<Tab/>In J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, the behaviour and attitudes displayed by Holden Caulfield, the novel's protagonist, do much to bolster an unflattering stereotype of the contemporary North American teenager. What is the stereotype of the contemporary North American teenager? Is it someone who follows the rules and doesn't go against authority or is it someone who is trying to find their place in the world? They …showed first 75 words of 543 total…

…showed last 75 words of 543 total…teenager by the attitudes and behaviours he displays. His parents influenced his rebellious behaviour with their absentness and their lack of attention. Holden does not accept change in his life because he is not prepared for it and does not like unpredictable challenges. His rebellious behaviour of using profanity and participating in inappropriate activities is a stage that the stereotype of the teenager goes through, testing authority and finding what they can get away with.