Comparing Catcher In The Rye 'And A Dark-Brown Dog'

Innocence is something we all tried to preserve. A task that is impossible. Some lose it earlier, some older. In the catcher in the rye and “A Dark-Brown Dog” It is evident that both story’s protagonists are have trouble preserving their innocence. This is important because they have conflicting feelings, show signs of destruction, and are emerging as adults.
Conflicting feelings is an important aspect to both stories because it shows the true characteristics of the character. As when Holden said to Sally “You’re probably the only reason I’m in New York right now, or anywhere…” (Salinger 131) then said when he got mad at her “You give me a royal pain in the ass’ (Salinger 133) In These quotes Holden shows that he first adored sally and loved

her because he wanted to be with her, but when he realized that Sally didn’t want to go with him on an adventure. He then felt that she wasn’t the girl for him so he called her a royal pain the ass out of impulse. Like Holden the boy had conflicting feeling for example “the child was greatly amused and gave him taps repeatedly…The child beat the pursuer with a small stick”(Crane 1). This quote shows how the boy was easily amused when the dog wanted him to cuddle with him but when the dog didn’t follow the boys direction the boy then beat the dog badly. This shows how the boy loves the dog yet he gets really upset when the dog wasn’t doing what he wanted. Moreover this relates to the quotes in The Catcher in the Rye because both character then feel mixed feeling about something they love but yet then harm then if it doesn’t go their way. In other words, both characters have the same characteristic of being bipolar by switching emotions for something/someone in an instant. This then leads to them showing signs of destruction because of their conflicting feelings.
Destruction is key characteristic to both character because it shows how both of them are having a hard time preserving innocence, this then causes destruction.

For example in Catcher in the Rye Holden says “What I really felt like, though, was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out the window(Salinger 104). In this quote Holden feels that he wants to commit suicide because he had a bad night by getting beat therefore he wants to cause destruction to himself. In other words, he feels that he must cause destruction when he feels scrap. This is equally so when the boy from “A dark-Brown Dog” when “he dragged his captive into a hall and up many long stairways in a dark tenement”(Crane 2). This shows how the child was torturing the dog. This occurred after the dog tripped on a rope which cause the boy to then feel like giving out anger towards the dog making a mistake. To clarify, both characters feel that they need to feel a need to destroy either themselves or something because of not feeling satisfied with an outcome. For example when Holden tried to fight the prostitute manager and got beaten badly. He felt the need to want to commit suicide. Also for the boy, of when the dog made a mistake and tripped on the rope he felt the need to have to let his anger towards the dog. Through the destruction and mixed feeling, it then leads the path towards emerging as an

adult.
Emerging as an adult is a very important moral in both stories because both characters end up having time to reflect and become more mature. Like when Phoebe asked Holden if he was going to get on the ride by Holden responded in “Maybe I will next time. I’ll watch you”(Salinger 211). This symbolically that Holden has moved past his youth days of getting on rides and is now watching. He is watching Phoebe because it shows that he is her guardian. He doesn’t want her to see the world therefore he preserves her innocence. This can be seen in the “A Dark-Brown Dog” when in the quote “They used to gain satisfaction in underfeeding him, but finally his friend the child grew to watch the matter with some care”(Crane 3). This shows how the boy got pleasure out of underfeeding the dog but then took the matter and handled it with care. This shows how the boy matured to realize that causing harm to the dog is something that is not funny but inadequate. In like manner, both characters then realize wrong from good and try to preserve good. In Holden’s case, he wants has grown up to now become a guardian. The boy then realizes that he must treat the dog right; later on he protects it when the father then beats it.
In conclusion, both characters face conflicting feelings, destruction, and emerging as an adult through events. These traits link together to fuel each other, yet the character understands well from wrong. This causes them to overall protect innocence for others.