Catcher in the Rye: Holden Caulfield Holden Caulfield, portrayed in the J.D. Salinger novel Catcher in the Rye as an adolescent struggling to find his own identity, possesses many characteristics that easily link him to the typical teenager living today. The fact that the book was written more than forty years ago clearly exemplifies the saying "boys will be boys..." no matter what period of time it is taking place in. Holden's actions are those that any teenager can clearly relate with. The desire for independence, the sexually related encounters, and the questioning of ones religion are issues that almost all teens have had o