Most children dream of growing up. They dream of becoming a doctor, astronaut, or even a dancer. On the other hand, many adults would love to go back and relive their childhood days over. No worries, bills, stress, just carefree living. J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, is told through the eyes of Holden Caulfield. A teenager who has had his fair share of trouble growing up, and wants more than anything is for someone to understand him. He wants to be grown, yet he hates everything about the “adult world”. Throughout Catcher in the Rye, Holden's representation of adolescence is shown through his actions, thoughts, and mental mindset. “ It's immaterial to me," she said. "Hey—how old are you, anyhow?"That annoyed me, for some reason.
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I have no wind, if you want to know the truth. I'm quite a heavy smoker, for one thing—that is, I used to be. (Ch-1.5)” Holden is seventeen years old, way too young to be calling himself a smoker. This quote shows that he does think of himself as being older, and more mature. Having to say he “used to be” a smoker gives him that much more power over others in his mindset. It also shows that he has his fair share of struggles. He turns to cigarettes when his hope is lost. Holden Caulfield has a late brother named Ali. Having Ali pass away has shaped Holden into who he is today, even if it is not for the best. “I was only thirteen, and they were going to have my psychoanalyzed and all, because I broke all the windows in the garage. I don't blame them. I really don't. I slept in the garage the night he died (Ch-5.38-39).” Dealing with a death in the family is never easy. It causes stress, anxiety, and even can trigger mental problems in certain people. In Holden’s case, this was the not so good turning point within his life. Once Ali was gone, schools was no longer important, he doesn’t care, he is reckless, and always blaming grownups. He blames grownups due to the fact that they are the people constantly trying to help him. Whether it’s his teachers wanting to help him do better in school, family help him in life, or just someone helping him in general. But, Holden doesn’t want to do
I have no wind, if you want to know the truth. I'm quite a heavy smoker, for one thing—that is, I used to be. (Ch-1.5)” Holden is seventeen years old, way too young to be calling himself a smoker. This quote shows that he does think of himself as being older, and more mature. Having to say he “used to be” a smoker gives him that much more power over others in his mindset. It also shows that he has his fair share of struggles. He turns to cigarettes when his hope is lost. Holden Caulfield has a late brother named Ali. Having Ali pass away has shaped Holden into who he is today, even if it is not for the best. “I was only thirteen, and they were going to have my psychoanalyzed and all, because I broke all the windows in the garage. I don't blame them. I really don't. I slept in the garage the night he died (Ch-5.38-39).” Dealing with a death in the family is never easy. It causes stress, anxiety, and even can trigger mental problems in certain people. In Holden’s case, this was the not so good turning point within his life. Once Ali was gone, schools was no longer important, he doesn’t care, he is reckless, and always blaming grownups. He blames grownups due to the fact that they are the people constantly trying to help him. Whether it’s his teachers wanting to help him do better in school, family help him in life, or just someone helping him in general. But, Holden doesn’t want to do