Pencey Prep

Pencey Prep is a fictional private school in J.D. Salinger’s novel "The Catcher in the Rye." It serves as the setting for the protagonist Holden Caulfield’s experiences before he leaves early. The school represents a false, pretentious environment where students often feel disconnected and disillusioned. Holden views Pencey Prep as emblematic of the phoniness he despises in adult society, and his expulsion from the school triggers his subsequent journey through New York City. Overall, Pencey Prep symbolizes the superficiality and moral ambiguity that Holden grapples with throughout the story.