Don 't most people thirst for simple life of being a youngster? Modern society puts pressure on younger members to assume adult roles and mature quicker. In Catcher in the Rye the protagonist Holden Caulfield, a teenage boy, would do anything to be a "kid" once again. Holden, while engaging in adult behavior, has an even more intense conviction to be not as mature. He also wants to protect children from becoming tainted by the societal pressure to mature. Caulfield’s beliefs attract him to people that exude youth and immaturity. Holden believes that children do best when maturing at their own pace. When they are forced to assume adult roles, as seen in Sunny the prostitute, children are not given the chance to dream. Through the characterization
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Holdens depiction of "the catcher in the rye" expresses his voracity to protect children from growing up too soon. When talking to his sister holden mentions "I mean if they 're running and they don 't look where they 're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That 's all I 'd do all day. I 'd just be the catcher in the rye and all." (173) His idea of being a “Catcher in the rye” to save children from the proverbial cliff of adulthood and societal corruption. He wants to be their protector. Also the mention of if “(the children) don’t look where they’re going,”(173) shows children are not aware of themselves falling into adulthood until it is too late. The feeling holden gets when he sees obscenities written on the wall in a place where children are reenforce his idea that young children need to continue to mature slowly. While Holden is walking through the halls of his sisters school, he came across few choice words. Holden tells that “(He) saw something that drove me crazy. Somebody 'd written ‘Fuck you’ on the wall.”(201) Holden follows up the remark with the fact that “It drove (him) damn near crazy.”(201) Our protagonist goes on to speak about his feelings of if his sister saw it. He is worried that when they find out what the phrase means they will worry about it. By the children learning the F word, they lose a part of their overall innocences and grow up. This, again …show more content…
He surrounds himself (the best he possibly can) with young people, and with those who find adolescence to be a wonderful time for development and do not rush growing up. Holden uses the juxtaposition of talking about sex and being connected to a girl he has never had sexual relations with in the first place, to portray his views on relationships. Holden continuously talks about sex the entire section before saying “I held hands with her all the time, for instance. That doesn 't sound like much, I realize, but she was terrific to hold hands with.”(79). This doesn’t sound to be what a young man who is obsessed with sex would be into. Holden enjoys these encounters because they are not too adult. Jane has the same feeling about sex and sexual acts has he does. They are both not ready. This reason is why they get along so well. Holden’s sister is another person Holden feels he is very close to. Phoebe obtains all of the traits holden finds good. Holden mentions how everyone loves her many times throughout the novel. When describing his sister Holden mentions how “she still kills everybody--everybody with any sense, anyway.” (68) Holden is idolizing his sister. The fact that she is young makes her even more interesting. Holden is also suggesting that if one does not find young people interesting, there is something wrong with that person, and their ideas are
Holdens depiction of "the catcher in the rye" expresses his voracity to protect children from growing up too soon. When talking to his sister holden mentions "I mean if they 're running and they don 't look where they 're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That 's all I 'd do all day. I 'd just be the catcher in the rye and all." (173) His idea of being a “Catcher in the rye” to save children from the proverbial cliff of adulthood and societal corruption. He wants to be their protector. Also the mention of if “(the children) don’t look where they’re going,”(173) shows children are not aware of themselves falling into adulthood until it is too late. The feeling holden gets when he sees obscenities written on the wall in a place where children are reenforce his idea that young children need to continue to mature slowly. While Holden is walking through the halls of his sisters school, he came across few choice words. Holden tells that “(He) saw something that drove me crazy. Somebody 'd written ‘Fuck you’ on the wall.”(201) Holden follows up the remark with the fact that “It drove (him) damn near crazy.”(201) Our protagonist goes on to speak about his feelings of if his sister saw it. He is worried that when they find out what the phrase means they will worry about it. By the children learning the F word, they lose a part of their overall innocences and grow up. This, again …show more content…
He surrounds himself (the best he possibly can) with young people, and with those who find adolescence to be a wonderful time for development and do not rush growing up. Holden uses the juxtaposition of talking about sex and being connected to a girl he has never had sexual relations with in the first place, to portray his views on relationships. Holden continuously talks about sex the entire section before saying “I held hands with her all the time, for instance. That doesn 't sound like much, I realize, but she was terrific to hold hands with.”(79). This doesn’t sound to be what a young man who is obsessed with sex would be into. Holden enjoys these encounters because they are not too adult. Jane has the same feeling about sex and sexual acts has he does. They are both not ready. This reason is why they get along so well. Holden’s sister is another person Holden feels he is very close to. Phoebe obtains all of the traits holden finds good. Holden mentions how everyone loves her many times throughout the novel. When describing his sister Holden mentions how “she still kills everybody--everybody with any sense, anyway.” (68) Holden is idolizing his sister. The fact that she is young makes her even more interesting. Holden is also suggesting that if one does not find young people interesting, there is something wrong with that person, and their ideas are