Teens then and now

In J.D. Salinger's The Catcher In the Rye, teenager Holden, faced several problems teens find themselves facing today. He was unable to find his true identity, and acted differently around different people, something several adolescents still do today. After reading the book, and seeing how Holden interacted with other people, and compared his behavior to teens today, the question arises, "Why do teens feel out of place with certain groups of people, and change their personality while with them?". Teenagers act like chameleons, constantly morphing their identity to fit in with the group they percieve as the "it" group. In a way, it seemed as that was what Holden was doing by drinking and smoking to fit in with the adults and older teens he looked up to. Kids today do the same exact thing; do things they think people they admire would approve of. Now, the next question that comes to mind if this behavior will ever change. I believe the answer is no, and it is all part of growing up.

Comments

[Katy O.]

I agree that most teenagers try to fit in with what is considered the "norm" for their time period. This feeling of wanting to fit in is a part of the transition from child to adult, because they have to realize what they can be until they figure out the identity of themselves that most represents how they feel about life. Holden doesn't really have a "group" of people that he hangs out with, so he doesn't do a lot of experimenting or morphing with different identities. Therefore, he struggles to even figure out what the "norm" is for fitting in. Consequently, he will remain searching for his true identity.

[Ben L.]

There is a lot of truth in what you're saying Vaishali. It's kind of a natural tendency really. When we're scared that people are not accepting of us, we talk, act, and carry ourselves differently. We want to please. But I also think there's a big push in today's world for individuality. Being different is something that many people admire and aspire too.

[Emily L]

I think this is an interesting observation about Holden, especially because he's always calling people phonies. He says that he doesn't want to be like those people, yet we find him becoming a chameleon and, it seems, trying to blend in. At the same time though, Holden keeps a little bit of his individuality - Carl Luce tells him he's being immature, for example, and he keeps smoking and swearing around Phoebe. So maybe he really does want to fit in, but he can't? I think that telling us how people are phonies and he never wants to be like them is his way of covering up for the fact that he can't manage to fit in.