olds
             a great responsibility, but when he forgets the foils and equipment on the subway people
             made fun of him. He told Mr. Spencer, Holden's history teacher and one whom he
             admires, "The whole team ostracized me the whole way back on the train. It was pretty
             funny, in a way." (Salinger 3). By saying this, he wants to make himself feel better so he
             tries to excuse what people say. Everyone needs a place in life to be comfortable in and
             However, failure is the first step in success for Holden if he wants it to be.
             Succeeding for Holden is a very big issue. He never tried at things so he did not even give
             himself the chance to succeed. "In Salinger's day, Charles Dickens's David Copperfield
             was still the measure of how the story of a life ought properly to be told, and moreover,
             what the life itself ought properly to come to." (Gale 112) Holden's life, unlike the many,
             was in shambles and very real; and so when he did not try then he did not have to deal
             with what might happen if he failed. School was something Holden had no interest in;
             therefore, he gave no effort and was punished by being expelled from many schools. Yet,
             Holden could succeed if he wanted to. When he tired in English, he passed, but that was
             because it was something he enjoyed and put his effort towards. He explains to Mr.
             Spencer, his history teacher, "It is all right with me if you flunk me though as I am
             flunking anything besides English anyway." (Salinger 12) This shows how he does not
             even care or try to succeed in anything if he does not want to. All it w
             ...