You have avoided them of late. Your soul is as disheveled as your apartment, and until you can clean it up a little you don't want to invite anyone else inside- (32). Even with the help of others it does not seem like the Narrator can mature and begin to re-accept the responsibilities of his life. He is the "coma baby,"" protected by a bubble that he has formed around himself, refusing to come out (54). .
Like the Narrator, Holden has also created a bubble around himself. He denies the kindhearted help and concern of his sister Pheobe and Mr. Antolini. Holden can see the terrible effect his failures have on Pheobe, who is his favorite person in the world. She sobbingly asks him, "Oh, why did you do it,"" covering herself with her blanket (Salinger 167). However, despite the obvious concern of someone who adores and admires him, Holden, at first, fails to accept his responsibilities. Also, Mr. Antolini, a former teacher of Holden's, welcomes Holden into his apartment in the middle of the night to give him advice. Mr. Antolini tells Holden; .
" The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one I think that one of these days, you're going to have to find out where you have to go. And then you've got to start going there. But immediately. You can't afford to lose a minute. Not You' - (188). .
Despite Mr. Antolini's genuine concern for Holden's future, Holden refuses to take him seriously, simply stating, "I didn't feel much like concentrating- (188). Holden also abruptly leaves when he immaturely mistakes a gesture of affection by Mr. Antolini as a homosexual advance. Holden chooses to not accept his concerned friend's advice, and instead thinks foolishly about traveling west and getting a job at a filling station. .
The Narrator and Holden also are similar in that they both feel alienated by American society, and feel a tremendous amount of pressure to succeed.