Catcher in the Rye: Where’s the innocence?
What really is innocence and where is it found in its purest form? In the book Catcher in the Rye written by J.D. Salinger, the main character, Holden, feels the need to preserve the innocence of childhood. To Holden, a person who is innocent is someone who is free from moral wrong and a person who is pure and harmless. He views innocence as an important aspect of a child’s life which should and must be preserved and separated from the corruption of adulthood. Holden’s views on innocence and the corruption of adulthood is portrayed through how he views others, his attitude towards aspects of his setting and his actions towards Phoebe.
Holden’s views on innocence and the corruption of adulthood is …show more content…
Do you know, by any chance? I mean does somebody come around in a truck or something and take them away, or do they fly away by themselves—go south or something.’”(81-82) Holden asks a taxi driver if he by any chance knew where the ducks go during the winter. My interpretation of this question is that Holden is asking where the children or even innocence goes once it’s time to grow up. The lake can be interpreted as childhood and the ice can represent the corruption of adulthood, because it’s inevitable. Holden also has a strong relationship with his sister. In the novel, Holden feels compelled to protect his sister. To Holden, Phoebe is almost an innocence incarnate. Towards the end of the book Holden holds on to Phoebe’s coat, such like a paternal figure would, to protect her. He says, “I took a hold of the belt at the back of her coat, just for the hell of it” (210). At the very end of the book, Holden takes Phoebe to the carrousel. On their way there, Holden feels compelled to hold on to the back of Phoebe’s coat. Holden’s action here could represent how Holden wants to hold on to innocence as if he would be able to help direct and help send “innocence” towards the right path to avoid the corruption of adulthood. Another interpretation of this passage could be that since he has been looking for where the innocence goes, he believes that Phoebe might be his way to finding what it truly means to poses innocence and even find “where the ducks
What really is innocence and where is it found in its purest form? In the book Catcher in the Rye written by J.D. Salinger, the main character, Holden, feels the need to preserve the innocence of childhood. To Holden, a person who is innocent is someone who is free from moral wrong and a person who is pure and harmless. He views innocence as an important aspect of a child’s life which should and must be preserved and separated from the corruption of adulthood. Holden’s views on innocence and the corruption of adulthood is portrayed through how he views others, his attitude towards aspects of his setting and his actions towards Phoebe.
Holden’s views on innocence and the corruption of adulthood is …show more content…
Do you know, by any chance? I mean does somebody come around in a truck or something and take them away, or do they fly away by themselves—go south or something.’”(81-82) Holden asks a taxi driver if he by any chance knew where the ducks go during the winter. My interpretation of this question is that Holden is asking where the children or even innocence goes once it’s time to grow up. The lake can be interpreted as childhood and the ice can represent the corruption of adulthood, because it’s inevitable. Holden also has a strong relationship with his sister. In the novel, Holden feels compelled to protect his sister. To Holden, Phoebe is almost an innocence incarnate. Towards the end of the book Holden holds on to Phoebe’s coat, such like a paternal figure would, to protect her. He says, “I took a hold of the belt at the back of her coat, just for the hell of it” (210). At the very end of the book, Holden takes Phoebe to the carrousel. On their way there, Holden feels compelled to hold on to the back of Phoebe’s coat. Holden’s action here could represent how Holden wants to hold on to innocence as if he would be able to help direct and help send “innocence” towards the right path to avoid the corruption of adulthood. Another interpretation of this passage could be that since he has been looking for where the innocence goes, he believes that Phoebe might be his way to finding what it truly means to poses innocence and even find “where the ducks