adulthood

There was a peculiar restlessness within Holden Caulfield, an insatiable longing for something he couldn't define. It wasn't academic achievement, though being expelled from Pencey Prep hadn't thrilled him. The unusual tale begins one winter day, with the solitary figure of Holden, shivering in his red hunting hat. He decides to leave Pencey, unprepared for the real world, yet longing for freedom. With a heart full of unexplained emotions, he departs for New York City. 'The dark horse in the big city,' he thinks, using one of his favorite expressions. As Holden steps off the train, he marches towards adventure, ready to face the adult world head on.