J.D. Salinger’s short story Slight Rebellion Off Madison is a beautiful portrayal of youthful rebellion and nonconforming nature. Holden Caulfield is overpowered with thoughts of leaving everything behind and getting married to Sally in a new city. Hoverer, neither Sally nor the other friends take Holden seriously. The rest of the people do not understand how Holden can be unsatisfied with his life, boarding school, friends, and the big city that he lives in. Holden, however, feels out of place and dreams of becoming free of all the things he believes do not make him happy. Instead of being supportive, his girlfriend and friends do not understand his concerns, brushing his off and not being serious about Holden’s true desires.
Whether his wishes are calculated, and he is ready to give up all the privileges to move to Vermont, or he is just a young person who fears looking into the future and has reasonable doubts regarding the righteousness of his decisions is unclear. Either way, the current situation is depressing for the protagonist, who is not as shallow and stoic as his friends. He has doubts, is unsure about his life, and does not want to end up having a meaningless existence that does not satisfy him. His friends, on the other hand, are willing to take life for what it is and not fight with the nature of their current situation. They do not ask many questions and, instead, chose to remain somewhat unbothered with internal existential debates. Holden was ready to take Sally with him, keeping a part of his old life while moving towards the next chapter. However, there is no room for his previous way of life while taking the next step, which is why Sally did not feel like joining him.