The Cycle of Childhood in Relation to ‘Catcher in the Rye’
Many say that Holden’s obsession with childhood is the only thing that can keep Holden composed in his troubled life. Holden continuously shows affection towards childhood but also has tendencies to do adult related activities. However, one can narrow down the way childhood is represented in the novel through a cycle. The novel “Catcher in the Rye” has created a cycle of life beginning with pure innocence, then going through a loss of childhood, and finally experiencing unconditional love that heals the wounds from the childhood loss.
First of all, one can say that snow is the ideal representation of pure innocence. Holden carries the white snowball. The colour white shows the purity …show more content…
In Holden’s life, Phoebe is the unconditional love that will heal his wounds from Allie's death. “You’d like her. I mean, if you tell old Phoebe about something, she knew exactly what the hell you are talking about.” (Salinger 75). Holden has an impeccable bond with Phoebe. It is definite that their bond is unconditional love. Holden regains innocence from Phoebe that he lost from Allie. One does not know if Holden’s cycle will return for another loop as Holden does not expand on what happens after he leaves the carousel in the novel. “That’s all I’m going to talk about. I could probably tell you what I did after I went home, and how I got sick and all, and what school I’m supposed to go to next fall, after I get out of here, but I don’t feel like it. I really don’t. That stuff doesn’t interest me too much right now.” (Salinger 234). Without having the knowledge of what is to come next in Holden’s life, one does not know if Holden repeats the cycle of childhood or if he will complete his transition to adulthood. Phoebe’s unconditional love is the last stage of the cycle or the chain of childhood events in Holden’s life depending on Holden’s decision after he leaves the carousel. The cycle of Holden’s childhood related events begins with pure innocence, then one goes through a sudden loss of childhood, the cycle is then completed with unconditional love. Most who read the novel “Catcher in the Rye” know that Holden has an obnoxious obsession with childhood but most would not know about how his story of childhood can be mapped out into a cycle. Holden has had a past of admiring cyclical events like the carousel, the museum, and the ducks in central park which is why one can state that Holden’s life can be mapped into a
Many say that Holden’s obsession with childhood is the only thing that can keep Holden composed in his troubled life. Holden continuously shows affection towards childhood but also has tendencies to do adult related activities. However, one can narrow down the way childhood is represented in the novel through a cycle. The novel “Catcher in the Rye” has created a cycle of life beginning with pure innocence, then going through a loss of childhood, and finally experiencing unconditional love that heals the wounds from the childhood loss.
First of all, one can say that snow is the ideal representation of pure innocence. Holden carries the white snowball. The colour white shows the purity …show more content…
In Holden’s life, Phoebe is the unconditional love that will heal his wounds from Allie's death. “You’d like her. I mean, if you tell old Phoebe about something, she knew exactly what the hell you are talking about.” (Salinger 75). Holden has an impeccable bond with Phoebe. It is definite that their bond is unconditional love. Holden regains innocence from Phoebe that he lost from Allie. One does not know if Holden’s cycle will return for another loop as Holden does not expand on what happens after he leaves the carousel in the novel. “That’s all I’m going to talk about. I could probably tell you what I did after I went home, and how I got sick and all, and what school I’m supposed to go to next fall, after I get out of here, but I don’t feel like it. I really don’t. That stuff doesn’t interest me too much right now.” (Salinger 234). Without having the knowledge of what is to come next in Holden’s life, one does not know if Holden repeats the cycle of childhood or if he will complete his transition to adulthood. Phoebe’s unconditional love is the last stage of the cycle or the chain of childhood events in Holden’s life depending on Holden’s decision after he leaves the carousel. The cycle of Holden’s childhood related events begins with pure innocence, then one goes through a sudden loss of childhood, the cycle is then completed with unconditional love. Most who read the novel “Catcher in the Rye” know that Holden has an obnoxious obsession with childhood but most would not know about how his story of childhood can be mapped out into a cycle. Holden has had a past of admiring cyclical events like the carousel, the museum, and the ducks in central park which is why one can state that Holden’s life can be mapped into a