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Maturity In Catcher In The Rye

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Growing up may seem daunting to most, but it is a necessary part of life. In the novel The Catcher in The Rye, J.D. Salinger portrays Holden as a teenage boy who cannot accept this concept. The novel shows Holden’s thoughts and take on the world over the course of three days. Holden consistently judges other characters and avoids communication with them until finally, he has a complete mental breakdown. Salinger uses the characters Allie and Stradlater to symbolize stages and aspects of life to show that one must eventually accept confrontation and interaction with the adult world. Throughout the novel, Salinger refers to Holden’s little brother Allie who represents innocence and purity in Holden’s life. When first introducing Allie, Holden

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