How Is Holden Caulfield Loss Of Innocence

In The Catcher in The Rye, by J.D, the main character, Holden, can be seen as a troubled teenager growing up in a less than perfect society. Throughout the novel Holden struggles with the fact that many young and innocent kids will grow up and see the world from a different perspective. He naturally becomes worried for all future generations who will one day grow, as he did, and loose their innocence. The fixation of youth and innocence can be seen in the title of the book, as well as throughout the novel.

Richard Lettis discusses this in his work: “Though he is afraid she many fall and injure herself, he decides that he must not try to stop her. It is not that Holden has become less concerned for children … When children are ready to encounter the larger world of adult experience, we must not inhibit them” (Lettis 107). Lettis points out that even though Phoebe may get hurt, Holden understands that there is a point where he can no longer protect her innocence and must let her grow up. While this moment contradicts the behavior he has displayed throughout the rest of the story, it is not because he was motivated by something other than protecting innocence in those moments; however, it is due to his character developing and making progress through his psychological

The author J.D. Salinger was able to represent the theme: the loss of childhood innocence, by describing the internal as well as the external characteristics of the main protagonist Holden Caulfield. Holden is portrayed as innocent due to his “lousy vocabulary” and also his childish mannerisms. His constant use of the term “boy” is ironic when Holden himself is a boy at heart. While internally Holden Caulfield may appear to be naive; this representation contrasts with his external appearance. Holden is struggling internally to be himself and is clinging on to his innocence, at a time where his body is continuing to become more mature and transitioning out of adolescence. The reader is able to note his struggle because of Holden Caulfield’s

Initially, after Holden’s expulsion from school, he did not want Phoebe to know about it, so he avoids informing her until she figures it out on her own. He avoids discussing mature adult topics around her; therefore, shielding her by giving an outlook to the world from a more positive approach or perspective. Additionally, Holden envies the fact that Phoebe still carries all her innocence; hence, he encourages Phoebe to have fun doing simple activities such as riding the carousel while she is still young and innocent, with little to no worries. When Holden decides to leave and go West, Phoebe questions, “‘Can’t I go with you? Holden.

Her carefree enjoyment of the ride contrasts with Holden's own struggle with growing up and losing his innocence. He tries to keep Phoebe from ending up like he did and wants to save her from struggles she might face when losing her innocence. He can’t let go of it. In this moment, Holden is reminded how important it is to hold onto the temporary moments of happiness and innocence that will eventually go away as you grow

Holden Caulfield plays a timeless character in the sense that his way of life is common for the American teenager, in his time as well as now. Today parents dread the terrible and confusing adolescent years of their child's life. In J.D. Salinger's book, The Catcher in the Rye, Holden is in this terrible and confusing point of his life. At this point in his life, as well as in modern teenager's lives, a transition occurs, from child to adult. Holden takes this change particularly rough and develops a typical mentality that prevents him from allowing himself to see or understand his purpose in life.

The novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is about a boy named Holden Caulfield who cannot let go of his childhood and embrace adulthood. Throughout the novel, Holden expresses which things he likes or dislikes, but those things he likes or dislikes are more than they seem. Everything that Holden enjoys has to do with his childhood and everything he hates has to do with the phoniness of adulthood. Holden is an outcast of society because he hates things that represent adulthood and embraces his childhood, while everyone else around him embraces adulthood and hates childish things.

Catcher in the Rye is a book of many themes of many different types of different things. The main character of the book is Holden Caulfield, this guy has major problems. He’s alone and he knows it, he hates everyone and judges them too. Some themes of this story are the sadness, the lies and deceit, and Holden’s youth. Every one of these themes describe Holden in different ways, mostly it describes what he’s like.

As Holden wrestles with with wanting Phoebe to stay innocent forever, “the carousel started, and I watched her go round and round. All the kids tried to grap for the gold ring, and so was old Phoebe, and I was sort of afraid she'd fall off the goddam horse, but I didn't say or do anything. The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the gold ring, you have to let them do it, and not say anything. If they fall off, they fall off, but it is bad to say anything to them” (Salinger 208). Holden shows improvement in maturity and in impulse control when he makes the deliberate decision to let her go by herself. He usually does what he want to do. He rarely thinks before doing anything, but he realizes that she is growing up and he can not stop her from seeing and feeling the corruption of the world.

Throughout the story Holden emphasizes his love for childhood innocence. In a passage he says “The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the golden ring, you have to let them do it, and not say anything.” (Salinger 211) This immediately points to his affinity for innocence and not having the limits of being and adult. The

Catcher in the Rye deals with a lot of topics that many adolescents go through as they’re growing up. Ever since Holden’s brother died nothing has been the same for him. His world was turned upside down. After getting kicked out of his boarding school, he has to struggle through many problems in the book. As he’s wandering around New York he deals with innocence, his fear of change, and depression. Even though the story takes place in a few days, Holden ends up learning a lot about himself in the end.

He thinks that adulthood is full of superficials and phonies. Nothing about growing up enlightens him. He thinks of childhood and adolescence as this world of innocence, kindness, and honesty. Holden uses the Catcher in the Rye fantasy as an image of childhood versus adulthood. Holden is the Catcher in the Rye who tries to catch the children that are falling off the cliff and the children that fall of the cliff, fall into adulthood.

Holden gains the understanding that he cannot stop Phoebe or himself from growing up, and that even though it may be scary he needs to face reality. Holden watches Phoebe go around the carrousel. Holden thinks, "All the kids kept trying to grab for the gold ring, and so was old Phoebe, and I was sort of afraid she'd fall off the goddam horse, but I didn't say anything or do anything. The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the gold ring, you have to let them do it,and not say anything. If they fall off, they fall off, but it's bad if you say anything to them" (pg. 273-274).

The Catcher in the Rye is a novel by J.D. Salinger. It is narrated by Holden Caulfield, a cynical teenager who recently got expelled from his fourth school. Though Holden is the narrator and main character of the story, the focus of Salinger’s tale is not on Caulfield, but of the world in which we live. The Catcher in the Rye is an insatiable account of the realities we face daily seen through the eyes of a bright young man whose visions of the world are painfully truthful, if not a bit jaded. Salinger’s book is a must-read because its relatable symbolism draws on the reader’s emotions and can easily keep the attention of anyone.

When Holden finally encounters someone willing to genuinely listen to him (in the form of Phoebe), he remarks that “If somebody at least listens, it’s not too bad” (172). After hours of searching, Holden gets his chance to spill his heart out. And though Phoebe might not fully understand the pain he’s going through, it doesn’t matter because Holden is no longer closing himself off. And from here, Holden begins to see that despite his attempts at withdrawing from society – he did genuinely make some kind of connection with his peers. Holden tells Mr. Antolini that after not seeing he classmates for a while, “[he] sort of missed them” (187).