Loss of Innocence in The Catcher in the Rye Essay

Holden Caulfield, the protagonist in The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger is a complex young man, filled with many observations about the world around him. Most of his comments tend to be negative and judgmental however he appears much more enthusiastic and about his younger siblings, and even his past. Events and situations that occurred, both in his past and over the course of the novel, show signs of Holdens affection for artlessness. Children excessively allow Holden to appreciate the need for a more positive place in his struggle through depression.Lastly, objects and places that have an impact on Holdens attitude and positivity, symbolize the purity of youth. Although Holden maintains a fairly negative state of mind throughout the novel, he always becomes uplifted by the mention or depot of innocence, something that he deeply cherishes and attempts to preserve in this murky world that he finds himself trapped in. Events, both in the past and present, can bring innocenc e tooshie into Holdens thought path, causing him to feel an array of emotions.One of the most influential events that happened in Holdens past was the death of his brother, and it has definitely taken a piece of Holdens innocence. Allies death had a tremendous impact on Holdens life, and it is one of the main causes of his depression I slept in the service department the night he died, and I broke all the goddam windows with my fist, just for the hell of it. It was a very stupid thing to do, Ill admit, but I hardly didnt even know I was doing it, and you didnt know Allie (Salinger 50). Although Allie is rarely mentioned in this novel, his death had a huge impact on Holden.The innocence of his younger brother had been lost with leukemia, which deeply saddened Holden. A plot event that also affected Holdens innocence was the date that Stradlater and Jane went on. Holden knew about Stradlaters nature with the girls that he dated, and he was very frustrated that Ward was about to go o n a date with Jane, and old friend from Holdens past. Holdens impoverished connection with Jane was being destroyed by Stradlaters motives, and he wished he could have preserved the innocence of his old friend.The protagonists outburst to this discharge of innocence was the event that lead to his premature journey out into the night, and the whole situation helped to spark the negativity that was being presented over the course the three days. Children always bring happiness and innocence to the main character, because they allow him to formulate meaningful memories, and to appreciate the innocence that they provide. Holden imagined a world of purity and innocence, and he wished he could induce such a thing Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye whisky and all.Thousands of little kids, and nobodys around nobody big, I mean except me. And Im standing on the edge of some loopy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff I mean if theyre running and they dont look where theyre going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them (Salinger 224). This brighter world that Holden imagined brought his spirits up tremendously, and allowed him to take his mind forth of his current depression. Holdens younger sister, Phoebe, was a child who possessed both innocence and maturity.She was a very important person in Holdens life, because the aviation of innocence that she gave off deeply affected her brother. He loved his sister not only because he had the obligation to love his family, but because she was the best lesson of innocence in Holdens life. Objects and places that Holden came across in this novel also showed signs and pieces of innocence, and Holden greatly appreciated them. Allies baseball mitt was a symbol with organic ties to innocence, because they allowed Holden to happily reminisce about his deceased brother.The museum is another thing that symbolizes the inevitability that is presented by the loss of innocence The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. nixd moveThe only thing that would be different would be you (Salinger 158). The Museum of Natural History symbolized Holdens fear of changing or growing up, mentioning that there was always something different about him every time he went there. His analysis of the museum represented his desire to hold on to his own innocence, and to prevent changes that could cause its loss.Anything having to do with youth and innocence, whether it is a person, object, or event, has a very deep meaning for Holden Caulfield, and it even briefly uplifts his emotions. Salinger shows love through the innocence that was portrayed in versatile things throughout the novel, and he uses Holden as the ultimate symbol of love and innocence, which is slowly being whisked away by the inevitable process of the loss of this purity. For Holden, innocence hold s the refer to a brighter world, and Holden refuses to be victimized by the loss of innocence as he journeys through the city that refuses to sleep.