J.D. Salinger uses Holden Caulfield’s anti-heroic characteristics to develop the theme of innocence and childhood. Holden is afraid of growing up and would prefer to remain an innocent child. He seems unable to face the responsibilities that come as one gets older. His continued flunking at school shows this. “They kicked me out. I wasn’t suppose to come back after Christmas vacation, on account of I was flunking four subjects and not …showed first 75 words of 487 total…

…showed last 75 words of 487 total…ya?” she asked me again, and then she stood up and pulled her dress over her head. I certainly felt peculier when she did that. I mean she did it so sudden and all. I know you’re supposed to feel pretty sexy when somebody gets up and pulls their dress over their head but I didn’t. Sexy was about the last thing I was feeling. I felt much more depressed than sexy. (Page 94)