"I don't care if it's a sad good-by or a bad good-by, but when I leave a place, I like to know I'm leaving it. If you don't, you feel even worse."
How does this quote relate to a larger theme in the book?
I think this might also relate to the death of Holden's brother Allie. With Holden obviously still dwelling on his death I think he feels that his loss would have been somehow eased by knowing the Allie had said "good-by".
Perhaps Holden is still comeing to terms with his loss and still needs to say good-by to his brother.
I completely agree. I think this manifests again when Holden decides to run away, and the only real thing stopping him is needing to say good-bye to his sister Phoebe... Sibling relationship are the most important to Holden. Do you think this was indicative of the 1940s in general? Do you think that has changed today? Why?
I think the idea of family was deffinatly a much higher regarded value in the 40's and 50's as compared to now.
The divorce rate wasnt even mesured until the 30's because before then getting divorced was unheard of. Now people's families are splitting up like crazy. I know people who have three or four people who they can call dad at any one time, which dosn't instill a great feeling of family unity.
