Holden Caulfield, 17, has been expelled from 4 private schools in the past three years. Holden has displayed many signs of depression, including his lack of motivation in school. His feelings arose after the death of his younger brother Allie. One major feeling that was very visible was that Holden's life revolves around isolation and depression. Since Allie died at a young age he remained in eternal youth causing Holden not to mature. Holden is refusing to grow up "and yet I still act sometimes like I was only about twelve  (13).
Holden doesn't really have friends. At his school he has acquaintances, like Ackley and Stradlater, but he does not really like them. He thinks that Ackley, " ¦ had a terrible personality. He was also sort of a nasty guy. I wasn't too crazy about him, to tell you the truth (19). Clearly Holden does not view Ackley in the best light. Holden is desperate for somebody to talk to when he feels depressed or lonely. When he feels those emotions he tries to reach out, but Holden feels that no one is genially nice. While he was in Ackley's room, after his fight with Stradlater, Ackley fell asleep and Holden begins to feel depressed. "It was even depressing out in the street. You couldn't even hear any cars any more. I got feeling so lonesome and rotten, I even felt like waking Ackley up  (64). Even though Holden does not like Ackley he would like somebody talk to because of the loneliness. Holden has a better relationship with his younger sister Phoebe who has helped him realize that he does not want to run away. Phoebe tells Holden "you don't like anything that is happening  (220). Holden began to see that he lost and confused. The one person that he adored and respected was the one that help him acknowledge his pain.
Over and over again Holden tries to communicate and reach out to people who might tell him that adult hood will be okay. He ask friends, an old teacher, prostitute, nun and cab drivers but ...