Mr. Spencer represented a wise, mentor figure in Holden’s life. He is important because he is one of the first and few people in Holden’s life who wants Holden to succeed despite Holden’s lack of desire to do well. Holden respects Mr. Spencer and appreciates his concern but he still does not take in Spencer’s words to him. Instead of internalizing and taking the concern for him to heart, Holden feels depressed and exhausted by the encounter and simply tells Mr. Spencer what he wants to hear to get it over with. Something Holden does often is shoot “the bull for a while” and he “told [Spencer he] was a real moron, and all that stuff,” even adding “how most people didn’t appreciate how tough it is being a teacher” (Salinger 12). Although this
