We have to do this project for the Catcher in the Rye where we select a clip of a song which connects to a scene in the novel and explain why we connected that particular clip to that particular scene. Here is mine- any ideas on how to improve it? Anything at all helps! Thanks, J.G.

I feel that Blink 182’s song “What’s My Age Again” accurately portrays the mood of Holden towards the end of Chapter 17, when Sally rejects him after he shares his outlandish fantasy of them marrying and says she gives him “a royal pain in the ass.” (Salinger 133) More specifically, the clip from 1:46 to 2:02, which is the last verse of the song, seems to describe Holden’s mindset upon being “dumped” by Sally Hayes. The lyrics are as follows:
That’s about the time that she broke up with me (what’s my age again?)
No one should take themselves so seriously
With many years ahead to fall in line
Why would you wish that on me, I’ll never wanna act my age
What’s my age again?
What’s my age again?
Holden was obviously taking himself too seriously when he suggested that they should “…drive up to Massachusetts and Vermont… stay in these cabin camps and… get married…” (Salinger 132) Upon Holden insulting her, which was done after her obvious rejection of the plan, she told Holden to “go away and leave her alone.” (Salinger 134) At his point, Holden realized how immature and foolish he was to have suggested it, and how he never really wanted to act his age. This also alludes to his immaturity as described earlier in the book, when he pointed out that he sometimes acts like he “was only about twelve” despite looking much older. (Salinger 9)

(The paragraphs are obviously indented on my real one.)