J. D. Salinger’s intention to include these three female characters was because they presented particular stages of Holden’s adolescence. They accompanied Holden during his journey to adulthood, and each had influence Holden’s thinking differently. The first two female characters, Sally Hayes and Sunny, did not understand him and saw him as an absurd young man. They thus rejected him. Phoebe Caulfield, however, stands as one of the most notable characters in the book because she accepted Holden for who he was. Since Phoebe was able to appreciate Holden’s dream, she led Holden to his realization that he could not be “the Cather in the Rye”
