Holden Caufield, the protagonist of J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye is atypical of the 1950s teenage culture. The post war era symbolized the rise of the teenage. Unlike any other previous era, teens have a disposable income. In the 1950s, companies see this and market directly to the teenager. Conformity with one's peers by wearing the same clothing, listening to the same music, and owning the newest items become popular. Holden sees all of these things all phony. The popular trend of going to the movies is also phony in Holden's mind. "If there's one thing I hate, it's the movies. Don't even mention them to me" (Salinger 2). He alienates himself as a rejection of assimilation and his isolation is the stability in his turbulent life.

The teenage culture is the first idea that comes to mind when a person thinks about the 1950s. It...