Maturing Catcher In The Rye

Throughout the novel, Salinger outlines the process of maturing from adolescence. Aside from the main character, Holden, who exhibits an aversion to change and development, the majority of children in this novel display a healthy maturing process. “Catcher in the Rye,” the title of the novel, holds a great amount of significance as to what Salinger believes the process of growing up entails. The poem from which the novel receives its name, “Comin thro’ the rye,” features a girl laboriously walking through a wet rye field; this introduction represents the struggle of maturing. As the poem progresses, however, the girl meets another person coming through the rye, kisses that individual, and thus gains an experience for purely herself. Thematically, …show more content…
These children are never shown in a negative manner (unlike nearly every other character in the book), Salinger thus demonstrates to the reader that the example these maturing children are setting is a positive one. Holden, however, displays a lack of understanding of the growing process. To “be the catcher in the rye”(p.225) and prevent children from engaging in any hardships (especially those that are a result of the maturing process) is what holden believes would be of greatest benefit to them. Through this misconception, Holden demonstrates a misunderstanding of what it means to be an adult (and shows some of the reasoning behind his personal aversion to adulthood). Salinger, through Holden, illustrates that adversity is essential to maturity and a fulfilling livelihood; an aversion to adversity robs an individual of many positive experiences. Contrarily, Phoebe presents a healthy level of …show more content…
within the first few charters Holden informs the reader outright that he is the “most terrific liar”(p.22), however, the majority of Holden’s immaturities are developed more subtly throughout the entirety of the text. Holden consistently evaluates those around him, most commonly, criticizing those who he believes conform to the ‘adult world.’ When Holden judges Luce for not wanting to talk about sex like he used to(p.90), Holden demonstrates that although believes his evaluations to be justified, in many instances he is merely critiques others for behaving differently than his own expectations and moral guide. Conformation, criticized by Holden, is inadvertently encouraged by his need for others to behave as he expects. In this conflict of thought versus action, Holden shows hypocritical tendencies. The immaturity of Holden’s character serves as a method of emotional protection; by lying and exhibiting other immature qualities Holden is able to isolating himself from others, who have the potential to hurt him. One of the people Holden was closest to as a child, Allie, died, severing one of the strongest emotional connections Holden had (p.49), likely contributing to Holden's need to isolate himself from others for fear of being hurt again. Holden’s hold to his childlike attitude because he believes it allows him to be virtuous, even going as far as to claim that he is suited to determine what