The Catcher in the Rye

The Significance of the Carousel

Carousels

• A merry-go-round

• A rotating amusement ride

• Seats are traditionally

horses.

The Significance of the Carousel

CHAPTER 25

• Holden wants to be the “Catcher in the Rye”- Protect the innocence of the children and prevent them from being harmed.

• He has a realisation when he sees the kids reaching for a gold ring, and his sister Pheobe is also grabbing for it and Holden feared that she would fall. He realises he had to let them do it, and if they fell, they fell and he they couldn’t be protected forever as they had to make their own mistakes.

• He comes to understand how the children sometimes have to learn things the hard way and that you shouldn’t always interfere.

• He matures and realises that he will not always be able to shield his sister from all the dangers in life or anyone else that is making the transition into the adult world.

The Gold Ring• “All the kids kept trying to grab for the gold ring, you have to let them do it, and

not say anything. If they fall off, they fall off, but it’s bad if you say anything”

• Carousels no longer have the gold ring. It used to be that you were meant to reach for the gold ring when you passed it on your horse. If you grabbed it, you usually got a free ride.

• Its significant as Holden realises that ‘you just have to let a kid reach, even though they might get hurt doing so’. He is admitting that growing up is necessary – for both Phoebe and himself.

Quotes

• Holden asks phoebe if she wants to ride on the carrousel-

“I’m too big”, she said.

“No you’re not. Go on.”• This quote shows how Holden is trying to retain his sisters’

childhood innocence by getting her to ride on the carrousel like she always did as a little kid.

• Phoebe thinks that she is too big to ride the carousel, but Holden knows that she wants to do it and he buys her a ticket.

• Holden declines the ride, which shows him recognizing, if not accepting, his roll as an adult.

“Smoke Gets in your Eyes”

Lyrics:They asked me how I knew my true love was true,I of course replied, something here inside cannot be denied.They said someday you'll find all who love are blind,When your heart's on fire, you must realize,Smoke gets in your eyes.So I chaffed and then I gaily laughed,To think that they could doubt my love,Yet today, my love has flown away,I am without my love.Now laughing friends deride tears I cannot hide,So I smile and say when a lovely flame dies,Smoke gets in your eyes

“Oh Marie!” - Song• Here while the day is fading,

Dear you I'm serenading,My love you've been evading,No wonder I am blue...Oh listen to my pleading,Your nearness I am needing,It's time that you were heeding,My offering to you...We` Marie, we` Marie,Quanto sonno agiu perso per te,Famme` durmi,Una notte abbraciata cu te,We` Marie, we` Marie,Quanto sonno agiu perse per te,Famme` durmi, we` Marie, we` Marie..We` Marie, we` Marie,Quanto sonno agiu perse per te,Famme` durmi, we` Marie, we` Marie!