How does Holden feel about other people after Allie's death?

• A. He becomes more trusting
• B. He feels lonely and isolated
• C. He becomes indifferent
• D. He becomes cheerful

Answer: (B)

After Allie’s death, Holden’s emotional world narrows to a deep sense of loneliness and separation from others. The loss hits him hard and makes him retreat from genuine connection, so he’s constantly on guard and sees people as insincere or “phoney.” That suspicion pushes him to drift through New York, avoiding close relationships even when he longs for someone to understand him. He talks about wanting real, childlike honesty and safety, yet his attempt to reach out never sticks, leaving him feeling isolated. This combination—the ache for companionship paired with a stubborn withdrawal—drives the staying sense that he is alone in the world. He doesn’t become more trusting, indifferent, or cheerful; the death amplifies his loneliness and alienation.