he is distant from.
First, whenever he is around the women he is close to emotionally, he is usually sober and sensitive. One of them is Phoebe, Holden Caulfield's little sister. He describes her as a smart and funny kid, and he makes it clear that he truly loves and admires her. When he gives his red hunting hat -right after he cries for a long time- to his little sister, Holden shows appreciation and love for Phoebe: "Then I took my hunting hat out of my pocket and gave it to her" (Salinger 180). Holden likes her because she is not like him, she will never be like him. Specifically when Phoebe tries to leave with him, abandon her plans, he wants to hurt her, make her cry, and he even says that he wants to hit her. Holden is lonely, and when Phoebe plans to leave with him he hates her for it, because she has become like him. Just like Phoebe, Jane is a really close character to Caulfield. .
Even though Holden does not have a romantic relationship with Jane Gallagher, he still lets her see his vulnerable side. He remembers her as a quiet and caring kind of person, who has also suffered from a lousy childhood. This is one of the things that probably makes him more protective of her – he physically attacks Stradlater after Stradlater has been on a date with her. Holden has feelings towards Jane, but does not want to tell her or let her know his true feelings, " 'Jane Gallagher. Jesus.' I couldn't get her off my mind.
