Examples Of Innocence In Catcher In The Rye

Innocence is a key part of a child’s life as the child has not yet experienced the cruelty, violence and immorality of the adult world. In the text The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, as a result of Holden’s fear of the adult world, this leads to his desire to protect innocence, ultimately leading to his mental breakdown. The novel shows a teenage boy’s desire to protect innocence which leads to his mental instability in attempting to deal with a world that clashes with his ideals. He only finds interest in children's innocence because they have yet not entered the phony adult world. The museum of natural history, which is unchanging, shows Holden’s desire to protect and preserve the innocence of children. Holden attempts to erase profanities

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.

In J.D.Salinger’s novel, Catcher In The Rye, Holden Caulfield, the main character of the novel, is a walking paradox who desires to hold onto his innocence and ,in his mind, thinks that people who lose their innocence will either turn into a “phony” or a “jerk”. During his journey towards trying to preserve his innocence Holden affected his desire to hold on to his innocence through his action, such as his experience with a prostitute named Sunny, his interaction with Sunny shows him that most of the world of adults is just an illusion. Another person who affects Holden desire is his 10 year-old sister Phoebe Caulfield, his interaction with his sister phoebe shows how it’s ok to lose your innocence because with the loss of that innocence you

Innocence is something that people lose as they grow older from childhood into adolescence and then into adulthood and get more exposed to new things as they grow up. Innocence is important in the novel because it was the one thing that Holden was trying to hold on to by trying to save another person’s innocence but is also trying to lose his own. There are situations where there would be a loss of innocence and would influence Holden because he is transitioning from different stages of his life. In a coming of age story, losing innocence is a sign of growing up and change. This is seen through characters that have effected Holden in a way, just like how Allie’s death showed him the harsh reality of life, and symbols like the record he

To value innocence is to value ignorance because the loss of innocence reveals the realities of society.

There are certain qualities that define maturity, and they vary from person to person. Throughout the story, Holden Caulfield, the sixteen year old protagonist of “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger is slowly but surely becoming a mature, young boy. He battles through his teenage life because he is caught between two worlds; one of pure bliss and innocence, the other of a mature adult. As he aspires to be “the catcher in the rye”, he wants all children to hold on to their innocence as long as they can because he feels the world is full of “phony” adults. However with the help of some friends and family, he is able to realize that he cannot save all children and that they will eventually have to grow up. Jeannette Walls, the author and main character of the memoir, “A Glass

The journey between adolescence and adulthood is one of great discovery and introspection. As the blissful innocence of childhood is washed away by the passing of time, a long and confusing period of discovering one’s identity takes center stage. Prior to the process, the adult world seems one of great freedom and opportunity and is treated with a sense of keen enthusiasm. But, only as we become members of this cruel and unjust adult society, does the veneer of privilege corrode away, and the simplicity and innocence of childhood truly appreciated. As such is explored in The Catcher in the Rye, where a young teenager in New York City is faced with the daunting task of transitioning and maturing to an eventual adulthood, one that terrifies him. Holden responds to adulthood with resistance, fear andidealism, before slowly but surely succumbing to its certainty.

Growing up is a very challenging feat for teenagers, as many wish to hold on to their innocence instead of facing the troubles and responsibilities that come with adult life. In his novel The Catcher in the Rye, J.D Salinger uses his protagonist, Holden Caulfield, to portray the teenage angst that many adolescents go through, as they learn how to grow up and face the challenges that they must confront as they age. Salinger uses symbolism such as the exhibits in the museum, the ducks in the lagoon at Central Park, and the profane language written on the walls of buildings to demonstrate Holden’s struggle with growing up, and how he soon must forget his innocence, leave his childhood, and move on into his adult life.

The gap from childhood and adulthood is far apart. It is difficult for a person to transition from one to another because it is a long process of maturing and accepting that being a child is over. In The Catcher in the Rye Holden Caulfield is struggling with his transition to adulthood, in fact he doesn’t want to mature because the adult life is something he is completely terrified of. JD Salinger cleverly writes an astonishingly novel with the theme of maturity and the struggles of a teenager by using many literary and rhetorical devices.

Holden also loses his innocence when he accepts the inevitability of growing up. When he visits the Natural History Museum, Holden notes that the exhibits

In today's society restrictions that are created to protect the minds of adolescents have been reduced. With the use of social media children are exposed to bad behavior such as cyber bullying and violent language. However, people aren't taking action shielding what's most valuable, innocence. Holden Caulfield, in the book Catcher in the Rye by J.D salinger, goes to his little sister phoebe's school and notice the word “F**k you” is written on the wall. Holden tries his best to scratch it off.

In J.D Salinger's book, The Catcher in the Rye, Holden learns the importance of one's innocence which causes him to protect and value innocence of others. Holden does this by protecting , reflecting , and getting upset when one’s innocence is destroyed.

Another example of how innocence is portrayed is when Holden has the encounter with the prostitute. Holden admits to thinking about sex, like the majority of adolescents, he says that he is “probably the biggest sex maniac you ever saw”(Salinger 62). However, when it came time to actually have sex with someone, he could not do it. The prostitute was young, looked about Holden's age, and that was all Holden could think about, He was truly innocent at that point, whereas the typical young man would have just had sex with the woman! Also, when Holden reminisces the times he had with Jane, he hardly ever talks about having sex with her.

Nothing Gold can stay Innocence does not last forever neither does childhood. childhood is limited and innocence is fleeting, for the world moves too fast for anyone to be allowed to stay unaware. For innocence will fade with age, will be diminished by knowledge, it is forgotten by independent, cast aside by pian and abandoned by experience. One wishes they could keep their youth forever . Childhood is the golden age sparkling with dreams and desires.

“I’d just be a catcher in the rye and all. I know it’s crazy, but it’s the only thing I’d really like to be.”( Salinger 191)) In The Catcher in the Rye, a harrowed teenager named Holden Caulfield can’t accept the fact that everyone has to grow up. He believes that every adult in some way is corrupted in a sense. He also believes that children are the only genuine thing in the world due to their innocence and their purity. Salinger employs adult situations in Holden’s journey to emphasize that loss of innocence is inevitable; otherwise, you’ll sight of yourselves and create a fantasy world full of lies and false truths.