There were a lot of hints in the story to let you know what time period it was taken place in. For instance they were using typewriters to do their homework with. "It took me about an hour, because I had to use old Stradlater's lousy typewriter, and it kept jamming on me." (Salinger 51) Also later on in the book Holden went to by a record. Nobody now days listens to or even have records anymore. Men dressed differently during the story and always wore ties. Now you mostly see guys in just sweats and t-shirts. The way Salinger described the time I pictured it as old New York City with all the men wearing jackets and hats and girls wearing skirts or long pants, no shorts. I thought of old dinners with the waitresses on roller skates. The movie theatre was a big deal and there were long lines of people waiting to purchase tickets. People could still smoke in public places. Almost all the people in the story smoked. Holden little sister Phoebe said she tried smoking a cigarette just to cover for her brother, but her parents weren't even that mad that she tried smoking one. "Phoebe, have you been smoking a cigarette in here? Tell me the truth, please, young lady." "What?" old Phoebe said. "You heard me." "I just lit one for a second. I just took one puff. Then I threw it out the window." "Why, may I ask?" "I couldn't sleep." "I don't like that Phoebe. I don't like that at all," my mother said. "Do you want another blanket?" (Salinger 230) She didn't get grounded or anything. It was a way different time than we have now. Different things were acceptable then than they are now. There were many different boarding schools mentioned in this book, too. Now days boarding schools are very rare. I've only heard of one boarding school my whole life. But, the way it sounded, a lot of teens went to boarding school in Holden's time.
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