Catcher in the Rye

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Holden Caufield emphasizes on the loss of innocence in children. He feels that once they lose their innocence, they will soon turn into phonies like everyone else. The loss of innocence is very common in the development in human existence. It is caused by many factors. Past a certain age, children are either forced or led unintentionally into a pathway of corruption. A child is also known to lose their innocence by desires, fantasies, and attention. But once they lose their innocence, they tend to desire to go back and pretend to be young again. In the Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden discusses the importance of innocence in children's lives. He feels that once a child loses his/her innocence, he/she will soon be leaded to a life of corruption. Holden also focuses on all the phonies in the world. He feels that the phonies are the reason why children lose their innocence. He defines phonies as people who are liars, corrupted, and people who experienced everything. However, he doesn't realized that he is a phony himself since he has lost his innocence too. Holden thinks that no one loves him so lying to people is a way of telling people that he doesn't want to be hurt anymore. He is also experiencing the feeling about being all-alone in the corrupted world. He is isolated from everyone thinking that no one is going through what he is going through. He shows how he is lonely by wandering the streets by himself, doesn't want to talk to people, and by wanting to be loved by someone. He tries to escape the realities of life by remembering the past with his brother Allie, sister Phoebe, and older brother D.B. Holden doesn't only discuss the innocence and corruption but the way the world changes. He isn't able to adjust to th... ... middle of paper ... ...efines Holden's difficulty to adjust to the changes around him. He feels comfortable in places where they haven't changed. For instance, he visited the Natural Museum of History in New York and he gets very happy that the place hasn't changed since he first went there on a school trip. Holden feels isolated from the world because he feels that no one is going through what he is going through. The Catcher in the Rye doesn't really focus on the loss of innocence but it discusses how an individual feels about the changes in the world. Holden fears that all the changes will expose all adolescent lives to the loss of innocence and corruption. Holden is one unique character. He expresses many feelings towards people. Holden's curiosity towards the ducks in Central Park tells us that he isn't comfortable in this world and that he has many questions to be answered about life.

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