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Beenish Ali
Ms. Smit
12 AP English
31 October 2014
Complexity of Adulthood
At a young age, children are taught to act in a certain manner and do things in a certain
order. But children cannot stay children and over time become teens and adults. At this point in
life, they are forced to make their own decisions. Many of these decisions must be made with full
certainty, for they can play a large role in a persons future. But it is not always easy to be certain
about something when that teen or adult is not mature or ready to face reality. In the novel The
Catcher in the Rye, the main character, Holden, visits his teacher, Mr. Spencer, where he informs
him that he has failed a majority of his classes and has been removed from the school. In this
moment of the novel, Holden is comfortable with the fact that he is leaving the school, but is
unable to grasp the reality of his future and adulthood. Through the use of dialogue and
characterization, the author of The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger, explores the complexity of
adulthood.
At the beginning of the novel, Holden does not take the matter of him being kicked out of
school very seriously. He constantly shrugs away the issue and finds his brain concerned with
other matters like still liking a girl from years ago. Unfortunately, Holden is no longer a child
and needs to make better choices that will better his future. Mr. Spencer, Holdens history
teacher, tries to convey this message to Holden. Through the use of dialogue, Salinger has Mr.
Spencer explain to Holden the role of adulthood. Mr. Spencer tries to emphasize the importance
of decision making as an adult through what the principle, Dr. Thurmer, has said to Holden. He
reiterates, Life is a game, boy. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules.(Salinger
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12). Mr. Spencer is trying to get Holden to understand that he needs to get his life together and
on path in order to do well. Unfortunately, Holden does not see life as simple as a game. Holden
states, If you get on the side where all the hot-shots are, then its a game, all right- Ill admit
that. But if you get on the other side, where there arent any hot-shots, then whats a game about
it? Nothing. No game.(Salinger 12-13). Holden describes the game having so many more
aspects to it than just playing by the rules because for Holden, being part of adulthood is very
complex. Just like life, Holden feels that people cannot just know how to make the right choices,
or play by the rules, and life will be fine, but that every aspect of life, every decision, everything
around, will all impact life or the game. Holden understands adulthood as complex because
nothing is straight forward or easy to understand. Through Holdens discussion with Mr. Spencer
he explores the deeper and more complex reality of life from the lens of adulthood.
As Holden discusses the issue of school and life with Mr. Spencer, he analyzes Mr.
Spencer. From the way he talks to the motions he makes, Holden has a comment on Mr. Spencer
and his mannerisms as an adult. Through the characterization of Mr. Spencer, Salinger has
Holden explore the complexity of adulthood. When characterizing Mr. Spencers movements,
Holden says, You never knew if he was nodding a lot because he was thinking and all, or just
because he was a nice old guy that didnt know his ass from his elbow. Holden may describe
Mr. Spencer as two possible forms of an adult, one being an adult that is knowledgeable and
constantly thinking and another being an adult that has reached a point in their life were they are
losing the understanding of simple matters and functions, but in reality he is describing the
complexity of being a single adult. As an adult, constantly thinking and trying to make decisions
is hard. The answer is not always easy or straightforward, but as an adult not appearing lost or
confused is fairly important. This is due to the reason that those younger look towards their
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elders. Just in this moment of the novel, Holden looks towards Mr. Spencer to understand his
situation. In order for Mr. Spencer to do this he must understand Holdens situation and, in the
end, Holden is able to do this by nodding his head. By characterizing and analyzing Mr. Spencer,
Salinger explores the complexity of adulthood.
Through the use of dialogue and characterization, the author of The Catcher in the Rye,
J.D. Salinger, explores the complexity of adulthood. Salinger is able to define adulthood as
complex by discussing how adults have to make difficult choices constantly, but have to keep in
mind that the choices they make will affect their future and the people around them. Salinger has
Holden explore the complexity of adulthood as if it were a piece of art. Holdens exploration of
adulthood is like a piece of art because many decisions go into the process, it is complex and
must be appealing to the eye, but if it is disturbed in any matter it would be ruined and no longer
the same. Just like adulthood, it is not easy, decisions must be made, and a strong front must be
held for the younger that look up to the older. If in any matter things get disturbed, the future
could be impacted negatively. With so many things to keep in mind and make sure of, Salinger is
able to properly explore the complexity of adulthood.