The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger takes place in New York City during the peaceful 1950's. However, the 16 year-old boy, and main character, Holden Caulfield, does not have the ideal 1950's life that everyone else has. Holden goes to Penecy Prep, a very good school, but only for a short time because he flunks out. Instead of going home after he is expelled, he stays in a hotel in New York City. Holden does this in hopes that his parents will cool off for a bit because they are going to be extremely upset when they hear that he got kicked out of another school. In his adventure around New York City, Holden finds out how lost and depressed he really is. He is depressed for many reasons, which are understandable. One reason is that he is a failure in life and school and cannot...