Childhood Immaculateness in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

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The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, a novel about the period of growth from childhood to adulthood, portrays the disappearance of childhood immaculateness. The main character of the novel is Holden Caulfield, a sixteen-year-old boy who suffers from PTSD because of the death of his younger brother, Allie. The story begins with Holden talking to, what is assumed to be, a therapist about crazy things that had happened in his life. The novel is a flashback in Holden’s perspective that takes place in approximately three days. Throughout the book Holden learns valuable lessons about growing up and moving on. J.D. Salinger uses the checkers, the profanity on the wall, and the catcher in the rye dream to depict that innocence cannot be preserved forever.
Salinger portrays the concept that losing innocence is unavoidable through the symbol of the checkers. In the beginning of the novel Holden is in the lavatory with his roommate, Stradlater. Stradlater mentions that he is going on a date with a girl that Holden knows, Jane Gallagher. Holden mentions how he “used to play checkers with her all the time…She wouldn't move any of her kings”(31). Unlike Stradlater's intentions with Jane, Holden’s brief relationship with Jane was very pure and childlike. Checkers symbolizes the innocence of their relationship because it is a board game that is learned how to play as a child. Holden remembers where Jane kept her kings, which shows how much he cared about her. He cared so much that he remembered how she played the game which exhibits their innocent love. After Stradlater comes back from his date with Jane, Holden grows angry at him and punches him. Stradlater’s lack of respect for Jane pushes Holden over the edge and causes the...

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... The cliff represents losing innocence and maturing and its Holden’s purpose to catch or save the children before they fall off the cliff or lose their innocence. Since children are in a rye field and can’t always see where they are going it is Holden’s job to protect them from falling or growing up. Holden ends up realizing that it is just a dream and can’t come true. Holden is forced to come to the realization that innocence must be discarded.
Salinger’s symbols in the novel help the reader understand that growing up is a necessary part of human’s and should not be ignored. Holden is forced to accept that just as he had to grow up so does every other child in the world. Holden represents the hard years between adulthood and childhood and how they affect a teenager. Through Holden we learn not to make his mistakes and instead to enjoy every period of life.

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