The Catcher in the Rye possesses a kind of magic: you cannot get through the first reading, but you will be deeply touched by the second. The book is narrated from Holden's first-person perspective and is filled with the habits of the street's unscrupulous youth. The beginning of the book finds Holden expelled from school and embarking on a three-day journey of wandering in New York.

New York and wandering sound romantic and full of teenage angst, but Holden's experience is far from enjoyable. He encounters strange situations like hiring a prostitute and getting scammed, running into some classmates' parents, lying his way through conversations, meeting his brother's ex-girlfriend, and getting caught up in her questioning. Holden's life is full of "strangeness" and "damn it."

Holden possesses the apparent arrogance and pretense of a teenager. He has no sex life, yet he likes to discuss it with others as if he does: "my sex life sucks, blah blah." It is naive, but it is also very realistic. Holden is a wanderer without security, always trying to appear mature and sophisticated, yet every word and action reveals his teenage hormones. His reaction to the world is also genuine. He hates everything fake and pretentious, yet he also pretends to be an adult. Deep down, he is still a child, rebellious and full of ideals. His profanity is a cover for his kindness and naivete, masking his ignorance and fear of the world. His naked hatred is a challenge to the world, but the world will not accept a teenager's indignant shout. The world continues to revolve, with or without Holden. Gradually, Holden realizes this and falls into confusion.

The more confused Holden becomes, the more negative and nihilistic he becomes. If he previously looked down on the world with disdain, he is now puzzled by it. Why don't others realize how terrible the world is? Holden falls into a self-crisis, wandering and trying to blind himself with vice. Without a doubt, he fails. Escaping the real world can only be temporary. Holden tries to make himself happy with sex and alcohol, without considering the consequences of being discovered by his parents. "The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all," as the saying goes. Throughout history, many young people have gone through such a phase. When they see the world and its different scenery and people, their awe of the world turns into disdain, because they see too much darkness and filth. But when they further understand the dark side of society, they realize that things are not so simple, and no one is purely "good" or "bad." Thus, teenagers become confused, wondering what kind of world this is. The more they try to think, the more they learn, and the harder it is to conclude. Perhaps there is no need to figure out such profound questions during adolescence, and perhaps no one can ever fully understand. But that is what makes the world interesting - you never know how it works. This cosmos mystery has attracted generations of explorers, giving rise to various hypotheses and theories. In the end, everyone will define their world and make their own rules, but the uniqueness and universality of these rules exist simultaneously. There is no universal path and no shortcut to success. Our whole life, our generation, and our era are all in the process of seeking. Holden is just a drop in the ocean of this quest.

At the end of the story, Holden returns to his family and society because he can't let go of his love for his sister Phoebe. Some people ask, is this an idealist reconciling with love and culture, or a free spirit being bound by love?

This is an intriguing question because both sides have their truth. I saw someone online hoping that Holden could run away, regarding the west as the best ending for him. But I don't entirely agree. Even if Holden went to the west and lived a carefree life for a while, given his personality, would he not eventually become tired of that place again? "Where there are people, there are struggles." Once Holden encounters another group, can he fit in? Will he still be as sharp and edgy as before? Indulging Holden blindly will not benefit his growth and development. As the book says, the mark of an immature man is that he wants to die for a certain cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he is willing to live humbly for a certain cause. Most teenagers are in the former state, full of enthusiasm and ideals; Holden's return represents the latter. Whatever the reason, he is willing to sacrifice his precious freedom and continue to live within the boundaries of society, which is a sign of maturity.

Regardless of whether this statement is correct or not, the author's understanding of maturity has been demonstrated through the character. I believe the author does not intend to encourage young people in society to wander around the world as Holden did. Instead, the author hopes to guide confused young people to think about why they are alive.

Yes, this may sound cliché. To think about the meaning of life. In my opinion, after reading so many novels, the ultimate themes boil down to two things: human nature and life. Salinger uses this unusual, even radical method to ask readers, what is the meaning of your life? Why do you live?

I believe every reader must answer the author's deafening question. This answer is not urgent; it requires the accumulation of time and experience. It may even take a lifetime to answer.