Throughout most of the novel, Holden Caulfield's cynicism and eccentric thoughts reflect his alienation and his depressed attitude toward the world. His central goal was to resist the process of maturing into an adult, he feared change, and was overwhelmed by the complexity of nearing adulthood. However, J.D. Salinger wrote The Catcher in the Rye as a Bildungsroman in which Holden reaches maturity through interaction with his sister, Phoebe, in order to show that the maturation process is a time for taking risks and not being afraid to fall down and get back up.
Through discussion, Phoebe tries to enter deep into Holden's thoughts to reveal his true desire in life. She gets him to describe his fantasy of an ideal childhood and of his role