Catcher In The Rye Loss Of Innocence Quotes

Holden visits a place he used to go to during his childhood, the Museum of Natural history. that symbolizes a world where nothing has to change. Holden wishes he can apply the same thing to his life.While Holden thinks about the memories he had at the museum, he realizes the reason that liked it so much is that he could count on everything to stay the same, “ The best thing though in that museum was that everything right where it was. Nobody’d move… the only thing that would be different is you” (Salinger 157). Holden knows that he has become different, and he recognizes this in the quote. He knows that he holds less innocence than the last time he visited the museum. Holden’s fear of change is evident in this quote as he is afraid of becoming

different through his transition from child to adult. Holden is aware that some things can stay the same, but he won’t. He is starting to realize that he is losing his innocence. Although Holden believes he can protect himself, the loss of innocence will eventually occur. Holden continues to think about how everything in the museum stays the same and he believes in a world where everything can be preserved (even though it is impossible), “ certain things should stay the way they are. You ought to be able to stick them in one of those big glass cases and just leave them alone. I know that’s impossible, but it’s too bad anyway” (Salinger 158). Holden wants to live in a world where everything can stay the same. In his ideal world, Holden would not have to grow up and become an adult and he would not have to lose his innocence. Also, he doesn’t have to accept the increasing responsibilities he has as he continues to grow as a person. Throughout the story, it is evident that one of the things he wants to preserve is Allie, his dead brother. If Allie was put in one of the glass cases, Holden would never be exposed to his death and he would not have to lose his innocence. Holden knows that his ideal world cannot exist, he knows there is no way to protect the people he cares about and their innocence. Holden is aware that his innocence will be gone, however, he is scared that it will not come back. Holden arrives at the museum, however, he eventually changes his mind, “When I got to the museum, all of a sudden I wouldn’t go inside for a million bucks (Salinger 158). Holden recognizes that if he goes into the museum, he will realize that he has changed. He prevents himself to go to the museum because he wants to avoid realizing that he has lost some of his innocence. When Holden was a child he used to have good memories of the museum. Now that he is grown up, he is afraid of the museum as it will force him to accept the fact he has lost some of his innocence.
Holden erasing the “F**k you sign on the wall” signifies the loss of innocence and Holden’s sense of duty towards the children who will see it.

He thinks that it is his job to preserve the innocence of all the children, but he knows it is not possible. When Holden visits Phoebe’s elementary school, he recognizes that profanity is written on the wall, “ Somebody’d written f**k you sign on the wall. It drove me damn near crazy. I thought how Phoebe and all the other kids would see it and they’d wonder what the hell it means, and then some dirty kid would tell them all cockeyed…. What it meant” (Salinger 260). Holden believes that kids should not be exposed to anything that will corrupt them. In this event, Holden believes that he is responsible for saving the children from corruption. He cannot accept the fact that the children can’t avoid losing their innocence, just like he can’t. While Holden is still at school he comes across another “ F**k you sign” on the walls of the school, “ I saw another f**k you sign on the wall. I tried to rub it off with my hand again, but this one was scratched on with a knife or something. It wouldn’t come off. If you had a million years to do it you couldn’t rub over half the f**k you sign in the world (Salinger 262). Holden is witnessing the loss of innocence in inevitable. Although the writing is permanently scratched on the wall, he still attempts to rub it off. This signifies Holdens attempt to preserve his innocence as, even though he has changed. When Holden is at the museum, in the tomb exhibit he sees more profanity on the walls, however, this time it was written in Crayola, “ You’d never guess what I saw on the wall. Another F**k you sign on the wall. It was written with a red crayon or something right under the glass part of the wall, under the stone” (Salinger 264). Holden is beginning to realize that the signs of profanity are everywhere, which gives many opportunities for children to lose their innocence. Since the sign

was written in crayon, it is probably the work of a child. Holden was working hard to save the innocence of children, however, he did not consider the fact that they are willing to lose and accept that their innocence is gone. Holden is realizing that children are willing to let go of their innocence and grow into adults.

After Holden and Phoebe meet at the museum then they go to the carousel, which symbolizes his acceptance towards his loss of innocence and realizing he cannot save every kid from losing their innocence. When they arrive at the carousel, Holden encourages Phoebe to ride it without him, “Maybe I will next time. I’ll watch ya… I went over and sat down on this bench and she went and got on the carousel” (Salinger 273). Holden does not go onto the Carousel with Phoebe, this shows his increasing maturity. He knows that Phoebe is still a child and is still innocent, while that part of his life is over and he has to transition into an adult. When Holden sees Phoebe reach for the golden ring he realizes that he will not be able to save all children from losing their innocence, “ The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the gold ring, you have to let them do it, and not say anything. If they fall off they fall off, but it’s bad if you say anything to them” (Salinger 274). The golden ring is what kids reach for, on the carousel, it signifies Holden's acceptance towards the loss of innocence is inevitable. He now knows that children losing their innocence will eventually happen since it is the process of growing up. Furthermore, he also realizes that adults must help kids achieve their goals. While Holden continues to watch Phoebe on the Carousel, he is happy seeing Phoebe having fun during her childhood, “ It was just that she looked so damn nice, the way she kept going around and around, in her blue coat and all” (Salinger 275). Holden is accepting that he has lost his innocence and he has to grow up. He knows that at some point Phoebe will also have to lose her innocence but it does not have to happen now. After watching Phoebe on the carousel, Holden realizes it is time to stop acting like a kid and grow up. He knows that his innocence will not come back.