Catcher In The Rye Innocence

adults that he has animosity towards. Through this narrative strategy Salinger shows the audience that Holden is immature in the way that he judges people. Making it relatable for teenagers who are trying to find themselves while at the same time growing up in a world trying to follow society’s standards. Salinger once said in a 1953 interview, "My boyhood was very much the same as that of the boy in the book ...it was a great relief telling people about it." One of Holden’s faults throughout the novel is his failure to connect with the people around him because they also see him as “phony”, but as the novel progresses Salinger exposes Holden’s innocence to the audience showing the reader his intentions of wanting to understand the truth of …show more content…
Thus, causing Holden to want to save them from the “phony” adults. Seng shows the readers how much Holden loves children because of their innocence and view on life, “He would people it with little girls whose skates need tightening, little girls like his adored sister Phoebe” (Salinger, 206) Through this Seng shows the audience that Holden’s ideal world would be filled with children like his …show more content…
On his path to find truth Holden suggest to the audience that the adults are the ones making it difficult. Thus, wanting to save the children from the influence of the adults which would make them “phony”. Seng introduces Holden’s main goal throughout the novel, “Holden’s chief fantasy is built on this memory: ‘he sees himself as the catcher in the rye,’ the only adult in a world of children.” (Salinger, 206) Holden wants to save the children from falling off the cliff which is metaphoric for them growing up and being persuaded to follow society’s standards and losing their innocence. Holden also feels this same threat on his pursuit for truth as he also defies society’s