Examples Of Innocence In Catcher In The Rye

In J.D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher and The Rye, innocence is the most significant theme. Innocence is usually considered a good thing, yet because of Holden’s mental illness and the grief he must deal with caused by his brother’s death, it manifests into something of great distress for the character. Innocence became the double-edged sword in the case of Holden. Though he had righteous beliefs, it was very detrimental to his state of mind and those around him. The character, Holden, fabricates unrealistic ideals of innocence while suffering through his mental illness. These ideas he creates end up latching themselves onto certain characters Holden is close with.

The first character that Holden creates a strong connection to innocence is

his brother Allie. We start to learn more about Allie in Chapter 5 of the novel the Catcher in the Rye. Allie was spoken fondly of be Holden through the section he was mentioned in and seemed to be innocent in the eyes of Holden. Yet, when he died it seemed like innocence was token from Allie because he met with the harsh reality of death before he could grow up. This also tainted Holden view on the world. “Holden’s innocence died with his brother Allie, and lying and avoidance have become the norm in his life, rather than the innocent invincibility of childhood” (Privitera 2).
The type of innocence pertaining Allie that strongly affected Holden was loss of innocence. He could not accept the fact that his good little brother died so early which led to him making up delusional beliefs that innocence can be protected from ever being tainted or taken away. “Allie, who was, Holden tells us, more intelligent and nicer than anyone else, has become for Holden a kind of saint-ideal.” (Baumbach 147). This belief became a double edge sword for Holden because no-one protected his brother from the harsh realities of the world. So, whenever he brings up his brother Holden begins to feel or is already feeling guilt or depression. “What I did, I started talking, sort of out loud, to Allie. I do that sometimes when I get very depressed. I keep telling him to go home and get his bike and meet me in front of Bobby Fallon's house” (Salinger 129). Holden does this because he did not let Allie hang out with him and bobby one time. Instead of making Holden feel better it just ends up making him more depressed. Yet, Allie still was the ideal innocence Holden Looks to protect and reflect upon the world.
The next character that seems to exhibit a kind of innocence that Holden portrayed on to them is Jane Gallagher. We are introduced to Jane in chapter 4 in the Novel the Catcher in the Rye. Jane is one of the few people Holden is attached because of his past with her and the embodiment of innocence she represents to him. The innocence connected to her is romance innocence or “love” innocence (Baumbach 466). From what the novel tells us, Jane was a childhood love of Holden’s.
When Stradlater mentions her as being his date, Holden starts reminiscing about the summer fun they had. After Stradlater came back from his date with Jane during chapter 5 page 55, Holden was excited to know about it until he realizes how Stradlater is a jock that just goes through girls. This caused anxiety in Holden because in his mind Stradlater was trying to take Janes Innocence Away. Not only that but it threatened the holds of the romantic Innocence he once had with Jane. “The sexually experienced Stradlater, who is one of Holden’s destructive fathers in the novel, has destroyed not Jane’s innocence so much as Holden’s idealized notion of her.” (Baumbach 467). Stradlater is like this sexual monster in the novel that is ripping apart his image of Jane. Yet, through the denial of Her Actually losing any innocence Holden attacks Stradlater only to get his “nose bloodied” and crashing on to the floor” (Salinger 58). Yet, throughout the story when Holden tries to reach out or call jane he freezes and doesn’t go through with it. He also often thinks of her, but with his unable-ness to reach her, it is a sign that “symbolizes the loss of her innocence” (Baumbach 467). Still, Holden stays in denial unable to cope with the loss of innocence (just like with his brother) Still thinking of jane as the girl he “played checkers with” (Salinger 41).
The last character that seems to portray some type of innocence that Holden is drawn too is his little sister Phoebe. Phoebe is one of the biggest influencers when it comes to Holden and his innocence beliefs. What we can learn about her character when Holden speaks about her is that she is an intelligent, kind, and insightful little girl. She helps Holden come to terms with the loss of innocence but not before having Holden be overprotective with hers. Ironically in a way, I believe that Holden uses Phoebe to protect himself as well. One scene in the story where I believe this is true is in chapter 20 in the novel the Catcher in the Rye when Holden starts talking about getting pneumonia and dying. “I started thinking how old Phoebe would feel if I got pneumonia and died. It was a childish way to think, but I couldn't stop myself. She'd feel pretty bad if something like that happened” (Salinger 202). Though he mentions Phoebe and how bad she may feel if she had to go through losing him like he lost Allie, it seems more like a cover. he doesn’t want to die so he uses Phoebe as an excuse to protect himself. Other important scenes that can convey her themed-type innocence is chapters 21-23 and chapter 25.
During chapters 21-23, Holden sneaks home to visit his sister Phoebe.

During this time, they get each other caught up on what has been happening within their lives. But somewhere in the mix, during page 224 of the Catcher in the Rye, Holden brought up his preferred occupation. “I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I’d really like to be” (Salinger 225). The reason he chose this, falls back to the previous characters I mentioned earlier and Phoebe, the one I am currently talking about. Holden feels a sense of guilt and delusion for not being able to protect his brother or Jane, so his goal is to protect everyone else’s, or those who are dear to him, Innocence. For this reason, he is overprotective of Phoebe in hopes nothing will hat the purity she still has, being a child. A part in this section where Phoebe protected Holden, was when their parents came home and noticed the smell smoke. As Holden was hiding, Phoebe took full responsibility for the smell and did not make it known that Holden was there. Not only that but when they go to bed Phoebe was the one there and holding Holden when he was crying. Phoebe is just as much the protector as she is the

protected.
The chapter where Phoebe helps Holden come to terms with the loss of innocence is chapter 25.

“It is through the innocent Phoebe, at the end, that Holden initially moves toward this redemption” (Vanderbilt 300). When he meets Phoebe in chapter 25 of the Catcher in the Rye, he realizes he couldn’t protect her from hurt or loss because he denied her when she asked to go with him. so instead he follows her to a park where they encounter the carousel. At first, the carousel comforted Holden because it doesn’t change. The music to where it moves to the look It still stays the same representing innocence in this scene. When Phoebe gets on to ride it, Holden watches her and the others but ends up becoming nervous the kids might fall. “But the mo- ment suddenly becomes also, for Holden, the instant of revelation” Holden realizes that you cannot protect children from getting hurt or growing up, while they also may lose innocence. “My hunting hat really gave me quite a lot of protection, in a way; but I got soaked anyway. I didn't care, though. I felt so damn happy all of sudden,” (Salinger 275). During his revelation, Holden also uses his hat to symbolize his own innocence and how that even though he still got soaked, he was okay. He was happy and it was like a load of his

chest.
The most crucial thing Allie, Jane, and Phoebe had in common was that they were, in some way, a beacon of innocence in the eyes of Holden. Throughout these three people and their connection to innocence, Holden was able to grow and attach himself to their false–sense of innocence. Even though Holden became overly obsessed with innocence, it wasn’t a good thing. Instead, it was more like a process to help him grow and overcome his fabricated ideal that innocence if protected, would not be lost. Allie became the catalyst for Holden’s Fear-driven Belief, making him create the parasitic innocence. And though Jane was an example of loss innocence it wasn’t enough to make Holden change his ways, yet with the help of Phoebe, he was able to break through his maddening and controlling ideals.