What effect does the setting have on the character's thoughts, actions, and choices?

In The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, the audience is informed that the time period of this story is a bit depressing and dark because it is just after world war 2 and it is evident that it has reflected on Holden's thoughts and actions quite a bit.

Since this story is based in 1940's to the 1950's, Holden is allowed to do many illegal things because the laws are not as enforced as they would be today with many consequences like jail time. This dramatically affects his thoughts because he has much more freedom without being caught, which is why he does the things he can do with no or little regret.

One thing that he had done, which is extremely illegal is when he had hired a prostitute, which had influenced his thoughts because he was feeling board and kind of depressed, so he needed someone. Next, the other huge illegal thing that he had done was going to bars daily, every night! This had influenced his action because he was able to get away with it without being caught by anyone.

But, Holden still denies it and thinks that it is completely correct to do things like this even though it is completely illegal. This occurs because Holden is blinded by his moral blindness to the rights and wrongs in life. He is also morally blind to people, as when he was probably drunk at a bar because he had called a man "gay", which is not acceptable nowadays.

All in all, the setting has a significant negative influence on Holden's actions and thoughts because he is morally blind by all the laws and rights he needs to avide by, which causes him to do these unjust actions.