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How Is Holden Caulfield Self Destructive

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In Chapter 1 of the Catcher in the Rye we learn that the main character of the novel Holden Caulfield has been expelled from his school Pencey Prep in Agerstown,Pennsylvania which is his fourth school that he has been kicked out from. He is being expelled from Pencey due to the fact that he was “ flunking four subjects and not applying” himself “at all” [pg 6]. Holden keeps flunking schools because he refuses to, even after multiple warnings Holden continues to flunk his class and does not attempt to do better. Holden is self- destructive because he does not express any concern for his future by not making any effort to change. On page 6 of the novel Holden confesses that he is being expelled out of Pencey saying “They kicked me out…

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