Each generation of children is believed to be unique and different. Many will consider generations to have gaps which is why many teens believe their parents do not understand them. In J.D. Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye, the main character, Holden Caulfield, embarks on a three-day journey revealing the changes and differences from children to teenager to adults. His story and stream of consciousness explores the theme of innocence of children which still appears to be relevant today and considered universal by many. In Salinger’s novel, innocence of children is a theme he emphasizes through Holden and his when he talks about Allie and children in general. For example, in chapter fourteen, Holden is found in deep guilt about not
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Although we may have technology and less physical social interaction as children as well as less out door experiences the innocence of children remain the same. We know this, not through the children but the older people in the book whom are seen to try and protect children’s innocence the same way we do in present day society. This conclusion is made because in the book Holden infuriated by text written on a wall that read “Fuck you” (Salinger 201) is worried that Phoebe and the other kids would learn what “Fuck you” (Salinger 201) meant and his response being that of “wanting to kill whoever’d written it” (Salinger 201). Although Holden’s response was a little excessive and most people in today would probably do the same. In elementary school children who swear are punished and many times adults are prohibited from using or teaching any explicit or graphic content of any sort to children. There is a clear connection between Holden and today’s mentality of protecting and preserving the innocence of children via steering them away from content that may cause them to be shamed by today’s society. Keeping them ignorant of the topics adults don’t want them to learn. Since adults and society believe children to be innocent and therefore they are innocent by simple
Although we may have technology and less physical social interaction as children as well as less out door experiences the innocence of children remain the same. We know this, not through the children but the older people in the book whom are seen to try and protect children’s innocence the same way we do in present day society. This conclusion is made because in the book Holden infuriated by text written on a wall that read “Fuck you” (Salinger 201) is worried that Phoebe and the other kids would learn what “Fuck you” (Salinger 201) meant and his response being that of “wanting to kill whoever’d written it” (Salinger 201). Although Holden’s response was a little excessive and most people in today would probably do the same. In elementary school children who swear are punished and many times adults are prohibited from using or teaching any explicit or graphic content of any sort to children. There is a clear connection between Holden and today’s mentality of protecting and preserving the innocence of children via steering them away from content that may cause them to be shamed by today’s society. Keeping them ignorant of the topics adults don’t want them to learn. Since adults and society believe children to be innocent and therefore they are innocent by simple