Holden's personality seems awfully skewed and hyperbolic, but I can't deny that he depicts the "core" values of the teenager stereotype well. He is the voice of teens.
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As you might have already gathered from my earlier blogs, I feel strongly that Holden is representative of the teenager stereotype. Personally, I don't think he's normal or the average teen. Instead, Holden's attitude is hyperbolic and his perspective is skewed out of proportion.
He sees almost every other character as "phoney," shows no regard for his future, and is constantly under the influence of some alcohol or sex-drive. The true teenager might experience similar feelings but not to such an extent. Salinger exaggerates the persona but also compromises some truth behind the social group as a whole in the process.
But Salinger is not completely wrong. He hits on every unique trait that can be applied to teenagers and distinguishes them as a particular social group through Holden. He paints the stereotype as he paints the character: it is an age group that puts an uncomfortable amount of emphasis on sex and alcohol--it is an age group renowned for a staple rebellious attitude.
J.D Salinger sought to create a character that embodied the teenager of his time and succeeded. I think it is fair to say that Holden would qualify as the voice of teens.
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