Holden's Diagnosis
Holden Caulfeild is an adolescent of 17 who is having trouble in life. Holden has
a family that consists of a mother, father, older brother and a younger sister. The older
brother's name is D.B. and is a writer. Holden admired D.B's work until D.B. became a
screenwriter in Hollywood. Phoebe is Holden's younger sister, he likes her just fine.
Holden isn't very involved with his parents and they return the favor. Holden had a
younger brother named Allie but he died when Holden was 13 from
leukemia(Salinger,39).
This tragic event was hard for Holden because they were close and he dealt with it
in an unpleasant way. Holden has many acquaintances. These include Ackley who is the
annoying upperclassman at Pencey Prep and Luce who Holden knew from Whooton
School and had fabulous sex talks with. Holden also has a friend named Sally who he
helped trim her Christmas tree.
Holden
Holden, Massachusetts
Historical HoldenWhen Holden was younger he went to a normal school
which his little sister now attends. Holden most currently attended Pencey Prep, a
boarding school in Pennsylvania. He doesn't a very good relationship with schools.
Holden Caulfeild has a problem. In fact he has more than one problem. Holden's
younger brother Allie, whom he still talks to, died when Holden was 13. After Allie died
Holden was having trouble coping so his parents wanted him psychoanalyzed. Instead
they just sent him off to boarding schools, so he probably feels rejected. His older brother,
D.B. has betrayed Holden by selling his wonderful stories in Hollywood. Holden failed 4
out of his 5 classes at his last school, Pencey Prep, and has been kicked out of at least 3
schools(Salinger,4). Holden also has what you could call an obsession with phoniness.
This distorts the way he sees...