Catcher in the Rye #4

4. When you have completed a text, consider the ending. What ended? Is it an appropriate ending? Predictable? Out of left field?

At the end of this novel, multiple things come to an end. Although the ending is vague and unclear with Holden simply watching his sister, Phoebe, ride a carousel we learn many things about Holden as a character and the novel overall. First off, Holden's long and perilous journey from prep school in the suburbs outside of New York city to his home in Manhatten comes to an end. More importantly though, it seem that Holden's long phase of depression and anxiety is also starting to come to an end. When he takes his sister to the carnival and watches her ride the carousel, we see for the first time that Holden is truly happy. Maybe he finally feels at peace being back in his hometown and being able to see his sister, one of the few people that actually makes him happy. I think that in a sense Holden is having an epiphany and is finally realizing that he has to let go of his childhood and mature as an adult. The story concludes with Holden explaining that he is telling his tale from a mental health home but he refuses to reveal what happened after he and Phoebe left the park. Personally, this wasn't the ending I was looking for because I feel that including his mother's reaction of him returning home early and a dialogue between her and Holden would reveal more about his character and perhaps even why he is so depressed. It does however leave an open interpretation for the readers to decide what happened back home between Holden and his mother. Holden also adds that he plans to apply himself at the next school he attends once he leaves the mental health institution. This leads me to believe that Holden truly did have a change of heart at the end of the story and has accepted that he must grow up. At the end of the story I believe that Holden found himself and now has the motivation to succeed in life.