The Catcher in the Rye Group

Question:

galinangel
galinangel
Student
College - Senior

As we know, Holden was kicked out of schools several times. What do you think was the reason?

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Posted by galinangel on Tuesday June 9, 2009 at 6:14 AM and tagged with characters, holden, school.

Answers:

  1. dneshan
    dneshan Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    There are quite a few reasons why Holden might have been kicked out of the two schools that he attended before attending (and then leaving) Pencey Prep.  First, he may have suffered from the same bad grades that were about to get him kicked out of Pencey.  Holden tells the reader that he was failing four classes and was about to be kicked out but he decided to leave before that could happen.  This is one possibility.  A second possible reason that he was kicked out of those schools could have been his behavior.  Holden has difficulty getting along with many people and throughout the novel he makes many comments about getting into fights (even though he claims to be a pacifist).    This tendency to fight, argue, and simply not get along with others could have been the reason.  Finally, Holden is a perpetual liar.  It is also possible that his lying was to blame for him getting kicked out of school.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/catcher-in-the-rye/

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    Posted by dneshan on Tuesday June 9, 2009 at 3:39 PM

  2. drzmamisofly
    drzmamisofly Student
    High School - 12th Grade

    why was holden kicked out of pencey prep?

     

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    Posted by drzmamisofly on Sunday November 1, 2009 at 4:08 PM