Divya YagnamurthyMrs. CangialosiEnglish 10-H3 April 2014Holden and the American adolescentIn the 19th century, America understood only two phases of life: childhood and adulthood. Children struggled to enjoy their youth while preparing for the trials and tribulations of the next phase of their lives. The amount of time children spent in school also increased, and parents waited longer to marry off their children rather than pushing them back to just sixteen. Ultimately, it was clear that a new phase of life – the adolescent phase – was becoming a reality in America. American adolescents exhibited traits not seen in adults and children. The word "teenager" wasn't coined until decades later, but teen culture was booming in the 1920s. Around the same time, Holden Caulfield, the teenage protagonist of The Catcher in the Rye, begins to understand who he is and what he represents. The adolescent culture of this period partially influences Holden's thoughts and actions, both good and bad. JD Salinger's portrayal of Holden as the quintessential teenager truly reflects Holden's tendencies and rebellious nature also seen in modern society, but his school life is not characteristic of a typical teenager. Holden is portrayed as the classic teenager, as he continually experiments with adult behavior. . Educators and reformers had begun separating adolescents from adults and children in the 1920s (Schrum 1). Because adolescents were transitioning from children to adults, they were forced to experiment with adult behaviors. These “adult behaviors” include drinking alcohol, smoking, and swearing. Additionally, “the transition to adulthood... is generally defined as the time when individuation...... middle of paper ......ation. A typical example is that of Rachel Canning, who rebelled against her parents and eventually sued them. The peculiarities of adolescents are inevitable; it was there ninety years ago, and it will surely be there ninety years from now. Works Cited Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown, 1951. Print. Powers, Richard. “Teenagers of the 1950s.” Teenagers of the 1950s. Np, and Web. March 23, 2014. “Teenagers of the 20th century.” Fofweb.com. Np, and Web. March 23, 2014. Schrum, Kelly. “Teenagers.” Encyclopedia of children and childhood: in history and society.Ed. Paula S. Fass. Flight. 3. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2004. 808-809. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Internet. March 23, 2014. Miller, Joshua Rhett. "New Jersey Teen Who Sues Parents for Financial Support Comes Home." Fox News. FOX News Network, March 12, 2014. Web. April 2. 2014.