Catcher In The Rye: The True Character Of Holden Caulfield

When I the word authentic comes to my mind, I think of something that is legit or original such as a brand of clothing or shoes. However, when the words authentic teen character comes to mind, I think of someone who represents the stereotypical teen of that generation in which he/she lives in. In the book The Catcher In The Rye, Holden Caulfield, a teenage boy that gets kicked out of Pencey High School, is introduced to us. After he gets kicked out of the high school, Holden makes a journey back to return to his family, who lives in New York. From the last day in his dorm, to the day that he gets home, he exhibits characteristics that prove to us that he is indeed a real teen character. These characteristics don't have to be from a modern
He’s always thinking about doing something, but most of the times he just ends up doing nothing because he “didn't feel like it” (53). This is typical teen behavior especially when it comes to doing homework or some kind of chore. The only difference between real teens and Holden is that teens will tell themselves that they’re going to do a certain thing and end up forgetting or being too lazy to do it, while Holden will reject any ideas, that require effort and/ or does not interest him, right from the start.
It’s also safe to say that Holden is authentic because he can be quite antisocial, which is something a common thing among teens. As old Lillian invites him to join her and her boyfriend for a drink, Holden makes up a lie about having to meet an old friend. He was willing to leave the bar and miss out on the stage performance just because he didn't want “to sit down at a table with old Lillian Simmons and that Navy guy and be bore to death”(87). Like real teens, he tries to avoid any uncomfortable situations and wants some alone
As he Holden is being asked to pay the other five dollars to the prostitute he becomes very indignant and says, “You’re trying to chisel me”(101). A “chisel” is literally a tool that is used to cut or shape some sort of hard material, but the slang version that Holden uses means to rob or steal money from. Another slang word that he uses often throughout the book is the word ‘helluva’. This word is an improper combination that includes ‘hell, of, and a’’. For example, when Holden is talking about the time when he took Phoebe Christmas shopping, he refers to his experience by saying, “We had helluva time”(197). The use of his slang words, whether they’re old or modern, makes him an authentic teen character because teens themselves tend to use words that are informal and aren't really used by