Additional Important Quotation: Epiphany/Climax
by juliaaparkerr, September 27, 2012
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I have found one very important quotation from this novel to have been left out on this page. It is very useful for many papers and is a VERY important quotation!
Chapter 25 (towards the end)
"The thing with kids is, if they want 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 to them."
This occurs while Holden is watching Phoebe ride the carousel in Central Park and fears Phoebe will fall off her house while reaching for a gold ring which gives the winner a free ride. Through this quotation, Holden reaches an epiphany. He realizes he in unable to become the idyllic "Catcher in the rye" and will never be able to live in his dream Utopian world where children never reach the "phonieness" of adulthood. Holden has acknowledged that children must grow up and move on, showing he has progressed emotionally throughout the story.
This also serves as the climax of the novel.