Holden Caulfield Innocence

The Catcher in the Rye is told from the perspective of seventeen year old Holden Caulfield. No exact location is disclosed, but he makes it clear that he is in a form of treatment facility, or mental hospital and is recounting the story. Salinger incorporates a theme of innocence in his writing. Throughout the novel, Holden encounters many adult situations where he becomes more and more depressed. He longs for a time when things were simpler and he was more innocent. When his story begins, he has just failed out of his fourth boarding school, and is in the middle of saying his goodbyes. He visited one of his teachers, and said goodbye to his roommate and a friend who lived across the hall. His parents do not know that he has been kicked out of the school, so Holden takes the

Holden is forced to admit that he’s been kicked out of school, and when Phoebe accuses him of not liking anything, he tells her his dream of becoming the “Catcher in the rye.” When their parents return home, Holden calls up an old teacher of his, and was told he could stay at his house. This teacher, Mr. Antolini, spends a lot of time talking to him and giving him advice, but once Holden falls asleep, he is awoken by Mr. Antolini petting his head. He becomes so uncomfortable that he leaves immediately, and reveals that he has been assaulted in this way many times prior. After sleeping on a bench in Grand Central Station, Holden visits Phoebe’s school to give her a note and say he will be leaving the state. He wishes to travel across the country. When Holden meets up with his younger sister, she intends on coming with him. She argues convincingly enough to make Holden agree to stay at home, because he can not take her with him. Phoebe is angry at the idea that Holden did not want to take her on his travels, so to make her feel better they visit the zoo, and Holden buys Phoebe a ticket to ride on a