Why does Holden feel "so goddamn happy all of a sudden? Chaper 25.

At the end of chapter 25 Phoebe is on the carousel. Holden is watching Phoebe “go round and round” on the carousel and begins to get emotional. I think Holden starts to cry as he is pleased to see phoebe acting like a child again, towards the end of the book, Holden begins to worry that phoebe is beginning to grow up and loose her childishness.

Holden suddenly feels happy because even though he is losing some of his childhood, he is relieved to see his little sister is not. Holden admires children in their infant years as they are innocent and don’t have to worry about anything, he idolises this. The life of a child is a complete contrast to Holden’s new life of an adult. Over the course of the book, Holden has faced many situations where he’s had to grow up and face reality, this journey has been a steep learning curve for Holden.