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Discuss holden caulfield's vision of childhood and adulthood in the catcher in the rye
Holdens move from childhood to adolescence the catcher in the rye
Development of Holden's character in the Catcher in the Rye
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Abigail Carp
English
December 14, 2016
Holden
In Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger, Holden Caulfield has trouble comprehending the idea of adulthood. He had to accept and move on from the death of his younger brother Allie, at a pivotal age, the beginning of his high school career. This hardship has forced Holden to grow up quicker then he would like to because he has to cope with his emotions and continue succeeding in school. In an attempt to reconnect with his childhood, Holden does everything he can to protect innocence. Holden Caulfield’s nostalgia causes him to protect both his own innocence, and the innocence of others at all costs.
J.D Salinger uses the scene when kids fall off the cliff to show that Holden is trying to be the
protector of innocence. Holden wishes to catch kids from falling, which represents his desire to maintain their youth. Holden says, “I’m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff – I mean if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That’s all I’d do all day. I’d be the catcher in the rye.” (224-225) This quote shows Holden’s eagerness to protect kids from not only growing up but from the traumatic experience he went through when Allie died. The fact that he is willing to stand at the edge of the cliff shows how greatly Holden wants to protect others. Holden values reminiscing about the innocence of his childhood and wishes that he and others felt more of it. Holden misses the comfort and safeness from his childhood (before Allie died). Holden thinks, “The best thing, though in that museum was everything always stayed right were it was. Nobody’d move.” (157) Holden enjoys the fact that the statues stay the same because he knows he can always rely on them to be there. While many things in his life have changed dramatically, the statues from his childhood have remained the same, no matter how long you were away. Holden has trouble grasping with the idea of reality. He wishes to be like the exhibit in the museum and never change.