How does Antolini upset and scare Holden?

• A. He yells at Holden about his future.
• B. He strokes Holden's head, and Holden thinks he is making a homosexual advance.
• C. He abruptly leaves the room.
• D. He offers Holden tea.

Answer: (D)

Holden’s reaction rests on his fragile trust in adults and his fear of the adult world’s motives. In this moment, Antolini, who has been a rare source of sincere concern, offers comfort and a quiet, caring gesture. The moment that unsettles Holden most is Antolini stroking his head as a sign of comfort. Holden reads it as a possible sexual advance, and that misread triggers a deep, sudden panic. The sense that a trusted adult could cross a line makes Holden feel exposed and unsafe, so he bolts from the room.

This scene isn’t about dramatic outbursts or a minor social slip; it’s about how Holden’s perception of adult intentions is distorted by fear and confusion. The disturbing gesture reveals his craving for honest, non-phonier intimacy and his terror of where adulthood might lead.