Catcher In The Rye Innocence

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Infants are born completely helpless in the hands of their caregivers; they possess no worldly knowledge and are incapable of handling themselves. As they age into children and even young adults, an aura of innocence continues to surround them. However, this innocence fades as they mature into hardened adults. The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger, is a classic coming-of-age tale following the experiences of 16 year old Holden Caulfield. Holden struggles to transition into adulthood as he succumbs to vices such as alcohol and drugs, and fails out of four schools. Holden’s control over his physical and mental health diminish, but his vigilance over the wellbeing of children never falters. In the novel, Salinger uses characters, motifs, and symbols to convey the importance of protecting the innocence of youth.
Salinger uses characters and their interactions with others to develop the theme. First and foremost, Holden often references the character Jane Gallagher. Holden and Jane became acquainted with one another as children while staying in their summer houses in Maine. They frequently spent time together engaging in activities such as checkers, during which Jane would place all of the kings she gained in the back row. As far as her motivation behind this strategy, Holden believes Jane “‘just liked …show more content…

The character Jane, Holden’s affinity for children and the catcher in the rye symbol, are all aspects of the novel Salinger uses to develop the theme. The ignorance of the youth becomes obvious with an aged and mature perspective. Children lack experience and are unable to see the negativity of the world; they’re pure and cannot yet distinguish right from wrong, good from evil. Due to these traits, the they are prone to danger. In conclusion, with the ability to detect this youthful innocence comes the responsibility to protect

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