“Life is a game, boy. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules.”

In chapter 2 this quote was said in a conversation between Holden and Mr. Spencer. Hold feels alienated. He talks about those on the “other side” of the game, and he feels alone and victimized, because he thinks that the world is against him.

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I just finished reading the Catcher in the Rye. This book was really good and had many important themes. The theme in this book is the coming of age, or growing up. Holden is very afraid to grow up, and he thinks that the adult word is phony.

Holden is always mentioning the word 'phony'. He said "Grand. There's a word I really hate. It's phony. I could puke every time I hear it," Yet he was always using it. He thinks that Mr. Spencer is phony because the headmaster is always coming in tells the corniest jokes and Mr. Spencer laughs this laugh that he seems like he's just sucking up to the headmaster. The Headmaster is also phony to Holden because he forgot his name and is always 'phony' to the parents that comes to see their children. I agree with Holden that sometimes the adults are phony. I mean I know I'm going to grow up to be an adult too but as I see it right now they are. I think it's because they want to young (not calling adults old) and like us again to live freely.