Final answer:
In 'The Catcher in the Rye' by J.D. Salinger, it is Sally Hayes who likes ice-skating because of the skirted costume. The skating rink scene with Holden Caulfield illustrates his dislike for phoniness and his struggle to communicate, reflecting major themes in the novel.
Step-by-step explanation:
In J.D. Salinger's classic novel The Catcher in the Rye, the character who expresses a liking for ice-skating mainly because of the short, skirted costume is Sally Hayes. Sally is a girl that Holden Caulfield, the protagonist, knows from his past and decides to go on a date with while he is in New York City. Their skating date at Rockefeller Center turns sour as Holden grows increasingly critical of Sally and others, showcasing his discomfort with the adult world and his struggle to communicate effectively with those around him.
Holden's encounter with Sally at the ice-skating rink is significant because it underscores his inner turmoil and his critical view of superficiality. He interprets Sally's interest in the attractive aspects of the skating costume as another example of the phoniness he perceives in the world around him, a major theme that permeates the entire book.This episode is also a poignant example of Holden's misguided attempts to connect with others and his profound sense of loneliness—themes that are central to his character's development throughout the story. The ice-skating scene captures Holden's complex relationship with growing up and the expectations of social behavior against his desire to protect innocence, as symbolized by the title of the novel—imagining himself as the 'catcher in the rye' who saves children from falling into the corrupting world of adulthood.