One struggle that faces Holden throughout the novel is his commitment to being himself. His form of speech, view of elders and treatment of friends constantly reveal that Holden cannot refrain from engaging in conflicts. Many scholars debate whether Holden actually matures throughout the novel in these relationships or whether he remains content to be an immature rebel. One of the most prominent struggles for Holden is developing as a person despite the constant prompting by others for him to act like an adult and be mature.
Holden struggles with intelligence throughout the novel. Although he is exceptionally intelligent for his age, he also lacks a certain emotional intelligence, leading him to misjudge the feelings of others and lash out with emotions of his own. He struggles for a variety of forms of intelligence, from worldly wisdom to intellectual ability. Holden's primary conflict comes from his inability to adapt socially in his school, despite his inherent aptitude for academics.
Along similar lines, Holden also finds it difficult to relate to adults, while he befriends kids quite easily. He admires traits in his peers that he doesn't find in adults. These traits include spontaneity, humor, generosity, independence and innocence. Holden, despite the fact that he is physically becoming an adult, struggles with what being an adult actually means. He debates whether or not becoming an adult is a betrayal of the values of children.
Holden, for the most part, is directionless throughout the novel. His abrupt departure from school and from one place after the next mostly come from a repulsion he has for certain types of situations. Holden rejects certain ways of living, but he cannot seem to formulate his own purpose for existing, which is the source of a lot of emotional difficulties on his part. Holden struggles with the meaning of his own life and constantly tries to deconstruct adults' found meaning of life because he doesn't believe any sort of purpose can exist.