How do Holden's feelings for women compare to his feelings for men?

• A. He dislikes women and prefers male companionship.
• B. He admires women but complains about them; lacks strong male friendships.
• C. He has strong friendships with both genders equally.
• D. He is indifferent to gender dynamics.

Answer: (B)

Holden tends to connect more warmly with women and admires them, often protective of the women in his life, while he wears a critical eye on many men, whom he sees as phony or superficial. He shows genuine affection for female characters like Jane Gallagher and Phoebe, and his thoughts about them reveal tenderness and longing rather than anger. At the same time, he struggles to form deep, lasting male friendships; his interactions with male peers feel strained or unsatisfying, reinforcing a sense that meaningful bonds with men are scarce. Put together, this pattern—admiration for women paired with frequent complaints about them, alongside a lack of strong male friendships—explains why this option is the best fit.