How Does Holden Mature In Chapter 2 Of The Catcher In The Rye

In the book the CATCHER in the RYE by J.D. Sainger, the author uses diction to show Holden's immaturity in chapters 2 and 3. Holden is an adolescent who wants to be a kid. He acts the way of a child, a 12 year old. Holden acts that way because he wants to go back, after the age of 12 you become somewhat of an adult. The old ways will always feel different, as home can never feel the same when you go back. In chapter 2, Holden is disrespectful and immature to his history teacher, Mr. Spencer. In chapter 3, Holden is immature in his dorm room, messing and goofing around like a child. Firstly, a famous quote is “you can never go home again” by Thomas Wolfe. This can resemble the life of Holden, he is a kid that is not the smartest flunking out of school in his junior year after going to 4 different schools.

Holden is content with failing because he wants to be a child. When people are adults, life is hard, you have to pay taxes, work, and have a budget. As a 12/13 year old, you do not have to think about adult things. Holden can always read his brother's books made for kids, drink hot chocolate and not pay attention to anyone if he is or acts like a 13 year old boy. Also, Holden is talking to some sort of grandfather figure, Mr Spencer. Holden had absorbed nothing in the class of Mr. Spencer, flailing it trying to get sympathy points by writing how hard it was in class for himself. While Holden says “I feel some concern for my future. but not too much” (17) he is acting like a young one, like everything is alright but it is not. Mr Spencer and almost everyone else will have other thoughts like scolding Holden for knowing absolutely nothing and can only wish the boy good luck as that is the only thing he can do. Nothing else will get through to Holden, he is outside of his reality as a