So, where do the ducks go in winter...?
             "The Catcher in the Rye" is a disturbing, yet excellent story about the trials of the day-to-day life of a teenage boy. It has been incredibly written by J.D. Salinger, and it portrays the boy's reactions to the different people and aspects of American society in the late 1940's. 'It is a tale that exists independent of any larger meaning or message'.
             Holden Caulfield is at the age between childhood and adulthood, and the story of "The Catcher in the Rye" develops around the theme of him making that transition. Holden seems to be afraid of growing up, as the 'adult' responsibilities seem all too much for him to face, this is shown by his continued 'flunking' of his exams, even though it is obvious that he is intelligent. It is evident, that he lives in a 'child-like' dream, one of adventure, and that is why he 'escapes' from Pencey Prep. prematurely.
             Holden begins the story with a bold, yet sarcastic declaration, he tells us that he will not tell us about his 'lousy' childhood and 'all that David Copperfield kind of crap'. Holden is the narrator of the book in the first person, and this makes it at times biased, and his style of narration discloses his lack of any coherent vision, and this is why his descriptions of the other characters must be taken with some skepticism for they reveal Holden's skewed perspective on others.
             After failing a series of schools, Holden essentially describes himself as a perpetual failure, and through out the first seven chapters we begin to discover, that Holden is an attention seeker, and that he often feels sorry for himself, hence playing up to the emotions of others. Holden tends to be very solipsistic* at times. When he loses the fencing equipment on the trip to New York, he seems unable to comprehend that his action was irrespo
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