The author Salinger, makes Holden Caulfield this obnoxious, bad mouthing, cynic teenager. “...I left Elkton Hills was because I was surrounded by phonies.” (Salinger p 13). In the novel Catcher in the Rye, Holden goes through many obstacles and is trying to find himself. But during his exploration,we realize that Holden is growing up and is becoming a man. He shows this by making his own choices, by seeking advice and by the relationships he has made. First, by making his choices, Holden is growing up. Holden was getting kicked out of school after the first semester since he flunked 4 out of his 5 core classes. But he made the decision to leave a week early. His decision to leave Pencey is left unsaid but him leaving nonetheless is a huge
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Holden shows maturity before leaving school since he went to go to his favorite teacher at Pencey. He wanted to tell him he was leaving himself since he actually cares about him and plus he knows he is a wise man so he wants to get some advice. Old Spencer tells him something that did not sit well with Holden. Spencer told him:“Life is a game. Life is a game that one plays according to rules.” (Salinger p.8). But he shows immaturity in his answer. Holden feels alone and he is saying the regular game for life is not for him since it is not working so far by him flunking out of school. But he then realizes later down the line when he talks to Mr Antolini that he has heard that before.
““I have a feeling that you’re riding for some kind of a terrible, terrible fall…”... “It may be the kind where at the age of thirty, you sit in some bar hating everybody who comes in looking as if he might have played football in college… I just don’t know. But do you know what I’m driving at, at all?” (Salinger …show more content…
When Holden takes a cab, he starts asking the taxi driver about where the ducks go from Central Park. When he asks him he gets annoyed, “He was about the touchiest guy I ever met. Everything you said made him sore” (Salinger p.81-82). Holden doesn’t know when people just want to not talk. This seems as a little thing, but this is a big part of growing up since he thinks grown people always want to talk but in reality it just depends. He is still learning ways to the “grown up” world. Next, is when he has his little attempt at dating. Dating is different from when grown ups and teenagers do it. Holden goes on a date to the movies with Sally Hayes. He said he loves her just so he can raise his stock to get some nookie, “We horsed around a little… I told her I loved her and all. It was a lie of course, but the thing is, I meant it when I said it.” (Salinger p. 125). When you tell a person you are dating you love them, it is a very serious and he didn’t seem to understand it then but later he did. He realize you can not just lie to someone about something so serious. Lastly, the way Holden and his sister Phoebe have a connection is interesting. Since you see how Phoebe being very smart and mature beyond her age of 10, she confronts him about not liking anything and never actually putting yourself out there. “ “You don’t like anything that’s happening.” It made me even more depressed when she said that..” (Salinger
Holden shows maturity before leaving school since he went to go to his favorite teacher at Pencey. He wanted to tell him he was leaving himself since he actually cares about him and plus he knows he is a wise man so he wants to get some advice. Old Spencer tells him something that did not sit well with Holden. Spencer told him:“Life is a game. Life is a game that one plays according to rules.” (Salinger p.8). But he shows immaturity in his answer. Holden feels alone and he is saying the regular game for life is not for him since it is not working so far by him flunking out of school. But he then realizes later down the line when he talks to Mr Antolini that he has heard that before.
““I have a feeling that you’re riding for some kind of a terrible, terrible fall…”... “It may be the kind where at the age of thirty, you sit in some bar hating everybody who comes in looking as if he might have played football in college… I just don’t know. But do you know what I’m driving at, at all?” (Salinger …show more content…
When Holden takes a cab, he starts asking the taxi driver about where the ducks go from Central Park. When he asks him he gets annoyed, “He was about the touchiest guy I ever met. Everything you said made him sore” (Salinger p.81-82). Holden doesn’t know when people just want to not talk. This seems as a little thing, but this is a big part of growing up since he thinks grown people always want to talk but in reality it just depends. He is still learning ways to the “grown up” world. Next, is when he has his little attempt at dating. Dating is different from when grown ups and teenagers do it. Holden goes on a date to the movies with Sally Hayes. He said he loves her just so he can raise his stock to get some nookie, “We horsed around a little… I told her I loved her and all. It was a lie of course, but the thing is, I meant it when I said it.” (Salinger p. 125). When you tell a person you are dating you love them, it is a very serious and he didn’t seem to understand it then but later he did. He realize you can not just lie to someone about something so serious. Lastly, the way Holden and his sister Phoebe have a connection is interesting. Since you see how Phoebe being very smart and mature beyond her age of 10, she confronts him about not liking anything and never actually putting yourself out there. “ “You don’t like anything that’s happening.” It made me even more depressed when she said that..” (Salinger