In Holden's portrayal of women, what dynamic is described?

• A. He views women as enemies.
• B. He treats women as symbols of innocence or dreams, oscillating between idealization and objectification, revealing complexity.
• C. He ignores women entirely.
• D. He always idealizes women without criticism.

Answer: (B)

Holden’s view of women is a tug-of-war between seeing them as symbols of innocence and treating them as objects of desire. He clings to memories of certain women, like Jane Gallagher, as representations of honesty and fragile purity that he wants to protect. At other times, he treats women as potential sources of fantasy or sexual interest, showing a tendency to objectify even as he admires. This push-pull reveals real complexity in his perspective—he isn’t simply idealizing or dismissing women; he moves between these modes, reflecting his broader struggle with authenticity, innocence, and desire. So, the best description is that he treats women as symbols of innocence or dreams, oscillating between idealization and objectification, revealing complexity.