How does J.D Salinger present the problems of teenagers in the first chapters of Catcher in the Rye?

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How does J.D Salinger present the problems of teenagers in the first chapters of Catcher in the Rye?

Catcher in the Rye is set in 1950’s America based around a teenage boy by the name of Holden Caulfield. Holden is a troubled yet rebellious teenager and is shown to have many stereotypically teenage problems such as school, social life and the opposite sex.

The first and most notable instance we see of Holden’s teenage troubles is at the start of chapter two; this is when he explains to the reader about him leaving Pencey, although he is reluctant to give us the real reasons why. Holden tells the reader that he has ‘just quit [school], sort of’. This one quote gives us a clear insight, early in the book, into Holden’s perspective in life. It also shows us that Holden doesn’t really care about leaving school, as he tells us later in the chapter, Pencey is his fourth school. This emphasises Holden’s role as a rebellious teenager, defying the educational system, showing that a number of problems within his life can be linked or even in some cases blamed on school.

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Another typical teenage problem in some cases, making friends, can be difficult for Holden Caulfield as is shown in the scenes in which he speaks of Ackley’s ‘disgusting’ habits and his fight with Stradlater. These two events sum up Holden’s relationship and ‘friendships’ with his peers, one which is often phoney, on both halves. An example of this is when Ackley is walking around the room cutting his nails and dropping them in bed sheets etc. This really winds Holden up showing us that the smallest thing (such as Ackley moving a picture) can really wind Holden up.

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