Acceptance by a group is an important component of identity in American culture. In Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, the protagonist and narrator, Holden Caulfield is telling us a story of a two-day period during last December. Throughout the novel Holden is struggling with the idea of acceptance. Holden wishes to gain acceptance from those who represent innocence, and a childhood friend, Jane Gallagher happens to be one of those people. In the beginning of the novel, Holden tells us the story of Jane Gallagher and how they use to play checkers. Jane lived next door to him all summer long in Maine. Holden really adores Jane because he is able to comfortably talk with and is able to confide in her. Also, she is the only non-family member he has shown

Eventually the two old patriots, Adams and Jefferson, form a friendship once again. Adams wrote of Jefferson and their reformed friendship saying that, "it reads a lesson of wisdom on the bitterness of party spirit, by which the wise and the good will not fail to profit" (McCullough 650). Throughout, John Adams, the reader is able to see how Adams' dislike for Jefferson shapes his identity.

When Holden meets Mrs. Morrow, the mother of another Pency Prep student, Ernest Morrow, on the train he immediately lies to her about her son. Holden tells her that her son is popular and has the ability to adapt himself to school and with people. He really thinks that Ernest is, "doubtless the biggest bastard that ever went to Pency...That guy Morrow was about as sensitive as a toilet seat" (Salinger 54-55). Seeing how all of the "jerks" and "phonies" act, Holden realizes that he doesn't want to be anything like these people. He attempts to create an identity that does not resemble that of his peers. Holden is a loner while his peers are more along the lines of social butterflies.

Another way John Adams' identity is shaped is from his association with Thomas Jefferson. In the beginning, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson are great friends. Jefferson, among others, often compared Adams to the great orators of ancient Greece by saying that, "he moved his hearers from their seats" (McCullough 650). Later, when Adams is elected to be the second president of the United States, he chooses Jefferson to be his vice president despite their opposite political parties. Their friendship soon became sour, and Jefferson turns on Adams. It is not really clear why Jefferson turns on Adams, but Jefferson harbors obvious hatred. Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin's illegitimate son verbally attack Adams by saying that he should resign, and that he is a horrible president. A feud soon begins between Jefferson (who disliked the British) and Hamilton (who disliked the French). Jefferson, Madison, and other allies begin to call themselves Republicans, which implies that the Federalists like Adams and Hamilton were actually monarchists.

The idea of identity is represented in all works of literature. In Cat

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Approximate Word count = 1477
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)