Innocence In Catcher In The Rye

Words: 570
Pages: 3
Open Document
In the story The Catcher in The Rye there are a variety of themes that pertain in this novel such as isolation, death, sexuality, and etc. In my opinion the theme of innocence is a key and important piece of the novel. Innocence is an important theme because that’s all Holden wanted to keep and save others child innocence. He would try to keep to the point of thinking of running away just to stay a kid. When he sees child innocence, he would defend it, he would be happy for it at all cost.
An example of Holden of standing up for child innocence is when Holden is at Phoebe's school and sits on the staircase and sees a vulgar word on the wall. He stated that “It drove him damn near crazy.” Holden also adds that “I kept wanting to kill whoever wrote this”(201).Holden thought a perverted dirty mind wrote the word and that if he found him he would smash him to the stone wall but, Holden wouldn’t do it anyways if he tried. Therefore if the kids knew the true meaning of the word the kids would be exposed and lose a little part of their innocence.
Apart from having a violent mindset to defends kids Holden also has a happy side to …show more content…
There is a numerous events where Holden helps kids in the story and treats them with a nice and polite attitude. Examples of Holden helping children is when the girl at the park needed help with a with her skate another is guiding the little boys to the mummy museum. A big piece of Holden helping children is when Phoebe asks Holden what he we would like to be in the future. When Holden is asked this question he has a mental picture of kids playing through a field of rye, and that he would be standing by the a cliff to catch the kids if they fall. Holden dream job wanted to be the catcher in a rye field. In my opinion I think the cliff is a metaphor that shows when kids grow up and when Holden catches them he saves the children’s
Show More

Related Documents: Innocence In Catcher In The Rye

The Theme Of Innocence In Catcher In The Rye

Innocence is one of the most fragile parts of the human psyche, it is so pure, but so easily tainted. In the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, the goal of protecting children's innocence against the evils of adulthood is that of the protagonist. This theme of protecting innocence is shown by Holden, a rich but depressed teenage boy in 1940’s New York. Holden has the desire to be the “catcher in the rye”, this causes him to try to protect other children's purity, while he is losing his…

Words 655 - Pages 3

Theme Of Innocence In Catcher In The Rye

Importance of Innocence Getting older and maturing is a part of life. In growing up, people often lose their innocence. In the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield is a troubled teenage boy struggling with his transition from boyhood to manhood. Although he wants to feel more mature, he values innocence. When asked what makes him happy, he replies that he would be happy being a catcher in the rye. Throughout the novel, Holden proves to the readers that he is a already a catcher in the rye through…

Words 796 - Pages 4

Loss Of Innocence In Catcher In The Rye

childhood? Holden Caulfield wants to protect that innocence, he wants to be the Catcher in the Rye. Just as Holden wanting to protect the innocence from society corruption he tries to rebel it as well. In the Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger symbolism is used to represent a struggling young adult not wanting to grow up and rebelled causing him to spiral out of control. Pencey Prep and New York, is the setting for the story Catcher in the Rye. In the late 1940’s in the post World War II era, Holden…

Words 788 - Pages 4

Catcher In The Rye Loss Of Innocence Quotes

murder of John Lennon he committed was both premeditated and inspired by an outside source called The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. In this book, Holden, the main character, is a unique person with a different outlook on life. Throughout the book many different themes are explored through Holden’s mind such as phoniness in modern society, mental health issues, and the preservation of innocence. Chapman took a heavy liking to this book and especially the main character Holden and what he believed…

Words 2066 - Pages 9

Catcher In The Rye Loss Of Innocence Essay

A person's loss of innocence ultimately directs their transition into adulthood. As a person matures, their sense of innocence is lost and accepting society's flaws is the only way to cope with this problem. Growing up is important as it allows us to see a different and more realistic perspective on the world, shedding idealistic perspectives. In The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, one character tries to prevent himself and others from growing up, but ultimately realizes change is inevitable…

Words 472 - Pages 2

Examples Of Loss Of Innocence In Catcher In The Rye

had a good heart. Holden wants to keep young kids innocent; from becoming corrupt by the world. Innocence is an important theme in J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye” because Holden, the main character has lost touch with his innocence. For an example he struggles with the death of his younger brother, Allie who died of cancer. Which plays a huge part in Holden’s day to day life. Loss of innocence plays in Holden’s childhood which when growing up was a struggle for him. Throughout the story…

Words 544 - Pages 3

Examples Of Innocence In Catcher In The Rye

Dictionary defines innocence as, “Lack of experience with the world and with the bad things that happen in life.” This definition of innocence is how Holden perceives it in the story. In a way, I think Holden already believes he is already losing his innocence because he has experienced so many bad things in life. For this reason, he is trying so desperately to hold on, making him afraid of the notion of ‘growing up’. Holden is being left behind. His peers are losing their innocence and Holden hates…

Words 912 - Pages 4

How Does Holden Lose The Innocence Of Children

Lillian Angu 6/8/16 American Literature 11 / Period 1 Mrs. Lagomarsino Innocence of children The Catcher in the rye is about a boy named Holden Caulfield who believed in the innocence of children and would do anything to protect it. Holden has a younger sister(Phoebe), a younger brother(Allie) who died of leukemia, and an older brother(DB) who is a writer in Hollywood. Holden has a unique and different personality; he finds himself lonely and depressed most of the time. Holden is always…

Words 749 - Pages 3

English Essay

In the Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger Holden Caulfield is a boy of rebellion, disrespecting authority, suffering from feelings of neglect and striving to keep the youth in young generations. Throughout the novel Holden figures out what he wants to be and what he aspires to do. He wants to be the “Catcher in the Rye.” By being the Catcher in the Rye Holden’s job is to save the children of the world that are in the rye that is their youth and innocence from falling over the edge of it into the…

Words 538 - Pages 3

Theme Of Maturity In Catcher In The Rye

Coming of Age Essay In the novel Catcher in the Rye, author J.D. Salinger captures the essence of maturity. Salinger’s character Holden Caulfield is an immature adolescent who lacks in aspirations. Throughout the novel, readers witness Holden evolve into a mature young man and finally find his true calling. Holden reaches a pivotal moment where he finally matures morally. Holden’s moment of maturity occurred when he realized he wanted to be a catcher in the rye. Salinger’s use of symbolism plays…

Words 382 - Pages 2