Sometimes the past is something that you want to let go of and you only want to move forward. Everyone makes mistakes in life and can only move forward from them. .
Holden is also highly influenced by an old teacher named Spencer. Spencer says, "Life is a game boy." (Salinger, pg. 12) Spencer is trying to pull Holden's thoughts together and make him choose the right path in life. Spencer failed Holden in his class without thinking twice. Holden did not worry much about his work in any class. He would turn in half the work effortlessly to get by. However, Spencer was the kind of man who would not except that, and had no problem failing him. .
Holden wrote a paper on Ancient Egyptians once and received an "F" on it. The paper was horrible, and Spencer reminds Holden about it time after time. Holden is terrible at school because he does not try, and he ends up failing. Spencer is trying to tell Holden that life truly is what you make of it. Choose the right side of the game and make the game work for you. Anyone can be successful in today's world. All you have to do is put your mind to it and do what you have to do to survive. In society life truly is not a game and you need to put in the time and effort to succeed. I would have to say Spencer could not be more right on what he states to Holden. Spencer is truly looking out for Holden and wants to see him do well with his life, like any teacher would. Life is not a joke to take lightly, and Holden needs to consider that.
In my opinion Holden, starts to loose his mind towards the middle of the novel. Holden takes a girl out to a play named Sally and is excited to finally go out on a date. They go to a play together but during the intermission Sally flirts with a boy next to her. Which aggravates him deeply. Nevertheless, Holden still goes to the ice skating rink after the play. Holden then states, "I"m crazy, I swear to God I am, I admit it.