In J.D. Salinger's The Catcher and the Rye, a young boy struggles through his teenage years. Some commentators have argued that Holden Caulfield is a typical sixteen-year-old. I disagree with that statement and believe Holden was far from a normal teen. He showed several traits of a troubled child and went through many hard times.

Holden is a troubled and unreliable teenager. First of all he fails out of four schools. Not many typical sixteen-year-olds flunk out of four schools. Holden shows complete apathy toward his future as well. He has no plans for his life and could care less about what happens to him. Holden should be concerned for his future, developing ideas for his life. Most teens of his age are beginning to plan their future and have ideas for college. None of this ever crosses his mind. Holden is hospitalized and is visited by a psychoanalyst for an unspeci

Holden Caulfield is a troubled sixteen-year-old. I do not agree that Holden is a typical teenager because he is not. His life did not exactly throw him the nice fast ball right down the middle, but he was different from most kids his age. From the events at school to the events at home, Holden proved to be far from typical. I do not agree with anyone who commits to saying he was a typical teenager.

being would ever write such things on someone's grave. Holden thinks the worst of everyone he meets and never gives people a chance. Holden applies the term "phony" not to people who are insincere, but to those who are too conventional or too typical. For instance, teachers who act like teachers by assuming a different demeanor in class than they do in conversation. Or people who dress and act like the other members of their social class. I think these acts are perfectly normal of teachers and other people and do not categorize

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Approximate Word count = 634
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)