In the novel, The Catcher in the Rye , by J.D Salinger, the main character, Holden
Caulfield, is dealing with the grief of his brother Allie, who has been dead since Holden was ten years old. Now at age seventeen, Holden has become a bitter teenager who smokes, cusses profusely, and calls practically anyone he perceives could judge him a phony.
Holden has never had closure with the death of his brother. All his parents ever did for him was send him off to many different schools just so they wouldn’t be burdened with him. He has never stayed at a school too long because of his bad attitude and grades. The main thing he wants to do is keep to himself and have nothing to do with society. To Holden, many people seem to be a