Where does Holden then decide to go?

• A. He decides to go home.
• B. He decides to go to a party.
• C. He decides to leave for New York.
• D. He decides to go to the library.

Answer: (C)

Holden’s decision to head for New York reveals his urge to escape the pressures and phoniness he associates with Pencey and to find a space—even if unsettled—where he can be more himself. New York stands as a vast, anonymous backdrop that promises freedom from parental and school oversight, a place where he can drift and search for something real amid the noise of adults and strangers. That makes going to New York the clearest choice: it shows his preference for action that redefines his world rather than staying put, going home, or seeking a temporary social scene elsewhere. The other options don’t fit the moment the narrative sets up, where the pull is toward breaking away and confronting the larger, less supervised world.