There is an old cliché that life is not a bowl of cherries and presents difficulties to everyone. Thomas Hobbes takes this cliché to another level when he says, “The life of man [is] lonely, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” For the most part this quote is depressing and sad, but in many literary works it portrays the plot that develops throughout the work. From Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye, to Hamlet in Shakespeare's play Hamlet, and even Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby, man's life is not all it seems. These characters face hardships that cause them to become depressed, lonely, senile, and even mad. Whether they're losing their fathers, the love of their life, or themselves, these characters are part of a story that shows very little light. The themes of these various works fall on a similar spectrum as they deal with the misery that life can bring. In The Catcher in the Rye, by JD Salinger, the theme that is particularly reflected is that life is not fair and it is difficult to get ahead. The main character, Holden Caulfield, faces his own forms of adult deception and must learn to deal with the difficulties that come with growing up. Holden begins to learn to deal with these difficulties especially during his time at Pencey Prep, as it was not fun for him. There was nothing in the school that Holden liked or appreciated. He described some of the food as "'Steak.' What a racket. You should have seen the steaks. They were these tough, dry little jobs that you could hardly even cut" (35) Holden also has to deal with a terrible roommate, Stradlater. When Holden went on a double date with him, he describes Stradlater's motives and attitude... middle of paper... Salinger, JD. The Catcher in the Rye. [1st ed. Boston: Little, Brown, 1951-1945. Print.The Catcher in the Rye is a novel by JD Salinger told from the point of view of Holden Caulfield. Holden is a young man struggling with growing up and the world of adults. As a misunderstood teenager, Holden learns to deal with the deceptions of the adult world and the consequences of his choices. Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet: Entire Play." Hamlet: entire work. Np, nd Web. May 20, 2014. Hamlet is a play by William Shakespeare about a young prince who is coping with the death of his father. Faced with deception and deceit, Hamlet struggles to find the truth about what really happened. In his efforts to avenge his father, Hamlet ends up losing everything in an attempt to establish justice. BibMe.org MLA formatting.