Holden symbolizes the nihilism prominent in 1940s and 50s America, a society filled with theft, fighting, drugs, and sexual promiscuity. As young people wander through life aimlessly, Holden can't get used to the things that surround him, and has no idea of where he himself should go.
霍頓的身影象徵美國四○、五○年代虛無主義盛行，搶劫、打架、吸毒、性氾濫瀰漫的社會，年輕人空虛徬徨，霍頓看不慣週遭的一切，卻也不知道自己該往哪裡去。