Holden says he is a pacifist. What is that, and is he?

• A. Pacifist means someone who opposes violence.
• B. Pacifist means someone who supports war.
• C. Pacifist means someone who loves fighting.
• D. Pacifist means someone who avoids all conversations.

Answer: (A)

Pacifist means someone who opposes violence or war and seeks peaceful ways to resolve conflict. If Holden is calling himself a pacifist, the idea is that he would avoid violent acts and prefer nonviolent approaches. The best answer is that pacifist refers to opposing violence. In Holden’s case, this label fits in the sense that he often criticizes violence and wishes to stay out of harm, but his actions aren’t consistently nonviolent, which is part of the book’s tension around his character. The other descriptions don’t match the term: pacifism is not about supporting war, nor about loving fighting, nor about avoiding conversations.