In the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger, Holden is portrayed as immature because he is dealing with a mental disorder ever since his brother died and as a result, is kicked out of every school he went to. In the beginning, he goes to a school named Pencey, which is adored by its attending students. He decides to leave Pencey because he is failing every class except English, and is most likely going to be expelled anyway. He goes to his old teachers house, Mr. Antolini, and they talk about what he plans on doing for the future. He buys a notepad and a pencil and writes a letter to his sister Phoebe, telling her to meet up with him because he is planning on running away. He does not end up running away and plans to go to …show more content…
One reason he doesn’t enjoy Pencey is evident when he says, “You should’ve seen the steaks. They were these little hard, dry jobs that you could hardly even cut. You always got these lumpy mashed potatoes on steak night, and for dessert you got Brown Betty, which nobody ate” (Salinger 40). This example states that he doesn’t like the food there and believes that the school makes it to try and impress the parents of the kids that go to Pencey. Another reason why Holden does not like Pencey is evident when he states, “Then he really let one go at me, and the next thing I knew I was on the goddamn floor again. I don't remember if he knocked me out or not, but I don’t think so”(Salinger 51). This example shows that he got in a fight with his roommate and doesn’t want it to happen again, so he decides to leave the school. In addition, he doesn’t prefer his roommate because he is going out on a date with the girl Holden likes, Jane Gallinger, and doesn’t trust him with her. Holden states, “When I was all set to go, When I had my bags and all, I stood for a while next to the stairs and took a last look down the goddam corridor”(Salinger 59). This exemplifies that Holden is running away and not coming back to the school, even though he would have to leave anyway because he is failing almost all of his …show more content…
The reader knows this because of when he states, “Finally what I decided I’d do, I decided I’d go away. I decided I’d never to go home again and I’d never go to another school again. I decided I’d go see old Phoebe and sort of say good-bye to her and all, and give her her Christmas dough back”(Salinger 218). Holden decides that he is running away out west, however, he wants to say goodbye to his sister and give her Christmas money back before he leaves. Another reason the reader knows that they have a decent relationship is when Phoebe says, “She put the suitcase down. “My Clothes” she said I’m going with you. Can I? Okay?”(Salinger 226). When Holden is saying his farewell, she expresses that she wants to go with him because she doesn’t want him to be alone. Holden states “She took the dough of me. I’m not mad at you anymore. She said. ‘I know.’ Hurry up- the thing’s gonna start soon Then all of a sudden she gave me a kiss” (Salinger 233). His sister forgave him for not wanting her to go with him and he announces that he will stay. She was extremely content that he wasn’t going anywhere, kisses him, and returns to the ride. Holden misses his brother, Allie, who died of Leukemia. One reason why Holden misses Allie is evident when he states, “I remembered once, the summer I was around 12, teeing off and all, and having a hunch that if I turned around all of a sudden, I’d see Allie. So I did, and sure enough , he was sitting on