Although sex icons were gaining popularity in the 1950s, sexuality was rarely spoken of. Similarly, smoking and alcohol consumption became quite attractive in the adult world, and was sought after by many adolescents. In The Catcher in the Rye, J. D. Salinger portrays Holden Caulfield to be like any teenage boy in the 1950s, a perverted, alcoholic smoker, who just wants to be on his own. Although Holden may seem like he wants to grow up, in actuality, throughout the novel, Holden is trying to escape adulthood in its totality. However, Holden is willing to grow up to preserve childhood and protect children from the dangers and corruption that come along with maturity. Holden sees adulthood as a horribly twisted stage of life that one must avoid.
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Holden continuously becomes more exposed to adulthood. Although he desperately wants to hold on to his youth, he realizes that he his grip has become too loose, and he has nothing to really hold onto, or anything to catch him. In order to survive the fall, he must “live humbly for” a noble cause as a “mature man,” rather than “die nobly for a cause,”(208) as an “immature man” (207). In fact, Holden gives his childhood to those younger than him to protect them from entering into adulthood. For instance, he “took [his] hunting hat out of [his] coat pocket and gave it to [Phoebe]” ( 198) , signifying that he is maturing for Phoebe’s sake, protecting her from adulthood. This gives Holden a sense of happiness, almost as much joy as he gets from being in his child world. Holden also buys Phoebe a record called “Little Shirley Beans” (129), which is about a girl who does not leave her house because her two front teeth are missing. Its immature and childish nature entices Holden. However, when drunk, he breaks it, symbolizing how his childhood shatters to pieces. However, Phoebe keeps the pieces of the record, collecting the pieces of his childhood. Holden, in order to preserve Phoebe’s childhood, does not go on the carousel, and instead stands in the rain. It is at this point that he is reborn into his adult self. He “felt so damn happy all of a sudden, seeing the way phoebe kept going around and around” (233), seeing her live out his dream of childhood and bringing back memories of his own. Holden, at this point, does not care about holding onto his own childhood, but wants to help other kids hold onto their youth, and be able to land on their feet when the time comes for them to grow
Holden continuously becomes more exposed to adulthood. Although he desperately wants to hold on to his youth, he realizes that he his grip has become too loose, and he has nothing to really hold onto, or anything to catch him. In order to survive the fall, he must “live humbly for” a noble cause as a “mature man,” rather than “die nobly for a cause,”(208) as an “immature man” (207). In fact, Holden gives his childhood to those younger than him to protect them from entering into adulthood. For instance, he “took [his] hunting hat out of [his] coat pocket and gave it to [Phoebe]” ( 198) , signifying that he is maturing for Phoebe’s sake, protecting her from adulthood. This gives Holden a sense of happiness, almost as much joy as he gets from being in his child world. Holden also buys Phoebe a record called “Little Shirley Beans” (129), which is about a girl who does not leave her house because her two front teeth are missing. Its immature and childish nature entices Holden. However, when drunk, he breaks it, symbolizing how his childhood shatters to pieces. However, Phoebe keeps the pieces of the record, collecting the pieces of his childhood. Holden, in order to preserve Phoebe’s childhood, does not go on the carousel, and instead stands in the rain. It is at this point that he is reborn into his adult self. He “felt so damn happy all of a sudden, seeing the way phoebe kept going around and around” (233), seeing her live out his dream of childhood and bringing back memories of his own. Holden, at this point, does not care about holding onto his own childhood, but wants to help other kids hold onto their youth, and be able to land on their feet when the time comes for them to grow